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If you’re looking for a natural and easy way to clean out your dishwasher, vinegar is the perfect alternative to use. Vinegar breaks down hard water, food, and soap scum, so it will leave your dishwasher looking and smelling fresh. Keep reading, and we’ll cover how to use vinegar to clean different parts of your dishwasher and how often to clean. We also spoke to professional cleaners for advice on alternative cleaners to try out.
Best Way to Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar
When your dishwasher is empty, add a cup or bowl with distilled white vinegar to the top rack. Run your dishwasher on the hottest water setting, and open it to let the machine air-dry when the cycle finishes. Clear out any debris from the drain and wipe out the interior with a clean cloth.
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How to Clean Your Dishwasher with Vinegar
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Place a container with white vinegar on the top rack. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl or cup. Place the container upright on the top rack in your dishwasher for the most thorough cleaning. [1] X Research source
- Cleaning professional Chris Willatt mentions that vinegar is effective because it’s acidic and removes hard water build-up.
EXPERT TIPHouse Cleaning ProfessionalJames Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.Our Expert Agrees: To clean your dishwasher, place a cup of distilled white vinegar in the bowl on the top rack of your dishwasher, and run the dishwasher. You can also use baking soda. These options are useful because it's best to use non-toxic cleaning supplies when you're cleaning anything that may touch your food.
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Run a hot-water cycle on your dishwasher. Press the high-temperature wash or the sanitation wash cycle on your dishwasher and let the cycle run. Throughout the cycle, the vinegar and water will move through the machine and clear out any debris and hard water stains. [2] X Research source
- If you notice really stubborn hard water stains on the bottom of your dishwasher, open the door halfway through the wash cycle. Let the vinegar sit for 20 minutes before closing the door and resuming the cycle. [3] X Research source
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Open your dishwasher to let it air-dry. When the cycle finishes, crack open the dishwasher door to let in fresh air. Let the dishwasher dry out completely so you can check for any problem areas. [4] X Research source
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Empty large food particles out from the dishwasher drain. Locate the drain at the bottom of your dishwasher and look for any large pieces of food or buildup that were dislodged during the cleaning cycle. Pick the debris out by hand or use a damp cloth to wipe the pieces out. [5] X Research source
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Wipe any spots still inside of your dishwasher. Check inside of your dishwasher for any residual spots or marks that the vinegar didn’t reach. Dampen a cloth with vinegar or soapy water, and wipe down the interior of the machine. Once the spot disappears, then wipe it off with a clean cloth to dry the area. [6] X Research sourceEXPERT TIPHouse Cleaning ProfessionalJames Sears leads the customer happiness team at Neatly, a group of cleaning gurus based in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. James and the team have nine years of experience and offer green cleaning, interior and exterior window washing, and general apartment cleaning services. He provides transformative cleaning experiences by reducing clutter and renewing your home environment. James is a Trustee Scholar at the University of Southern California.
Try running another hot-water-only cycle to finish cleaning the machine. After you finish the cycle with vinegar, run another cycle with hot water. That will rinse away the vinegar so it doesn't corrode the plastic gaskets inside the dishwasher.
Community Q&A
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QuestionIs this method safe if my dishwasher is stainless steel inside?Community AnswerYes, vinegar and baking soda are both safe on stainless steel.
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QuestionHow does the dish of vinegar (on the top shelf) get mixed with the baking soda (on the bottom?)Community AnswerWhen you run the dishwasher, the water jets will mix the two ingredients. It's the same as when you add the soap, it gets dissolved and sprayed through the jets from the water basin at the bottom of the washer.
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QuestionJust to confirm, I should do one load with vinegar, then one load with baking soda, and not one load with vinegar and baking soda together?Community AnswerNo, both at the same time: baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher, glass of vinegar on the top rack. Mid-cycle, stop the dishwasher, open the door, wait 20 minutes and restart your machine, just like if you had forgotten to put something in it.
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Tips
- How often you clean your dishwasher depends on how often you use it. If you use your dishwasher more often, such as every day, clean it out more frequently.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tGRhezUEonw?t=60
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tGRhezUEonw?t=80
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202617
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/how-to-clean-dishwasher
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-kitchen/how-to-clean-dishwasher
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?t=289
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tajBDbFkDDQ?t=6
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/how-to-clean-dishwasher
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/dishwashers/how-to-make-your-dishwasher-last-longer-a7937722178/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/_-TRcRya-dA?t=333
- ↑ https://www.lg.com/ae/lg-story/helpful-guide/how-to-clean-your-dishwasher
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/do-you-have-to-clean-dishwasher-22949977
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/dishwashers/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher-a1075685014/
- ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/885805/this-is-what-happens-when-you-use-bleach-in-your-dishwasher/
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/dishwashers/how-to-make-your-dishwasher-last-longer-a7937722178/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-kitchen/how-to-clean-dishwasher
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-kitchen/how-to-clean-dishwasher
- ↑ https://www.landersappliance.com/will-vinegar-hurt-my-stainless-steel-dishwasher/
- ↑ https://universalappliancerepair.com/can-standard-dish-soap-used-dishwasher/
About This Article
To clean a dishwasher with vinegar, start by pouring 1 cup of vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container and then placing the container on the top rack of your dishwasher. Next, close your dishwasher and start a hot water cycle. Halfway through the cycle, stop the dishwasher and let the vinegar sit for 20 minutes. Then, finish the cycle and wipe down the inside of the dishwasher with a cloth or rag. To learn how to wash the individual pieces in your dishwasher with vinegar, scroll down!
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