Q&A for How to Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar

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Is this method safe if my dishwasher is stainless steel inside?

Community Answer

Yes, vinegar and baking soda are both safe on stainless steel.

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Question

How does the dish of vinegar (on the top shelf) get mixed with the baking soda (on the bottom?)

Community Answer

When 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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Question

Just 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 Answer

No, 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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Question

Can I use apple cider vinegar?

Donagan

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Yes, any kind of vinegar will work well.

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Question

Should the bowl of vinegar be emptied out when cleaning my dishwasher with vinegar?

Community Answer

It should be replaced with water. As the dishwasher runs, water sprayed by the dishwasher will collect in the bowl and overflow, mixing below. Make sure you choose a bowl or cup where the vinegar is close to the top when filled with 1 cup. The cup should be filled with a diluted water vinegar mix when the cycle is done. If it’s just straight vinegar after the cycle, your dishwasher may have other problems.

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Question

I did this, but the vinegar stayed in the cup. Is that what was supposed to happen?

Community Answer

Look at the inside top of the dishwasher above the upper rack. There should be a small spray arm, position the vinegar cup under that spray arm, rather than the outer perimeter of the rack, that should allow more of the vinegar to mix with the water.

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Question

Does the vinegar stay in the bowl, or should it be emptied out?

Community Answer

The vinegar will flow out as the water fills the bowl. You want to use a container that will hold the cup of vinegar and be filled to 1/4 inch of the rim. A Pyrex style one cup glass measuring vessel is perfect. You can fill it to a 1/4 inch below the pouring spout ( a few extra ounces of vinegar).

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Question

Can I run the cycle with vinegar on the sanitize setting and not stop it midway through if I don't have baking soda?

Community Answer

Yes. You can use only vinegar if you don't have baking soda. You would not need to stop the cycle if you do not use baking soda.

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