While it seems like a dishwasher should constantly be cleaning itself, this isn’t actually the case. With every load you wash, food, grease, detergent and water residue builds up throughout the dishwasher. This grease and grime can result in an unpleasant smell, a dirty appearance and can even leave a film on your dishes. If the food and grime builds up over time, it can also damage the filter, resulting in expensive repairs or the need to buy a new dishwasher entirely. Keep this hard-working little appliance looking (and smelling) its best when you follow our dishwasher cleaning schedule.
Dishwasher maintenance quick tips:
- Use a high-quality dishwasher detergent and rinse aid to reduce the spots that can develop on the dishwasher’s interior of your dishwasher.
- If you live in an area with hard water, use a whole-home water softener to help prevent mineral build-up in your dishwasher.
- Leave the door open at the end of a cycle can help prevent mould or mildew from developing.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher
Regular dishwasher maintenance will keep your appliance running smoothly and efficiently. You can take small steps daily, weekly and monthly that will make your cleaning schedule easy to follow. Here’s how to clean your dishwashers parts to ensure it runs with maximum efficiency.
Daily Dishwasher Cleaning
Daily dishwasher maintenance helps prevent any long-term issues. First, remove any leftover food debris after the cycle finishes running. Any dishwasher odours are usually caused by food debris left in a dishwasher. To prevent food from entering the dishwasher, give your dishes a quick rinse before loading the dishwasher. Wipe the exterior of the dishwasher with a soft cloth or pick up a pack of our UV3 Stainless Steel Cleaning Wipes for a streak-free shine on your stainless.
Weekly Dishwasher Cleaning
Weekly cleaning gives your dishwasher a deeper clean. Remove and rinse the dishwasher filter by running it under hot water, and use a small scrub brush to scrub the screen and frame to remove food particles. Next, wipe down the inside door with a damp cloth or sponge, and scrub any grime from the rubber seal with a small scrub brush or toothbrush.
Monthly Dishwasher Cleaning
Every month, deep clean the interior of the dishwasher to keep it in optimal shape. This deep clean will remove trapped food, detergent residue and mineral build-up. To deep clean the dishwasher, you can use the dishwasher’s self-clean cycle. This sanitizing cycle runs hotter and longer than a normal cycle, which helps kill any bacteria food residue left behind. A self-cleaning dishwasher, such as the Frigidaire Built-In Dishwasher with Dual OrbitClean® Wash System has a stainless steel filtration system with a self-cleaning filter that eliminates food particles, keeping dishes clean.
If the dishwasher doesn’t have a self-clean cycle, don't fret! You can get a sparkling clean with an Affresh dishwasher cleaning tablet, which is a foaming tablet that fights residue and build-up, or create your own cleaning concoction using common household products. Simply put a small bowl of vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and run the dishwasher on a hot water cycle. Once the cycle is complete, sprinkle baking soda on the button of the dishwasher and run it once more for a sparkling, clean, odour-free dishwasher.
Often the most overlooked appliance to clean, keeping a dishwasher clean is one of the most essential appliances to clean regularly. With ongoing maintenance, you will keep your dishwasher in excellent shape for years to come.
