Cleaned Dishwasher...

[coopns]

The wife sends me a video on how "easy" it is to clean the dishwasher. So I get after it and oh my lord...couldn't believe the gunk in there. Used sprays, toothbrush, scrubbing everything, took about 2 hrs. This is after 4 years and in a busy house but the kids put everything in there despite me telling them otherwise. I can't even be bothered half the time to use it would rather just clean them. Jez it was bad.

 

[atikovi]

20 year old dishwasher here. Never would have occurred to me to clean a machine that, well, washes stuff.

 

[mrsilv04]

For a couple of years, I used the Aldi brand of dishwasher detergent. At least, until I realized that it was awful stuff and had gunked up the pump and screens of my dishwasher. (yes, I use HOT water when I run the dishwasher). Through a similar manual cleaning, and vinegar/baking soda, and the use of reputable name brand detergents, I was able to reverse the damage.

I suspect that the Aldi formula was an early phosphate-free product, that simply didn't work as planned. As often happens when the government has these wonderfully good intentions with their mandates.

Admittedly, we do have hard water here, which very well might have been a contributing factor. But it is a factor that the name brand detergents seem to be able to handle just fine.

 

[skyactiv]

Coopns, does your dishwasher have a stainless steel interior or plastic? Do you use a rinse aid?

 

[Pablo]

I would only resort to brushes and stuff for the last resort. Seems like too much work.

Empty the DW

No need for dry cycles - just use strongest cycles for below

First run citric acid powder (fill dispenser available at beer and wine making and other places, Bezos) and white vinegar pour a couple cups in for 3-4 cycles. The stainless should be very bright at this point.

Then run a couple cycles with baking soda. Run a cycle with just water.

Repeat as necessary, cleaning screen(s) as well. Run double detergent if necessary.



It should be spotless. Loaf or do other chores. Be with your family while the DW runs.

 

[Greasymechtech]

I just clean the drain filters as needed. The dishwasher cleans itself with the dishes.

 

[coopns]

Coopns, does your dishwasher have a stainless steel interior or plastic? Do you use a rinse aid?

Stainless and no rinse aid.

I just feel like by the time you prewash in the sink, then put them in the dishwasher, I could be done with it all and waste of water. My two cents.

Again, 2 adults and 4 kids and 4 years later...I guess.

 

[dishdude]

If you have hard water, a rinse aid is necessary. And rinse off the dishes before you put them in the machine.

 

[GON]

Two big issues- one- hard water. Hard water is brutal on dishwashers and washing machines. If one has hard water, the dishwasher is going to mechanically suffer (and not clean as well). The other issue is the quality of the dishwasher soap- a soap that properly dissolves, and does so quickly is very important.

But back to number one. If the water is hard, the dishwasher will be subject to additional cleaning issues. And a tip- if one has hard water, glass magic is a great product to use in the dishwasher.

 

[Rand]

I have hard water(of course its all relative)
between jetdry and cascade platinum there is no build up.

I hose off the worst junk in the sink and load em up.

 

[BAJA_05]

I clean the drain filter every 3 months with Dawn dish soap and an old toothbrush. Use Cascade Dishwasher cleaner pods once a month besides. Use Cascade powder and Cascade 3 N 1 Dry for washing only. Biggest thing is to wash dishes off first and run the water hot. Bosh Dishwasher bought new 10 years ago and still works flawless -- luv that its super quiet also.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I have never had to clean a dish washer. We use a lot of salt in our water softner and maybe that keeps it clean.

 

[Pablo]

Hardly rinse now we just knock the chunks off and in they go with our new Bosch

We just didn’t realize just how terrible our Whirlpool had become

 

[wwillson]

If you use a rinse-aid like JetDry, which is a surfactant, the inside of your dishwasher will always look brand new. I learned this the hard way.

 

[Bud]

I check the screen monthly and then run a cleaner made by Finish through mine. Keeps it spotless. I sometimes wonder why we even have one, as the wife basically cleans the dishes before they go in the dishwasher.

 

[skyactiv]

@coopns —- I’m curious how much your washer gets used with a household of 6

 

[Lubener]

Running some citric acid in an empty dishwasher once in a while keeps my dishwasher clean.

 

[Pablo]

Running some citric acid in an empty dishwasher once in a while keeps my dishwasher clean.

This. People didn't respond when I mentioned it above. Works really awesome, IMHO.

 

[Rand]

If you use a rinse-aid like JetDry, which is a surfactant, the inside of your dishwasher will always look brand new. I learned this the hard way.

its relatively cheap if you buy the giant bottle from sams club or costco.

 

[Lubener]

This. People didn't respond when I mentioned it above. Works really awesome, IMHO.

I will give you credit for that. I offered some reinforcement from my experiences.