How to Clean the Interior of a Stainless Steel Dishwasher
A lot of people love stainless steel dishwashers because it is so easy to keep the door looking clean and nice. However, if you have such a dishwasher, you need to remember not to neglect the inside of your machine. You should clean the interior of your dishwasher at least once a month. And, no, running the dishwasher without dishes in it doesn't count. Some scrubbing required to do a good job of it. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Liquid dish soap
- Hot water
- Old toothbrush
- Commercial kitchen cleaner
- Cotton rag
- Paper towels
- Kitchen brush
- Small ceramic or glass bowl
- White vinegar
Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Take out both the top and bottom rack of the dishwasher. Slide each rack to the front of the dishwasher and gently lift it out of its tracks. Also remove the silverware basket. Fill the sink with hot water and add a teaspoon of dish soap. Since an entire rack won't fit in most sinks, dip half of the rack in and scrub it with your brush. Then flip it over and scrub the other half. Clean the second rack in the same fashion. Then wipe them dry with a towel and set them aside. Finally, scrub and dry the silverware basket.
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2
Check the seal, which is the ring of rubber around the inside of the dishwasher's door. If it's dirty, scrub it with an old toothbrush and hot soapy water. If it's got mold or mildew on it, clean it with a mixture of three cups of water and one part chlorine bleach. In either case, wipe out the cleaning solution with a damp cotton rag. Then dry the seal with a paper towel to help prevent future mildew.
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3
Spray a paper towel with about a teaspoon of commercial kitchen cleaner and wipe the inside of the dishwasher's door and the top, bottom, sides and back of the interior. There is no need to rinse.
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4
Wash the spinning arm, which is the device at the bottom of the dishwasher that resembles a propeller. Check its holes for any food or debris and use a toothpick to remove any clogs. Wipe down the arm, using a paper towel and kitchen cleaner.
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5
Look into the drain, which is directly below the spinning arm. See if there is anything stuck inside it. If there is, remove it with your fingers. Don't spray any cleaner into this area.
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6
Place the racks and silverware basket back in the dishwasher. Put two cups of vinegar in a ceramic or glass bowl and place it in the top rack. Run the dishwasher for an entire cycle on high heat. The combination of the vinegar and the high temperature will help to eliminate any odors.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use vinegar instead of commercial kitchen cleaner. Just pour it into a spray bottle.
Never use abrasive cleaners on stainless steel.
