Your dishwasher needs just as much attention as your dishes and silverware do, after all, how clean will your kitchenware be if the place they’re being cleaned reeks of old food? There are many ways that old food can make it from your plate and into the crevices of your dishwasher. If that’s the case, then here are the steps to clean them.

Drain Filters

These keep particles of old food from getting into and clogging your drain. Remnants of this old food could be causing the stench. Remedy this by removing the filter and double check the drain itself in case any particles got through, in which case, clear them out! Take the filter out and clear it using hot water and soap. Reinsert into a clean drain.

Spray Arms

You have two spray arms, the upper and lower. Their ability to clean your kitchenware will be impaired greatly if left uncleaned. Remove them and hold over the sink, swabbing with cotton to take away any particles that may have attached themselves to them. Have water run through their holes to make sure they’re clear.

The Interior

This may be the most important areas where the old food can accumulate. Collect the racks and scrub them down with hot water and soap on a sponge or rag. Take the door gasket and clear it for any mold or mildew it may have collected. The inner walls and floors of the dishwasher needs cleaning, too. With warm soap an water, lather them up and scrub them, clearing them of food grime they may have gotten stuck to them overtime. Once done, clear the soap and water with a dampened sponge to rinse the inside.

Vinegar And Baking Soda

Vinegar and baking soda are safe odor fighters you can use if you want to avoid the use of chemicals and having them latching onto your dishes. Clear your dishwasher of any silverware and place a single rack inside. On that rack, place a bowl of vinegar that measures up to just one cup. Close the washer and run a cycle on the hottest temperature possible.

After the vinegar fix, rub down the walls of your dishwasher with baking soda, but do not use in excess. Sprinkle a good amount onto the floor of your appliance and repeat the cycle, again on the hottest possible temperature. These two fixes should clear out the stench and clear out any bacteria causing the odors.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Allendale, Cliffside Park and Saddle River.