Have you had problems with your dishwasher not cleaning well or growing mold? Here are 
some tips on cleaning your dishwasher to make sure that your dishes come out clean and sanitized.
- Mold requires nutrients and moisture which can both be found in a dishwasher. The first thing to check is the filter to make sure there is no food left in it. To get to the filter remove the bottom rack. Usually it is either in the middle or back on the bottom of the dishwasher. Then clean any food or gunk that might be in it. If your dishwasher is attached to your garbage disposal it is always a good idea to run it before you start your dishwasher to make sure there is no food remaining in the sink drain. Also check the silverware drawer to make sure there is no food caught in it. It can easily hide in that spot!
- Check the door gaskets to make sure that there is no mold growing. Look on the sides of the gaskets since often water can get trapped there and mold can grow. If that is a problem you may need to wipe the gaskets dry after you empty the dishwasher.
- If the inside of your dishwasher is NOT stainless steel try getting a bucket with 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of bleach. Remove the racks and use a brush to scrub the inside of your machine. If there are small areas try an old toothbrush. I try and save some for just these kind of projects. Make sure you aren’t mixing the bleach with any other cleaning products and wear gloves to protect your hands. After cleaning run the dishwasher empty to rinse out the bleach residue.
- If your dishwasher inside is stainless steel don’t use the bleach solution since it could damage it. Instead try cleaning with vinegar. Getting on the inside with a brush or toothbrush and using the vinegar will get in all the areas that need to be cleaned. If there is an area (most commonly right inside the door on the bottom) where mold is growing try soaking some paper towels in vinegar and laying them on that area to soften and clean. Then scrub with the brush again.
- Remember I said earlier that mold grows with food and moisture so use the heated dry setting. This will not only make your dishes dryer when they are clean but also dries out the inside of the machine. If you plan to be gone and not using your dishwasher regularly it might be a good idea to leave the door open slightly to make sure that any moisture that might be in it will have the opportunity to dry and not cause a mold problem.
- One last thought…check the holes on the spray arm to make sure they are not clogged. Sometimes hard water can plug the holes and not allow the water to circulate in the dishwasher. If you find any that are plugged remove the spray arm to clean it.
Hopefully these cleaning steps will help! If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact us at AnswerLine.
