Dishwashers are an important appliance in modern family kitchens. They can effectively reduce the burden of kitchen chores. Once you have enjoyed the joy of freeing your hands, you will never go back to the days of washing dishes by hand.
It should be noted that whether your dishwasher is a sink type or a built-in type, and whether it is used frequently or infrequently, do not neglect to clean and maintain the product, especially food residues that are not cleaned in time, which are not only easy to breed bacteria and produce odors, but also cause "secondary pollution" to tableware or fruits and vegetables, and even affect the cleaning effect.
If you have doubts about the cleaning and maintenance of dishwashers, the content in this blog will help you a lot.
The cleaning and maintenance of dishwashers generally adopt two methods: manual cleaning and dishwasher self-cleaning. You can choose according to the actual situation:
Manual cleaning method
For most dishwashers, the parts that can be manually cleaned are the machine surface, slag basket, spray arm, filter plate, and slot (cavity) body.
- Machine surface
Mainly includes the control panel and door glass.
You can use a sponge cloth dipped in hot water and a small amount of detergent to clean it. After cleaning, wipe it with a dry soft cloth to avoid water accumulation affecting the use. (Tip: If there are stains in the gaps at the door joints, you can use a cotton swab dipped in sodium citrate to clean them)
- Slag basket, spray arm, filter screen
Hold the top of the slag basket, rotate it counterclockwise to remove it, remove the upper white plastic part, pour out the residue, and rinse it clean.
Pinch the bottom of the spray arm with your fingers, press, and rotate counterclockwise (if you don’t have enough strength and can’t press it, you can use the side of your thumb to turn it counterclockwise). When you hear a sound, you can remove the spray arm and rinse it under running water.
The filter screen is directly below the spray arm. Remove it directly clean it with neutral detergent and rinse it with clean water.
- Bottom, inner wall, and four corners of the tank
Add a small amount of neutral detergent, rinse the bottom and inner wall of the sink with clean water, and then wipe it dry with a dry rag. If there is "floating rust" or "mildew spots" on the tank, apply toothpaste to the rust and spots, and wipe it clean with a rag.
After all parts are cleaned, wipe them dry with a rag, then assemble and reset the parts in order, and check whether they are installed in place.
What should I do if the dishwasher produces scale?
If the dishwasher heating plate is scaled due to water quality problems, you can pour citric acid powder on the scale, add a few drops of water and wait for the scale to completely dissolve, then wipe it with a rag.
To avoid scale accumulation, it is recommended to use descaling cleaning tablets regularly.
If the built-in dishwasher produces scale in the inner tank due to lack of softening salt, softening salt should be added in time, and a small amount of citric acid should be placed in the inner tank of the dishwasher. After running any complete program, run a super fast wash again.
Notes:
Try to avoid using strong bleaching powder, household chemicals, etc. during cleaning to prevent corrosion of the tank body; do not use steel brushes or rough brushes to scratch the tank body.
Do not leave lemons, sauces, pickles, mustard, or other salt-rich or corrosive foods in the tank body and on the panel for a long time to prevent them from corroding the tank body and panel.
Do not place low-carbon steel or cast iron cookware in the dishwasher for a long time, or place cleaning utensils in the sink to avoid the formation of "floating rust" and "mildew spots" over time.
Self-cleaning method of dishwasher
In addition to manual cleaning, the "self-cleaning" function of the dishwasher can also help us further enhance the cleaning effect, and it saves time and effort.
When cleaning the sink dishwasher, first keep the sink dishwasher empty, then put an appropriate amount of dishwashing powder, select the standard washing mode (some models have a "cavity cleaning" function key), and then let the dishwasher enter the "self-cleaning" mode. After 30 minutes of cleaning, the inside of the dishwasher will become very clean.
In addition, the use of dishwasher cleaning tablets according to actual conditions can help remove stubborn scale, oil stains, and odors in the tank, improve the washing effect, and extend the service life.
If the cavity of your sink dishwasher is heavily contaminated, it is recommended to clean the larger food residues first, disassemble the filter plate, slag basket, etc. place them on the bowl rack, and then put the cleaning tablets in the middle of the bottom of the tank for cleaning.
Built-in dishwasher
Put the washing machine tablet in the detergent bin where the dishwashing tablet is placed (if it cannot be placed, you can put it on the filter net), close the built-in dishwasher door, and click the "self-cleaning" button to quickly self-clean the cavity. (If there is no self-cleaning program, clean it according to the manual cleaning method).
If you have not used the dishwasher for a long time because you are out or for other reasons, you can perform a self-cleaning before using it again, which is cleaner.
Cleaning frequency of dishwasher
In terms of daily cleaning, after each use of the dishwasher, you should clean the food residue in the slag basket in time to avoid affecting the cleaning effect next time and generating odor.
After washing the dishes, take out the tableware. It is best to open the machine door to ventilate the dishwasher cavity and keep it dry to prevent the generation of odor.
To ensure that the dishwasher can better play its role, it is recommended to perform deep cleaning 1-2 times a month. If the dishwasher is not used for a long time, you can apply a layer of oil on the inner tank to protect the inner tank.
How to remove the odor of the dishwasher?
Over time, the inside of the dishwasher will produce odor, which will affect the cleaning effect of the dishwasher and spread to the tableware in the dishwasher. Here are a few ways to remove odors from your dishwasher:
- Lemon
Cut a lemon in half and place the lemon in the upper basket of your dishwasher. Then run a dishwasher program. The natural acidity of the lemon can help remove odors.
- White vinegar
Pour a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and run the dishwasher cleaning program. The acidity of vinegar can kill bacteria and remove odors.
- Baking Soda
After the vinegar cycle, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher.
Run a short, hot water cycle. Baking soda will help eliminate any lingering odors and brighten the interior of the dishwasher.
In short, regular cleaning of your dishwasher is the key to keeping it working properly and extending its life. By cleaning the filter, removing odors, and cleaning the interior regularly, you can ensure that your dishwasher provides clean, hygienic dishes and good cleaning results.