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Despite its job being to wash away the remnants of dinner, your dishwasher isn’t immune to the grime and funk that can accumulate over time—no, it doesn’t clean itself!

So, if you’re ready to bring back the shine to your appliance, stick around, as here we’ll share with you a way to clean your dishwasher like a pro. The cool part? No need to douse it in harsh chemicals; just raid your kitchen for some baking soda and vinegar!

Step #1. Empty out your dishwasher

Your dishwasher has to be completely empty for a thorough cleaning. So, take out racks, utensil holders, dishes, and any other stuff you could have in there.

Chuck the racks and holders into the sink with some warm, soapy water to scrub them as soon as you take them out so they’re good and dry when you’re done sprucing up your machine.

Step #2. Make sure to clean the filter

Your dishwasher filter is one of the most important parts to clean. Neglect it, and you might face blockages, leaks, or a busted water pump. And if you notice a funky smell coming out of your appliance, it’s often thanks to food clogging up the filter.

Here’s the drill for cleaning the filter:

1. Take out the filter. Spot it as a little circular gadget at the bottom of the dishwasher. Twist and lift, or consult the appliance’s manual if you’re unsure where it is and how to take it out.
2. In most dishwashers, you’ll find a mesh filter. If yours has it, pull it out too.
3. Get into the cavity where the filter sat and clear out any lingering food bits.
4. Toss both filters in the sink, hit them with warm, soapy water, and scrub away the grime. Use a soft toothbrush for the mesh filter and your kitchen sponge for the other one.
5. Put the filters back where they belong, all in the right order.

Note: Some dishwashers have self-cleaning filters. If yours is one of them, just skip this step.

Step #3. Pretreat the dishwasher

To make your cleaning more effective, pretreat your dishwasher’s walls. That way, stuck on food will be easier to deal with.

First, grab a clean cloth, dip it in warm, soapy water, and wipe over all the goo and gunk. Rinse and repeat. Not every bit will budge, but the most stubborn stuff will be softened. Also, you can use a toothpick or clip to tackle any clogged water jet holes.

Note: Food on the door’s rubber seal can lead to leaks. If you spot gunk there, hit it with soapy water and a soft toothbrush.

Step #4. Run a cycle with vinegar

The main role of vinegar here is to help you dissolve hard water spots. Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with two cups of vinegar, place it on the dishwasher’s floor, and let the machine run a hot water cycle.

Once the cycle ends, there will be no more white spots, and the grease will be weakened. Vinegar will work against bad odors, too!

Note: Concerned about vinegar harming your dishwasher? No sweat! It’s safe as long as you avoid pouring it into the detergent compartment.

Step #5. Finish with baking soda

Once the previous cycle wraps up, run a short new one (also with hot water), but this time, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the dishwasher floor. Baking soda’s chemical prowess will work on the softened stains, gunk, and grease, dissolving them in water.

Lastly, run a drying cycle before placing the racks and holders back into the dishwasher.

Note: If your dishwasher lacks a drying cycle, dry the interior manually with a clean cloth. Pay attention to slits and tiny holes to avoid potential mold growth.

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Keeping a pristine kitchen needs more than a clean dishwasher. Hire CHRIStal Clean, and don’t worry about it! Our reliable maids will clean your kitchen and your whole house from top to bottom with the best cleaning products. Get a free quote today!

Even though they may look alike, microfiber cloths are different from other cleaning rags. They offer unique benefits that make them a superior choice for your cleaning chores, and here we’ll share them with you.

Kitchen sponges are likely the most used cleaning items you have, which means they often end up dirty, smelly, and full of germs. When this happens, you can’t keep cleaning stuff with them, especially when those are your dishes and kitchen utensils.

Luckily, you can get rid of those yucky germs in many ways! Here are five of the most effective methods for disinfecting your kitchen sponges.

Method #1. Chlorine bleach

Bleach is a homeowner’s favorite because it can kill most viruses and bacteria. Perfect for disinfecting your kitchen sponge. 

To use this method, mix 3/4 cup of bleach in one gallon of water, and let your sponge soak in it for five to ten minutes. Once the time’s up, rinse the sponge under a faucet and wring it out. 

Warning: Bleach is corrosive and can harm your skin and lungs, so always ensure the area is well-ventilated and wear gloves to avoid direct contact with your skin.

Method #2. Microwave oven

Most bacteria can’t survive in high temperatures, so heating your sponge in the microwave is a quick trick to disinfect it.

You just need to soak your germy sponge in a microwave-safe container with plain water, place it in the appliance, and heat it for two minutes. Once you hear the finishing beep, carefully remove the sponge and wring out the excess water. 

Warning: Do not try this method if your sponge has metal or plastic fibers. Otherwise, you risk making sparks fly inside your microwave!

Method #3. Dishwasher

Your dishwasher has many settings, the most important for this task being the dry heat cycle—the one that kills the bacteria at high temperatures.

To disinfect your sponges with your dishwasher, place them on the top rack and run a dry heat cycle. The dishwasher will pump hot air into the sponge and kill the germs!

Note: Bacteria only start to die at temperatures over 140°F. Check if your dishwasher reaches said temperature on dry heat cycles. Otherwise, try another method.

Method #4. White vinegar 

White vinegar is often used for many cleaning tasks, so it isn’t too surprising to find out it’s also a decent sanitizer and odor remover! 

To sanitize your sponge with this method, you need to soak it in a bowl filled with white vinegar for ten minutes. Then, rinse the sponge under a faucet and wring it out.

Note: While vinegar does work for disinfecting, it’s not as effective as the other methods and only kills some viruses and bacteria. So, unless you don’t mind some germs remaining in your kitchen sponge, you may want to try a different option instead.

Method #5. Boiling water

Since bacteria can’t survive in high temperatures, boiling water does wonders for a germy sponge.

Heat a pot filled with water and once it starts to boil, place the sponge inside and let it simmer for five more minutes. This way, high temperatures in the water will kill the unseen germs in your sponge. Use tongs to remove the sponge from the pot and wait for it to cool before wringing.

Pro tip: air dry your sponges

Never leave your sponges wet and closed off. Dark, moist environments make for an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. To avoid germs growing in your recently disinfected sponge, keep it in an open, ventilated spot to air dry—do this after every time you do the dishes or scrub surfaces!

CHRIStal Clean can take over the household chores! 

Even the easiest chores—like disinfecting a sponge with these hacks—may take time you don’t have. So, why not let the pros do all the work? 

CHRIStal Clean offers the best cleaning services in Waukesha County so that you can focus on other things in your schedule! Book your services here.