How to Remove Soap Scum From a Dish Washer

Remove soap scum from your dish washer.

Soap scum and residue occasionally build up on a dishwasher's interior surface through regular use. Whether the walls of the dishwasher are covered with this soap scum film, or your soap tray has not emptied out properly, you are left with soap residue to remove. By ignoring this soap scum, you create the opportunity for mildew growth to develop within the dishwasher's interior, which leads to odor and bacterial growth.

Things You'll Need

• Cleaning sponge
• Hot water
• Dish detergent
• Vinegar
• Bowl
• Old toothbrush

Instructions

1. Fill a bowl with 1 cup hot water and 1 tsp. dish detergent.

2. Dip a cleaning sponge into the solution after running a wash cycle, when the interior is still warm. The steam loosens the soap scum, making it more easily removable.

3. Scrub the sponge over the soap scum. Dip a toothbrush into the bowl of soapy water, and scrub the toothbrush over soap scum in hard-to-reach areas. Repeat until you remove all soap scum.

4. Rinse the bowl of soapy water, and refill the bowl with 1 cup of white vinegar.

5. Place the bowl of vinegar on the top shelf of your dishwasher, leaving the rest of the dishwasher empty.

6. Turn the dishwasher onto a short wash cycle, using the hottest water setting. Allow the cycle to run completely. which will remove any remaining residue, plus disinfect and deodorize the dishwasher.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Clean Dishwasher