How To Clean Mold Out Of Dishwasher

Looking for advice on how to clean a dishwasher? As one of the most-used kitchen appliances, maintaining dishwasher cleanliness will ensure it runs efficiently while removing a build-up of grease, grime, soap scum, and food debris.

'Your kitchen is the hub of the home and keeping it clean and tidy may seem like a mammoth task, but it's an important one,' says Susan Fermor, spokesperson from cleaning and laundry expert, Dr. Beckmann. 'Keeping your electrical appliances clean, such as your dishwasher, is often something people forget to do.'

How often should you clean your dishwasher?

How often you need to clean your dishwasher will depend on how often you use it. If you run a load every day, experts recommend that you clean your dishwasher's filter and drain once a month. A quick rinse using vinegar and baking soda can be done every few weeks to keep it working well, while a deep clean can be done every six months.

Before you begin to clean a dishwasher, useful things to have include:

Antibacterial spray
Dishwasher salt
Rinse Aid
A few clean cloths
Paper towels
An old toothbrush (great for getting into those hard-to-reach areas!)

Follow the simple steps below on how to clean a dishwasher...

Step 1: Remove any food

Food can clog up the dishwasher filter, leading to foul odours. If your dishwasher drain is filled with food particles, it won't work or clean plates efficiently.

Before you begin, open your dishwasher and pull out the bottom rack to see if any leftover food has fallen. Using a paper towel, remove any large pieces and place them in the bin. You should get into the habit of removing food every few days.

'It's very important to keep on top of cleaning your dishwasher and to make sure you're doing it in the right way,' says Vicky Bennion, White Goods Expert at Currys PC World. 'A little bit of TLC will ensure it's cleaning at its optimum, while also extending overall product life.'

Yuri Arcurs Gallery Stock

Step 2: Clean the filter

Dishwasher filters prevent small bits of food from landing on your newly-cleaned dishes. Some filters are self-cleaning, but most will generally need to be cleaned manually using a soft brush and dish soap. Depending on how often you use your dishwasher, the filter should be cleaned at least every one to three months. Some manufactures recommend more (some even suggest every two or three weeks), so check your manual first.

'Cleaning the filter in your dishwasher's base regularly is crucial,' says Clare Edwards, Smeg's home economist. 'This collects food particles and residue and can not only produce an odour if not cleaned but will also reduce the dishwasher's performance.'

To clean your filter, take it out of your dishwasher and let it soak in a bowl filled with warm water and dish soap. After a few minutes, take a small toothbrush and scrub well to remove food particles. Then, rinse well and place it back.

part of dishwasher filter in male hand, cleaning service of home appliance dish washing machine inside,

pashapixel Getty Images

Step 3: Clean the dishwasher spray arms

Dishwasher spray arms shoot streams of hot water directly onto your dishes. If not cleaned regularly, they too can become clogged and dirty. Ideally, you should check the spray arms for blockages every six months.

'Take them out and wipe them with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water or white vinegar,' says Dean Davies, professional appliance cleaning expert at Fantastic Services. 'If they're very stained, you can leave them soaking for 15 minutes. Grab the toothbrush and scrub the spray holes to remove any stuck-on food particles. Rinse and place them back.'

Step 4: Rinse with hot water

amazon.co.uk

Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Lemon 250ml ase of 4

Finish amazon.co.uk

£9.75

Do you have a smelly dishwasher? Now that every part is clean, it's time to fill a dishwasher-safe cup with white vinegar and place it on the top rack. Once you have done this, run a full cycle on the hottest setting.

Dean explains how you can get it smelling sweet again: 'If you want to deodorise the appliance, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom around the drain and run a short cycle with the hottest setting.'

Alternatively, you can also rinse your dishwasher using a lemon-scented cleaner, such as the Finish Dishwasher Cleaner, which is brilliant for eliminating grease and limescale.

Step 5: Wipe down your dishwasher

Once the inside is clean, it's time to wipe down the exterior using a white vinegar and water solution. Focus on cleaning door seals (scrub them with a toothbrush if you need), then use a dry cloth to wipe away any water.

'Gently clean around the rubber door seal as this area often collects a build-up, again a damp cloth and some spray should do the trick,' adds Vicky.

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10 books to inspire you to clean, declutter and organise your home

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying

Vermilion amazon.co.uk

£10.55

Marie Kondo's Spark Joyis an in-depth, illustrated, room-by-room guide to decluttering and organising your home. If something sparks joy, keep it, if not, expel it from your home. This book covers every room in the house, as well as a wide range of items in different categories, including clothes, photographs, paperwork, books, cutlery, cosmetics, shoes, bags, wallets and valuables.

The Home Edit: Conquering the clutter with style

Famous home organisers to the stars, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin give you a masterclass in paring down your belongings in every room, arranging them in an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-find way (they love a label), and maintaining the system so you don't need another do-over in six months. You can also watch their show,Get Organised with The Home Edit, on Netflix.

The Organised Mum Method: Transform your home in 30 minutes a day

If you need to revolutionise your home routine, try the popular The Organised Mum Method (TOMM). The concept by Gemma Bray promises to help you 'clean smarter not harder' by spending 30 minutes cleaning a different room each day of the week – and it'll spare you your weekends, too.

Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book On Decluttering You'll Ever Need

Tracy McCubbin delves into the root of why many of us struggle to keep our homes decluttered. McCubbin's powerful answer lies in the 7 Emotional Clutter Blocks – obstacles she will help readers overcome in order to declutter their homes and improve their overall wellbeing.

How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets

Dana K. White explains, clearly and without delusions, what it takes to get – and keep – your home under control. Her strategies include where to start to tame the chaos, which habits deserve your focus and will make the most impact, and practical tips you can implement immediately to declutter a huge amount of stuff with minimal drama.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: The Japanese Art

Marie Kondo's successful KonMari Method will help to keep your home clear and clutter-free permanently. If you follow the inspirational step-by-step, you're promised to see results.

The Easy Life: Quick ways to clean and manage your home all year round

Manage your home with Lynsey Crombie, Instagram sensation and TV's Queen of Clean, as she creates a system of speed-cleaning challenges, organisational habits and natural cleaners. Lynsey aims to share what she's learned to help you take the stress out of everyday life, so you can focus on what brings you joy.

Declutter: The get-real guide to creating calm from chaos

Kyle Books amazon.co.uk

£8.99

Described as bursting with practical and relatable advice, this book injects enthusiasm, energy and humour into the essential and often mundane task of decluttering. Debora Robertson also helps you declutter your mind for an easier and more efficient life.

Banish Clutter Forever: How the Toothbrush Principle Will Change Your Life

Banish Clutter Forever's Toothbrush Principle is a simple approach to decluttering your home – whether you live in a huge house or a small flat. It will show you how to: organise according to the unconscious blueprint that naturally tidy people have, know what to throw away with confidence, set up your wardrobe so you get much more use out of the clothes you have, and work from home productively in a clear, designated space.

Hinch Yourself Happy: All The Best Cleaning Tips To Shine Your Sink And Soothe Your Soul

Stay on top of your cleaning routine with Sophie Hinchliffe – better known Mrs Hinch – and her book, Hinch Yourself Happy. Mrs Hinch shares how cleaning can soothe anxiety and stress, plus step-by-step guides to hinching your home.

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