Reader Question: Cleaning your Dishwasher

Source

I received a great response to my How to Clean your Washing Machine post.  I'm so glad to know I wasn't the only one out there with a dirty washing machine! :)

That post however lead to more questions from my readers (which is awesome).  Here's a quesiton I received from a reader:

"Do you have any similar tricks for the dishwasher? Mine just looks gross. I have tried running it empty with borax and it helped a little but nothing fantastic. Thanks!"


Answer:
The process to cleaning your dishwasher is very similar to cleaning your washing machine.

Step 1: Wipe out your dishwasher with a washcloth removing any excess food or grime.

Step 2: Place a glass or mug on the top rack of an empty dishwasher and fill it with white vinegar. 

Step 3: Run your dishwasher through an entire cycle. 

Step 4: When the dishwasher has completed it's cycle wipe it out again with a clean washcloth.  If there is any grime left that you want to tackle use a sponge and straight white vinegar to scrub off the tough spots. 

Here's a hint I learned from our repair man: Before running your dishwasher run let the water in your kitchen sink run until it gets to it's hottest.  This way when the dishwasher starts it's cycle it's starting with hot water instead of cold water.  Who wants there dishes to be pre-rinsed with cold water?  Gross!

Happy cleaning!