Grab a cleaner specifically formulated for your dishwasher’s exterior surface: If it’s stainless steel, for instance, look for a cleaning product that is made for stainless steel (all-purpose cleaners can leave a streaky finish or even scratch steel, so be careful).
Another way to go? Create a DIY cleaner. A basic mixture of dish soap, water, and white vinegar makes a great homemade cleaner that’s safe for all dishwasher surfaces. Dip a microfiber cloth in your soapy water, squeeze out the excess, and then swipe in the direction of the surface’s grain. Rinse out your cloth and then go over the surface again for a gleaming, fingerprint-free finish. Make sure to wipe down the control panel and handles with your damp cloth as well.
Frequently asked questions
After seeing the benefits of a clean dishwasher, you’re likely going to want to maintain it. Consider the following tips that should help keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape.
How do you know when it’s time to clean your dishwasher?
While Challenger recommends a regular dishwasher cleaning schedule (about every four weeks), there is another telltale sign that’ll let you know it’s time to clean: dirty dishes. Anytime your bowls and plates come out with gunk still on them, it’s an indicator that your dishwasher needs a deep clean.
What is the best way to clean and deodorize a dishwasher?
The deep cleaning routine outlined above should keep your dishwasher clean, but Challenger has an additional tip for those who want to go the extra mile. “If you’re feeling extra fancy and your dishwasher has a bad odor, you can rub down the interior with some vanilla essence and a cloth,” she says. “This will not only make your dishwasher smell great—it also acts as an antibacterial.”
How do you keep your dishwasher clean?
Regularly using the sanitizing cycles should help maintain dishwasher cleanliness.
Apart from regularly scheduled deep cleans, if your dishwasher has a self-cleaning sanitize cycle, you should run it every few weeks. Generally, the sanitizing cycle runs hotter and longer than a regular dishwashing cycle, and it’s able to kill 99.9% of bacteria and food soil that a standard wash cycle leaves behind. If your dishwasher doesn’t have a sanitize cycle, you can stock up on a dishwasher cleaner like Affresh or similar products.
