How to clean a dishwasher at home: cleaning tips

Any household appliance needs care and dishwashers (hereinafter also referred to as dishwashers, PMM) are no exception. This article is devoted to how to clean a dishwasher at home. During operation, grease and scale residues remain not only on the walls of the chamber, but also in other places. Over time, deposits build up, creating a favorable environment for mold and bacteria to grow.

Constantly washing dirty dishes leads to the accumulation of grease and scale in the PMM.

Today, manufacturers such as Bosch, Siemens, Electrolux and others provide their machines with a self-cleaning function. But it solves the problem only partially. If you feel that something musty is coming from the PMM chamber, you need to immediately start cleaning the device.

There are two ways to do this:

• mechanical cleaning of surfaces;
• the use of household chemicals that destroy scale, mold and grease.

How often should the PMM be cleaned?

To avoid mold, unpleasant odors, debris and damage, regularly maintain the inner chamber:

• Rinse (wipe) the bottom tray after each wash (food residues may remain there).
• Check the filters and drain every week.
• Periodically leave the car open for ventilation (this will protect against rust and mold).
• Once every couple of months, turn on the high-temperature mode with a special cleaning agent - excellent disinfection, prevention of plaque, blockages of systems, pipes, drains.

If an unpleasant odor does appear, you will have to do a thorough cleaning at home. To do this you need to disassemble the car:

• Unplug the dishwasher.
• Take out the baskets and stands for dishes (compartments for Bosch and Electrolux appliances are equipped with wheels for convenience).
• Remove the strainer (at the bottom of the tray).
• Unscrew the impeller blades (some Hansa, Ariston, Bosch models are equipped with two sprayers - upper and lower).

How do you know when it's time to clean your dishwasher?

According to manufacturers' recommendations, equipment must be cleaned at least once a month, but not everyone strictly follows this rule.
The degree and speed of pollution is influenced by several factors:

1. Frequency of application . Not everyone uses a dishwasher every day, handling a small amount of dirty cutlery with their own hands, because it is much faster.
2. Nature of pollution . Washing plates, spoons and forks after a vegetable salad is much easier than cleaning the surface of a pot or pan after cooking fatty meat dishes. In the second case, contamination of components occurs much faster.
3. Temperature regime . Dishwashers have different water heating modes. They become dirty faster with frequent use of low-temperature cycles. This is due to the fact that at low temperatures fat dissolves much less well than at high temperatures.
4. Efficiency of cleaning products . The higher the activity of household dishwashing chemicals, the better it dissolves and removes dirt not only from dishes, but also from equipment components. However, it is risky to use overly aggressive compounds - if the dishwasher does a poor job of washing them out, this can have a negative impact on people’s health. At the same time, very mild detergents may do a poor job of both washing cutlery and maintaining cleanliness inside the device.

Check the cleanliness of the dishes after washing to determine the degree of contamination of the machine itself.
When deciding whether it’s time to start cleaning the dishwasher, you should focus on the condition of the dishes after washing:

• If the cutlery is sparkling clean and squeaks when you try to run your finger over it, everything is fine, the device is working properly, it is not dirty.

• If, after removing the dishes from the dishwasher, stains from dried water and traces of food are visible on them, it’s time to start cleaning.

The idea that when you decide to clean your dishwasher, you just need to run it with detergent is wrong. Before the device begins automatic cleaning, it must be washed manually.

The cleaning procedure consists of the following steps:

1. Washing filters, impellers, rubber seals.
2. Checking for mold. If it is detected, you need to treat the area affected by the fungus with a detergent.

Expert opinion Galina Valerievna Borodina After manual washing and inspection, you can start automatic cleaning of the dishwasher.

Preparatory measures

Before you start choosing and using dishwasher cleaning products, you need to prepare the device.

To wash your machine properly and without damaging it, you must do the following:

1. First you will need to remove all the dishes, otherwise they will be cleaned and not the surfaces of the device.
2. Check the filter and wipe the door. If the filter is at the bottom, look to see if anything is stuck, such as a spoon. This is important because if something blocks the leak, you will be left with standing dirty water. The filter is a part that captures debris from the inside. The filter screws are unscrewed. Wash it in warm water and soapy water for 10 minutes. Wash the parts where water does not flow during machine operation with soapy water.
3. Pull out the bottom post and inspect the drain area. Locate the drain on the bottom of the dishwasher and remove food with your hands before wiping the area with a clean rag. Make sure there are no objects there that could block the drain or cause damage to the pump or scratches.

Only after these steps can you start cleaning the dishwasher.

What happens if you avoid cleaning?

Dishwasher users often do not include cleaning their appliances on their list of household chores. Out of ignorance, many people believe that cleaning systems is nothing more than a procedure imposed by marketers to sell products. Skepticism is good in moderation - until the first blockage and breakdown. Not every dishwasher owner who has ignored cleaning is lucky with the long-term performance of the machine.

If the water supply is too hard, even the most powerful dishwasher, such as Bosch or Siemens, will last no more than 3 years - then inevitable failures will follow. Therefore, to ensure the safety of your equipment, do not forget about regular procedures, otherwise you may need to replace the heating element in the dishwasher or other repair procedures.

Let's summarize. To effectively rid PMM of traces of scale, you need to buy a suitable product and use it according to the instructions. If you ignore our recommendations, the equipment will face a series of breakdowns, which cannot always be eliminated without the help of a specialist.

Rust and mold

Rust and mold are faithful companions if the machine is not washed for a long time. Of course, it is better to prevent their occurrence than to look for cleaning methods.

But if rust and mold have already appeared, how to clean a dishwasher at home?

Helpful steps to remove such contaminants:

1. Fill a spray bottle with a solution prepared from boiling water and white vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. This is a good disinfectant against mold.
2. Wash the inside of the device with baking soda and vinegar. You can run a wash cycle by running the appliance at the hottest water temperature. You can wipe the walls and all parts with a solution of 1 tbsp. l. soda and 2 tbsp. l. vinegar.
3. Bleach will save you from rust. The product should not be used frequently. Bleach residue can end up on food and then into the human body. Use bleach as a last resort.
4. Finish tablets will help remove rust. They must be used daily for a week. After 7 days, not only the rust will disappear, but also all the fat.

How much citric acid should be added?

The effectiveness of cleaning the device directly depends on maintaining the required proportions when preparing the acid solution. The substance comes in two forms: liquid and crystalline. It is best to use the crystalline form as the liquid form is less effective as some of it will leak out of the dispenser.

The amount of product used directly depends on the degree of contamination of the machine. But since it is difficult to assess the thickness of limescale deposits without disassembling the unit, you can follow the recommendations based on the water consumption per cycle (you can find this out by looking at the instructions for the machine) and the instructions for the acid itself. The approximate figures will be: up to 40 grams with a 10-liter cycle, 50 grams with a 12-liter cycle and 60 with a 14-liter cycle.

How to clean your dishwasher from rust and mold

To prevent scale from appearing and parts not to rust, they must be wiped with a dry cloth daily. But what is the best way to clean a household dishwasher from rust, mold and grease if deposits have already appeared?

1. Mold is removed with bleach;
2. The coating is renewed with sealant;
3. For prevention, an inlet filter is installed;
4. Rust is cleaned off with a special compound.

Important! To prevent mold from appearing, it is better to leave the machine door in the open position after use.

Use of ready-made chemicals

Several aggressive agents are suitable for removing plaque and rust:

1. Finish Machine Cleaner. When cleaning, the bottle goes down with the neck down. A special membrane dissolves in hot water and neutralizes grease, odors, and mold;
2. Antiscale. Powder degreaser removes lime and rust from parts located inside the PMM;
3. Filtero. A liquid that removes rust and fat deposits;
4. Electrolux. The liquid preparation fights grease and small food waste, and the flavored powder fights scale;
5. Frau Schmidt. The liquid product is used to clean the dishwasher from all types of contaminants;
6. Clean Home. Express descaling agent;
7. Top House. An active liquid composition that removes greasy residues, fungus, rust and mold;
8. Flavored tablets. They are placed in the machine during operation and remove unpleasant odors.

Finish Machine Cleaner Anti-scale Clean Home Filtero Top House Frau Schmidt
Any product must be used in an empty dishwasher. The device operates for 45-90 minutes, the water is supplied hot.

Advice! After treatment, run a short-term idle rinse and wipe the surface dry.

Alternative to purchased products

Budget home remedies, as users note, are no less effective than store-bought ones. What is the best way to clean a dirty dishwasher quickly and at home? The ingredients for the compositions can be found in every home:

• vinegar and soda. 9% acetic acid in the amount of 1.5-2 tbsp. poured into a container and placed in the upper basket. Soda is poured into the bottom of the tray. The machine operates for a long time. After heating the water, it remains on overnight;
• lemon acid. You will need 150-200 g, poured into the basket. Cleaning takes place at high temperature, the device is forced to stop for several hours;
• vinegar and lemon powder. The solution is prepared and poured into a container with a spray bottle. The product is sprayed only on the surface where there is scale;
• soda tablets. Pour baking soda into a glass, add 15 drops of aroma oil and 1-2 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide. The components are mixed until it becomes wet sand. Balls are formed from the mixture and placed on the bottom of the PMM. The device operates on a long program;
• bleach. 200 ml is poured into the device and a long cycle is selected. Bleach is not suitable for machines with stainless steel components.

Alternative remedies

There are many ways to quickly and efficiently clean a microwave from grease, food debris and other contaminants.

Vinegar

All you need to do to remove stubborn greasy deposits from the surface of the microwave oven:

Treatment with vinegar is carried out only in a well-ventilated area, with an open vent or window. Vinegar fumes negatively affect human health!

This article will tell you how to clean a microwave with vinegar, and this article with vinegar and soda.

Dishwashing liquid

This method is effective in combating minor pollution . All you need to do is place a sponge in the microwave with a small amount of liquid detergent, turn on the device at full power for thirty seconds, wipe all surfaces with a soapy warm sponge, and rinse off the foam with clean water.

Orange peels

Orange peel will not only help dissolve minor contaminants from the surface of the microwave oven, but will also remove all unpleasant odors and fill the room with a pleasant citrus aroma.

• put a bowl of water and orange peel in the microwave,
• run the device at maximum power for five minutes,
• wait ten minutes (the microwave doors do not open),
• Remove drops of grease and food debris with a soft cloth.

When traditional methods are powerless in the fight against dried grease stains on the walls of the microwave, professional cleaning products will come to the rescue. TOP 3 best special microwave oven cleaning products:

Spray for microwave ovens Topperr

Quickly removes traces of soot, oil, food residues on both the external and internal surfaces of the household appliance. Spray:

Gel Miracle Antinagar

An alkaline gel product designed to remove grease and food stains from the surfaces of microwave ovens. Thanks to its thick structure, the product is ideal for cleaning inclined and vertical surfaces.

Grass Azelit anti-grease

A gel whose improved formula helps to quickly deal with:

Do not exceed the contact time between household chemicals and contaminated surfaces specified by the manufacturer. If the dirt cannot be completely removed the first time, the walls of the microwave must be washed off with warm water and the cleaning agent must be applied a second time.

How to descale your dishwasher

The dishwasher must be descaled no more than once every 3 months. It is not worth disassembling the device - this can break the tightness of the connections and short-circuit the wiring. Heaters are cleaned with acids and washed. They operate at high temperature and additionally rinse the products.

Negative effects of scale

Several products can be used to descale PMM.

Somat Machine Cleaner from Henkel

The liquid substance is applied to all elements that are subject to scale. Effective at temperatures of 60–70 degrees. The special feature of Somat Machine Cleaner is its fragrance, which emits a pleasant smell after treatment. The substance is quite caustic, so wear rubber gloves before use.

Frau Schmidt tablets

The German product can only be used if there is a special compartment for it in the dishwasher. The peculiarity of the tablets is their unique composition. Its components perform 2 functions at once: they clean the device of scale and act as a detergent. Frau Schmidt will not remove large layers of scale at once, but with regular use they will cope with even stubborn stains.

Please note that the tablets may not completely dissolve during the washing process, and, as a result, traces and the smell of chemicals may remain on the dishes.

Top House

Remedy with o. It is sold in the form of a gel-like liquid and stands out among competitors with good savings. For a loaded chamber, it is enough to pour 50 ml into the compartment to thoroughly wash the dishes. Also, the use of a German product helps reduce water consumption and effectively descale.

Clean Home

A universal product that is used not only for cleaning PMM. It is also used to treat kitchen furniture and accessories. According to user reviews, Clean Home can only handle light stains.

Electrolux

When used in a timely manner, this expensive product blocks the accumulation of plaque on heating devices. Pour the required amount of powder into the hopper and run the quick wash cycle. After treatment, Electrolux leaves no odor, so you can immediately start washing dishes.

Finish

One of the most purchased brands in Russia. The product is sold in different forms, so make sure it is suitable for your dishwasher before purchasing. Finish comes in tablets and capsules. Capsules are the most effective, but they are also quite expensive. Use a universal detergent when washing dishes, even very dry ones. To do this, insert the capsule or tablet into the special compartment and start the wash. The capsule dissolves quickly, so it can also be used in quick wash modes. The tablet, in turn, may not decompose, so set the washing mode to the maximum time.

Vinegar

The device operates normally with the product that is always in use. After stopping the machine:

1. The tray extends;
2. 400-450 ml of vinegar is poured down (it is better to use 9%);
3. The machine is set to heat;
4. When the temperature rises, wait 40 minutes to 8 hours.

The dishwasher turns off at the end of the program.

Borax

You will need sodium borate, which you can buy at the pharmacy:

1. The powder product is diluted in water, and then all working surfaces are wiped with it;
2. Sodium borate is diluted with water 1:5;
3. The solution is poured into the detergent container.

The equipment operates in standard mode until it stops completely.

Lemon acid

The product is used to combat scale, grease, and mold:

1. With a minimum and average amount of scale, you will need 200-300 g of lemon;
2. In case of severe contamination, use 300-400 g of lemon powder;
3. The product is poured into the cleaning compartment;
4. The intensive mode starts until complete completion.

After the end of the program, rinse with water again.

Soda and peroxide

A product made from soda with hydrogen peroxide has an active effect on pollution. To clean the machine:

1. Mix 350 g of soda with 3 tbsp. spoons of hydrogen peroxide.
2. Form a ball from the resulting mass and throw it into the machine’s hopper.
3. Run a long washing process with high preheating temperature.
4. If plaque remains after treatment, repeat the procedure.

Usually, even with severe blockages, several procedures are sufficient.

Salt

If the contamination is severe, salt will have little effect, so it is used for prevention. Once a week, fill the machine's hopper with it and rinse without using dishes. Salt blocks oxidation and scale buildup.

Antiscale

The chemical can be purchased at a hardware store.
The composition has a gel form, so it is very economical. Antiscale is used strictly according to the instructions. If the machine is equipped with a function for adjusting water hardness, it is included in the background program. Important! If the water drains poorly, you need to remove the separated deposits from the hose.

Adviсe

All the tips are simple. However, their implementation is mandatory:

• unplug electric stoves and turn off the tap on gas stoves before starting procedures;
• when using products with aggressive odors, wear a mask;
• protect your hands with gloves;
• avoid getting any products into your eyes;
• do not forget to ventilate the oven after finishing work;
• exclude piercing, cutting and hard objects from available means;
• strictly follow the directions for dosage and duration of exposure.

Try to follow the recommendations. This will eliminate the possibility of poor-quality cleaning and will not harm your health.

How to clean the outside of a dishwasher

What is the best way to clean the outside of a dishwasher to keep it looking nice? A windshield wiper is recommended for the control panel. The same product is sprayed onto all external parts of the equipment and wiped with a dry cloth. There are no dirty stains left.

If there is grease or heavy deposits, add dishwashing detergent to the sponge. It is applied to stains and washed off after 10-15 minutes. Then the walls and other surfaces are processed.

Advice! Do not use products that contain alkali, sulfuric or hydrochloric acid to clean the outside of the machine.

Removing dirt from baskets

The ingrained deposits of fatty deposits and scale are not so easy to wash off from the surface of the baskets. To make your task easier, use one of the commercially available PMM cleaning products (they will be discussed below).

Do the following:

1. Place the baskets in a large container so that they fit entirely.
2. Pour boiling water over them and add cleaning product.
3. Leave to soak until the water cools down.
4. Now use a soft brush and remove any remaining softened dirt.

Cleaning the basket from dirt with a toothbrush