How to Remove Mold & Mildew From the Interior of a Dishwasher
Mold and mildew on the interior of a dishwasher is not a pleasant thought, and it can also be dangerous. Luckily, there is an easy way to remove even the most stubborn case of mildew using baking soda and vinegar. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which kills mold and mildew on contact and prevents it from growing back. Use this method to safely remove mold and mildew from the interior of a dishwasher. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Dishwashing Detergent
- Sponges
- Towels
- White Vinegar
- Spray Bottle
- Old Toothbrush or Scrub Brush
- Small Dishwasher-Safe Bowl
- Baking Soda
Instructions
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Remove all the racks, including the silverware tray, from the dishwasher prior to removing mold and mildew. This makes it easier to reach all the corners and seals.
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Wash the racks and tray by hand in the sink with dishwashing detergent and a sponge to get rid of any mold or mildew that may have come in contact with them. Set aside to dry on clean towels.
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Combine 1/2 cup white vinegar with 2 cups hot water in a large bowl or spray bottle. Spray, or apply the mixture with a sponge, onto the seal, and anywhere else you can see mold and mildew inside the dishwasher.
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Scrub the affected areas thoroughly with an old toothbrush or scrub brush, and then rinse clean with warm water.
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Replace the racks in the dishwasher. Fill a small dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar and place upright in the top rack. Run a regular wash cycle on the highest heat setting available.
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Sprinkle about 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher floor, and run on the highest heat setting a second time. This will deodorize and remove any mold and mildew that the vinegar wash missed.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a particularly stubborn case of mold and mildew inside the dishwasher, place 1 cup of bleach in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack, and run on the highest heat setting. Bleach is an effective mold killer, but is not as safe as using vinegar. Use it only as a last resort.
Never use dishwashing detergent, or any other type of soap that produces suds, to clean the inside of the dishwasher. This can cause the dishwasher to overflow with suds when in use.
Resources
- Photo Credit Andrea Kratzenberg
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Comments
View all 6 Comments-
Thank you. I have read the article. I have the Chinese vinegar and I don't want to waste it. I will get the regular vinegar.
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What a year does!
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Yikes
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This works beautifully. I have a very "wet" dishwasher that has started to mildew in this really humid weather. I lightly scrubed with the vinegar/water combo then ran the two cycles. After the second cycle the interior is bright white. This is great! And Cheap!
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use orange tang. that worked for me.
