How to clean a dishwasher at home: the best mechanical and chemical methods

In order for the dishwasher to properly cope with its duties, you need not only to follow the operating rules, but also to regularly care for the equipment. Otherwise, you may encounter troubles such as a musty smell, grease deposits, and mold. And in particularly advanced cases – even with breakdown of the equipment itself.

You will learn everything about how to clean a dishwasher at home and extend its service life from our article. We have described in detail the methods and steps for caring for your dishwasher and listed products that have been tested in practice. Taking into account our advice, you will eliminate any problems with the operation of the machine.

Mechanical cleaning stages

Although many modern dishwasher models have a self-cleaning function, this does not prevent the need to periodically wash the filters and other elements of the machine.

And even professional appliance care products may not be enough when it comes to blockages or operation in hard water. Therefore, the key to flawless operation of the dishwasher is comprehensive and timely care.

Washing the drain and fill filter

The drain of any dishwasher has a multi-layer filter, the purpose of which is to prevent the drain from clogging with pieces of food and other debris.

But even if you diligently follow the manufacturer's recommendations and wipe the dishes with napkins before each load to remove food residues, the reason for stopping the appliance before it has completed a full wash cycle, there may be grease or deposits from hard water.

You need to clean the filter at least 1-2 times a week, since the fine mesh can become clogged even with insoluble particles of washing powder or salts, and then the machine will display a drain error.

To get to the filter, do this:

• Turn off the dishwasher.
• We remove the lower basket and collect the remaining water at the bottom of the device with a sponge.
• In the lower part of the case, next to the sprayer, we find a round recess - a filter is placed in it, which consists of a metal membrane for fine cleaning, a plastic cup with large holes and an internal mesh.
• New dishwashers provide easy removal for this element - just pull it up or unscrew it counterclockwise. But in models older than 7-10 years, you may need a screwdriver, pliers and other improvised tools from the home craftsman’s arsenal.
• You need to remove water from the hole under the filter with a sponge and inspect the niche for contamination - if any solid particles of waste get through the filter protection, they can damage or break the pump.
• To make sure that the pump impeller is working, you can unscrew the self-tapping screw with a screwdriver, remove the protective strip and carefully turn the blades. If they rotate easily and no foreign objects are found, you can put them back together. Otherwise, you will have to disassemble the pump structure.
• Then all parts are cleaned of debris and washed with warm water and any fat-dissolving agent.If the filter has not been cleaned for a long time, the mesh cells are very clogged, or the glass is covered with scale, you can soak these elements for a couple of hours in a solution of vinegar, citric acid, or spray them with dishwasher detergent.

Although the outlet filter is the most popular place for blockages to accumulate, when performing comprehensive mechanical cleaning of the dishwasher, it doesn’t hurt to check the condition of the intake hose. Accumulations of sand, rust particles and salts may be found here.

To get to the inlet filter, you need to turn off the water and unscrew the supply hose - a fine mesh membrane will be visible inside

To clean the dishwasher filler, you need to disconnect the inlet hose (and at the same time rinse it). There should be two filters inside: immediately behind the tee tap and at the entrance to the device itself.

Both meshes are removed and washed with warm water. If they are damaged or heavily clogged, they can be replaced with new ones - such consumables are inexpensive. After checking, all filters are assembled in reverse order.

Checking the condition and cleaning of the sprinklers

Another problematic element that can damage dishwasher – spray system. Although the water from the hose is supplied already cleared of large inclusions, small particles of sand and calcium salts easily pass through the cells of the inlet filter.

In addition, water with high hardness can damage the rubber seals on rotating rocker arms, so it is advisable to inspect their condition at least once a month.

To clean clogged impeller nozzles, you can use toothbrushes, pieces of thin wire or regular toothpicks, but you need to act carefully so as not to push dirt deep into the hole

Principle of cleaning sprayers:

• Remove the upper basket along with the rocker arm attached to it.
• Bend back the latches and remove the sprinkler blades.
• Remove the lower basket and remove the lower rocker arm - usually just turn the rocker arm counterclockwise and pull it up, holding the part in the middle.
• Inspect the condition of the seals (replace if necessary).
• Rinse the blades under running water, clean the nozzles and connecting parts.
• Reassemble the system and make sure that the sprinklers rotate without interference or effort.

The fastening of the rocker arms may differ for different models, so before the first cleaning you should check the instructions so as not to accidentally break the latches.

This video will demonstrate how to clean the nozzles on Hansa dishwasher sprayers:

Cleaning the housing and seals

It is recommended to wipe the inner walls, baskets and rubber on the door of the device dry after each start-up. But it doesn’t hurt to periodically disinfect these areas using a special product approved for use in dishwashers.

Particular attention should be paid to the joints and the area on the bottom of the door - they are almost not washed with water during washing, so food debris quickly accumulates here and begins to decompose.

If you do not wipe the internal elements of the device from moisture and do not ventilate its box, a damp smell or mold may settle inside.

If the seal is not very dirty, it is enough to wipe it with a soft cloth soaked in a cleaning solution, and in advanced cases, you can help yourself with a toothbrush. But it is not advisable to spray the product or wash the door with a wet sponge, so that the liquid does not get on the electrical wiring or in the lock.

Many housewives use home remedies to clean household appliances, for example, lemon powder or vinegar. But in the case of seals, such savings are very doubtful - the rubber may harden or dry out under the influence of acid, and the machine will begin to leak during operation.

After completing the program, you need to open the tablet/powder compartment, rinse it of detergents, wipe it or leave it open until completely dry

Baskets with dried food debris can first be soaked in warm water for a couple of hours, then washed in a soapy solution with a stiff, non-metallic brush. However, the self-cleaning function also copes well with this task, if it is provided in the device. Before installing inside the box, all elements must be washed with clean running water and wiped dry.

Removing grease, mold and scale

If you notice that on the dishes or the inner walls of the appliance there is whitish coating or an unpleasant smell begins to emanate from the box - you need to urgently start cleaning the car.

And the best helpers here will be ready-made solutions made by machine manufacturers. The means at hand, which are likely to be found in the kitchen of any housewife, will also come in handy.

Use of ready-made chemicals

To wash the dishwasher and its internal elements that are inaccessible to simple mechanical cleaning, it is recommended to run the device on any long cycle at high temperature with the addition of cleaning agent.

But if you notice yellow or rusty spots on the inner surfaces of the dishwasher, the cause may also be a high iron content in the water. In this case, you will have to install a special filter on the inlet hose.

Fresh stains can be removed with a rag soaked in stainless steel cleaner, but old rust is best treated with an anti-corrosion coating after washing.

Bottled Finish is a universal dishwasher cleaner that is placed neck down in an empty tray, and the machine is run for a full cycle at a temperature of 65 degrees.

The most popular chemicals for disinfection and descaling:

• Finish Machine Cleaner – under the influence of hot water, the membrane on the neck of the bottle dissolves, and the product actively cleans all accessible surfaces from grease, scale and unpleasant odors.
• Antiscale – degreasing powder to remove lime deposits and scale on the internal elements of the machine.
• FILTERO – liquid for preventive cleaning of dishwashers from grease and scale.
• ELECTROLUX – a liquid product for removing fat deposits and small food debris, as well as an anti-scale powder and flavoring.

These drugs work on a similar principle - they are placed in an empty dishwasher, then the device is turned on for 45-90 minutes at high temperature. Afterwards, it is recommended to run the rinsing again dry, for a short cycle, to ensure that all chemical residues are removed, and wipe the surfaces dry with a soft cloth.

A clear example of the excellent performance of a professional product is the inner surfaces of the dishwasher before and after cleaning with Finish Machine Cleaner

In addition, you can use specialized sprays and liquids recommended for cleaning and polishing the stainless walls of the dishwasher, and to combat unpleasant odors - flavors that are hung on the baskets of the device and can be used over several cycles.

But manufacturers do not recommend adding dishwashing liquid for preventative washing and degreasing of the surface.

The fact is that increased foaming can damage the internal elements of the device, and attempts to save money will end in repairs. Therefore, it is possible and necessary to manually wipe surfaces in a soap solution, but you should not run the machine with the addition of a foaming liquid.

Alternative to purchased products

Professional preparations are good for their balanced composition and complex effect on the three most common problems of machines - scale, odor and grease deposits. But if you are looking for a way to quickly clean your dishwasher and save money at the same time, we offer several recipes using inexpensive but effective ingredients.

Baking soda, vinegar and lemon acid are the most famous helpers for housewives in the fight against limescale, rust stains and grease film.

To clean the machine, and at the same time the drain from fatty deposits, you need to pour 1.5-2 cups of vinegar into a cup or plate. Then they should be placed in the upper tray, soda should be poured on the bottom and any long mode should be started.

And as soon as the water heats up, press pause and leave the device for at least 30 minutes (but preferably overnight). During this time, various dried debris and plaque will soften and can be easily removed along with dirty water.

Another universal remedy that will help remove traces of scale is citric acid.Its consumption depends on the displacement of the car and the degree of contamination, but on average you will need about 150-200 grams. It also works at high temperatures, and for better effect - with a forced stop of the device from 30 minutes to several hours.

Although lemon powder is really good at removing scale and cleaning the nozzles in the powder cuvette, this cleaning method is very controversial, since concentrated acid can damage the seals of the device

There is also a more gentle way - prepare a solution from water and vinegar or lemon powder, pour it into any bottle with a spray bottle and use it to manually clean the inner walls of the box and other surfaces with scale. In this case, you need to spray the product carefully and make sure that it does not get on the rubber elements or on the skin.

You can make “2 in 1” tablets from soda, which will not only help clean your car from grease and dirt, but also refresh the air with a pleasant aroma.

Cooking method:

1. Pour 10-15 drops of any essential oil and 1-2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide into a glass with powdered soda.
2. Mix everything with a spatula - the mixture should look like wet sand.
3. Using an ice cream spoon or scoop, form small balls.
4. Place the prepared tablets on the bottom of the device.
5. Run the dishwasher on a long cycle.

For the best effect, users recommend placing a plate with 1-2 glasses of vinegar in the basket.

Tips for care and use

It is recommended to carry out comprehensive cleaning of the machine at least once a month, and flush the filtration system weekly.

But in order to reduce the amount of work during general cleaning, we recommend taking note of a few simple tips for regular care and use:

1. Place dishes in trays in accordance with the manufacturer's layout. General recommendations, however, are the same for all appliances - frying pans, pots, baking trays with carbon deposits and other heavily soiled or large dishes are always placed at the bottom - there the washing is more active. And glasses, cups and deep plates must be turned upside down so that no powder or water remains in them.
2. Before loading, wipe the dishes from large debris with a regular napkin.
3. Use regenerating salt in addition to detergent powder or tablets that already contain a softener.
4. After each cycle, remove the coarse filter mesh and remove accumulated debris.
5. Check the compartment for detergentsso that no powder or pieces of tablets remain in it.

Use only non-metallic objects and soft rags for cleaning - hard fibers can damage the protective coating of the box or baskets and give the green light to rust.

The video will introduce you to the features of cleaning a dishwasher using home remedies and the cooking method:

To avoid a musty smell, always wipe the internal elements with a dry cloth after each start-up and ventilate the device until the condensation evaporates.

And the last tip is to use the dishwasher at least 3-4 times a week. Paradoxically, the longer the device remains idle, the shorter its service life will be, since such downtime more often causes problems with blockages, limestone and unpleasant odors.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

To visualize the scope of the upcoming cleaning, the features of removing and cleaning the internal elements of the dishwasher, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a small selection of video tips from home craftsmen and experienced housewives.

Regular care and preventive cleaning of dishwasher systems:

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in caring for dishwashing equipment. But if the machine is not pampered with regular cleaning, its sparkling walls will quickly become covered with plaque.

Food debris will clog filters and spray nozzles, fungus will settle in the seal, and key parts will fail and require replacement. Don’t forget about your assistant or entrust her prevention to cleaning specialists.

Would you like to talk about how and with what means you care for your own dishwasher? Do you have a unique technique or interesting information that is worth sharing with site visitors? Please write comments in the block below and ask questions about the topic of the article.