How to Remove Scum Inside Dishwashers

Dishwasher maintenance is crucial to a clean home environment.

Your dishwasher must be clean to work properly. Most dishwashers are serviced by main municipal water lines and receive hard water. Hard water contains numerous natural minerals, and the minerals leave behind a residue. Hard water scale is difficult to remove with most cleaners. Scale residue in the dishwasher will prevent it from working at its optimum level and will also leave a scum buildup on your dishes. It is important to remove hard water deposits. Harsh chemicals are not a good option for the home, but there are simple, effective and safe methods to remove hard water deposits.

Things You'll Need

• 1 qt. vinegar
• Toothbrush
• Large bowl
• Soft scrubbing sponge
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• Clean rag
• Rinse aid

Instructions

1. Remove the trap at the bottom of the dishwasher and dump out any food and debris. Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and scrub the trap to remove any hard water scale that may keep the water from draining properly. Rinse and replace the trap.

2. Pour 1 qt. vinegar into a bowl. Set the bowl as close to the center of the dishwasher as possible. The spray from the water intake will help disperse the vinegar and spread it onto all the surfaces. Turn on the dishwasher for a full wash cycle.

3. Allow the cycle to finish. Before the washer cools off entirely and dries, open it and scrub the inside with the sponge. Pay close attention to the spray wands and sides of the dishwasher where scale builds up. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps break down tough staining like hard water deposits.

4. Run the dishwasher again when you are satisfied the scum has been removed. Pour 1/2 cup lemon juice in this load to help remove the vinegar smell. Use a hot cycle with no dry. Wipe out the dishwasher with a rag.

5. Use a rinse aid when running the dishwasher to prevent hard water stains on dishes and remove scale from the inside of the dishwasher. Once a month, run the washer with vinegar to give it a good cleaning.

6. Continue your dishwasher maintenance by checking the hot water settings. Dishes do not need to be burned to get clean with today's detergents. Adjust the heat setting to 140 if you have a heat booster in the unit. According to the Consumer Energy Center, over 80 percent of the energy used in a dishwasher is for heating the water, so it is important to have it at the optimal temperature for cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when using the sponge on your dishwasher that the unit is still warm, but cooled enough that you do not harm yourself.

References

• Consumer Energy Center: Dishwashers
• Repair 2000: Helpful Tips for Best Results from Your Dishwasher
• Homewise: How to Remove Soap Scum from Your Dishwasher