How to clean a dishwasher at home: mechanical and chemical methods for cleaning a dishwasher. How to clean the dishwasher with vinegar and soda Cleaning the dishwasher with citric acid how much to pour

Clean the dishwasher once a week

After the first time after buying a dishwasher, the question arises of how to properly clean it at home. After all, improper operation of equipment leads to breakdown, and troubleshooting requires a lot of time and money.

With daily use of the machine, extensive cleaning is carried out at least once a week. If the dishes in it are washed less often, then it is necessary to clean after about ten tabs.

Before you start cleaning the dishwasher, you must make sure that the appliance is completely de-energized.

Filter cleaning

The cause of clogged filters in the dishwasher is the remains of food and fat on the washed object. The instruction manual often indicates the need to clean the dishes from food debris and rinse them with water. But even if you strictly follow the instructions, filters should be systematically cleaned from scale and plaque.

If this element is contaminated, the quality of the dishwasher is reduced, noise appears. In addition, the design of this technique is such that dirty filters lead to water leakage from under the door or its appearance at the bottom.

Special attention should be paid to the fine filter. This is a translucent mesh that has very small holes. When it gets dirty, the water stops flowing.

If the filter element is not heavily clogged, it is cleaned with soapy water and a sponge. After the procedure, it is washed, dried and put in place.

For severe clogging, you can use scouring powder or dishwashing detergent. Using an old toothbrush, they are applied to the part and cleaned, then washed off with water. This procedure is repeated as needed.

Baking soda with salt is the perfect solution for fighting body fat. They are diluted with water and applied to filters with a sponge.

Limescale and grease will help remove a solution of citric acid or vinegar. The filters are soaked for a couple of hours, after which they are rinsed and dried.

blades

The reason for the unsatisfactory quality of the dishwasher may be clogging of the blades (impeller, rocker). They are alternately removed, removed and washed. Holes are cleaned with a toothpick or other sharp object.

Then rinse the blade under running water, install in place.

Drain

The drain hose is located in the central part of the lower section of the machine. Most contaminants can be removed manually or with a wire. If the water continues to drain unsatisfactorily, the drain is clogged from the inside. In this case, the hose is detached from the machine (it is attached with screws) and water is passed through it under pressure. You can use special tools.

It is necessary to constantly monitor the drain hoses for kinks. When they occur, the dishwasher stops draining water.

Heating element

The heating element is the most functional part of the machine, which is most susceptible to negative influences. The mineral deposits with which it is covered over time take more electricity to achieve the required temperature, which affects the overall efficiency.

The presence of scale is easily checked. It will be indicated by cloudy glass and plaque on glassware that has just been washed in the car.

To remove scale from the heating element, it is not necessary to remove it. Special substances or citric acid (50-60 g) are placed in the detergent container. The machine starts at maximum temperature for a full cycle.

It is advisable to repeat this procedure every three months.

Other places where dirt accumulates

The dish basket is affected by detergents and water. However, this does not prevent pollution. It must be taken out and washed by hand. After dry and put in place.

Doors, bottom and seals require special attention, because accumulated waste causes an unpleasant odor. In this case, you will need rags and detergents. You can resort to the help of soda and vinegar. An old toothbrush is good for cleaning hard-to-reach places.

The outside of the dishwasher is cleaned with an all-purpose detergent, a rag or a paper towel.

Watch the video of the cleaning process:

What to use?

It's easy to find on store shelves. List of some of them:

• Calgonite Finish (gel);
• BioMio BIO-Total (tablets);
• Claro (powder);
• Finish Quantum (tablets);
• Frosch Soda (tablets);
• Minel Total 7 (tablets).

When using cleaning products, follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Folk remedies

Soda

Baking soda removes old stains and eliminates unpleasant odors. It is required to pour soda into the machine tray, then turn it on at the highest temperature for a short time.

Vinegar

Effectively disinfects equipment and removes dirt and grease. To do this: fill the plate with vinegar (preferably distilled, white), place it on the top shelf. Turn on the device at maximum power. After work, leave the door open to eliminate unpleasant odors.

Lemon acid

It will help in the fight against scale. Pour 300 g of acid into the machine and run at full power.

Tip: as a preventive measure against scale and cleaning drains, it is sometimes necessary to drive the machine filled with one liter of vinegar.

With the advent of a dishwasher in the house, the life of the hostess becomes much easier. There is no need to stand at the sink for a long time, washing a mountain of plates and pans. However, do not forget that such equipment also needs regular cleaning. Proper care of your dishwasher will significantly extend its life and improve performance.

Causes of pollution

The main cause of dishwasher clogging is leftover food. Even if you carefully remove leftovers from plates, pots, and baking sheets, over time, food particles accumulate. Fat also gradually settles on the details, and scale inevitably appears. All of these have a significant impact on the efficiency of your dishwasher.

When should you wash?

Determining that it's time to wash the equipment is not at all difficult. Your dishwasher will tell you about this. We list the main "symptoms", with the appearance of which it is urgent to begin the cleaning process.

• Bad smell. If the car emits a strong unpleasant odor that you have not noticed before, do not ignore it. This fact suggests that the structural elements are clogged with grease and debris. The formation of mold fungus on the elements of technology is not excluded.
• characteristic noise. When the sound of the pump becomes too loud, you should check if the filter is dirty. The quality of washing dishes directly depends on this.

The degree of pollution of equipment depends on many factors. In particular from:

• degree of water hardness;
• intensity of use of the machine;
• the amount of greasy dishes;
• properties of the detergents used;
• the quality of pre-cleaning dishes.

Cleaning steps

In order to wash the equipment as efficiently as possible, it is important to divide the entire process of work into several successive parts.

We do deep cleaning

To do this, you need the simplest tools. First of all, we take any capacious container, fill it with water up to half, add two glasses acetic acid. If there is no suitable container at hand, you can use a sink for this purpose. In the resulting solution we place the removable elements of the dishwasher. This is necessary so that the parts get wet, and it is easier to wash them from accumulated contaminants.

Instead of vinegar, you can use regular citric acid, soda and even soda(provided that the drink is not too bright in color, otherwise stains may remain on the details). You can go the easy way and add a special dishwashing detergent to the water. After that, we deal with the bottom and walls of the car. You can clean them in any way convenient for you (for example, using detergent for dishwashers or stoves).

Dealing with structural elements

We remove the shelves and holders, take out their dishwashers. Further, the algorithm of actions depends entirely on the size of these parts. If the shelves and holders are large enough, you need to clean them separately. Wipe them with a sponge dipped in vinegar. In a situation where the structural elements of the machine are not too large, they can be placed in a container or sink in which other parts are soaked. Particular attention should be paid to the elimination of leftover food. Arm yourself with a toothpick or a thin sharp stick and carefully eliminate them.

Getting rid of accumulated debris

The design of the dishwasher includes washing carousels. They have special holes through which water is drained. It is important that foreign debris does not interfere with the movement of the fluid. You have to carefully check the openings of the carousels for blockages. To make the cleaning process as simple as possible, but at the same time most effective, you will need a wire or a thin skewer, as well as pliers.

You can clean the holes with wire by pulling it through the far hole. It is important to bend the wire thread from one end into a kind of hook. So you can easily remove stuck debris. The other way is more complicated. It involves creating a small hole on the outside of the part. In this case, the carousel can be easily cleaned from the inside with a brush. Most importantly, then it is imperative to close the drilled hole with a stainless steel screw of a suitable diameter.

We wipe the rest of the elements

The doors are not washed while the dishwasher is running. The same applies to the space around the baskets. It is necessary to carefully process such places manually. To do this, you will need a brush with soft bristles (a toothbrush will do), a cloth or a sponge. An excellent option would be the following cleaning method: wipe the main surface with a cloth dampened with a solution of vinegar or a non-aggressive detergent. And those places that are hard to reach for a rag, clean with a small brush. So you are guaranteed to achieve perfect cleanliness.

Eliminate grease and mold

To do this, you need ordinary bleach. Use it very carefully, do not add too much, do not mix with other detergents. Do not use bleach if the walls and doors of the equipment are made of stainless steel. Run the dishwasher in normal mode, do a few cycles. Upon completion of this procedure, open the doors of the machine and thoroughly dry the equipment inside.

We eliminate corrosion

In most cases, the appearance of traces of corrosion is due to the fact that too hard water with a high iron content enters the water supply. Or the pipes are old and rusty. You can soften the water with the help of special solutions, but this method does not always bring the desired effect. There is a more effective method - installing filters that remove iron from the water. This procedure will minimize the appearance of rust and limescale. If spots appear, the first step is to identify the cause of their appearance. Depending on this, it is worth choosing a cleaning method.

In a situation where the integrity of structural elements has suffered due to corrosion, you need to fix this with a special sealant that is sold in any store. Or you can replace the part without waiting for it to completely fail.

We return everything to its place

Once all parts of the dishwasher have been washed and dried, it's time to put them back in their place. If the equipment was used intensively, it is also necessary to clean the bottom. To do this, it is important to disconnect the machine from the mains and remove the bottom, carefully remove all debris and wipe the surface. This completes the cleaning of the machine at home. Now the equipment will work more stable and more efficiently. Before turning on the network, make sure that all elements are dry.

To keep your machine as infrequent as possible, follow these simple rules for regular maintenance.

• Use equipment for nothing from time to time. To do this, simply turn on the short cycle in economy mode. This will get rid of a significant amount of debris and pollution. Do not forget that it is better to use the machine constantly, avoiding long downtime (equipment breaks down faster if it is not used).
• Sometimes add vinegar. The process begins with the start of equipment in economy mode. In this case, it is necessary to add a small amount of ordinary vinegar to the dishwasher. In the middle of the cycle, stop the machine so that the structural parts are soaked in the vinegar solution. Then start the cycle again. This method is very good at fighting pollution.

How nice after a family dinner to load dirty plates and mugs into the dishwasher and do other household chores, entrusting cleaning to your kitchen assistant. But, like any technique, it requires periodic cleaning and maintenance. Find out how to effectively get rid of dirt and extend the life of your dishwasher for a long time!

How to clean a dishwasher

According to the instructions, before starting the dishwasher, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the food residues from dirty dishes. But many users neglect this rule, and as a result, the drain hose, door, garbage filter and other elements of the machine are clogged with waste. To prevent contamination, clean the equipment after 8-10 launches of plates, or once every 7 days, it all depends on the frequency of use of the kitchen “helper”. Let's move on to the detailed instructions for cleaning the machine:

• Disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply and turn off the water.
• Open the door all the way and remove the baskets for plates, mugs, and containers for washing spoons and forks. Soak removed accessories for 30-40 minutes in warm soapy water. During this time, the fat will get wet properly, all that remains is to wash the parts with a sponge for washing dishes.
• To wash the main chamber of the machine, use a non-chemical detergent. Since the walls of the chamber have an aluminum base, dirt is very easy to remove.
• Next, carefully disassemble the filter hole, remove the filter and wash with soap and water under running water. Then you can install it back.
• We turn to washing the filling holes - in order not to damage the blades, clean the adhering dirt with a thin wire or a toothpick.
• We clean the seals - for these purposes it is better to purchase a special tool recommended by the manufacturer. It is recommended to clean from dirt with a toothbrush, in a circular motion. To avoid damage to the gum, which will cause the dishwasher to leak, do not clean the area with folk remedies such as citric acid, etc.
• The lower part of the door is the "dead zone" in the kitchen helper. Water does not get here, but waste accumulates perfectly. This part must be cleaned with a coarse cloth from food debris, then washed with soapy water and rinsed with clean water.
• Wash the soaked baskets, insert them into the chamber, wipe the dishwasher door. Cleaning done!

How to clean mold from dishwasher

What to do if, in addition to fat and food waste, you find the presence of mold? There is a way out - simple detergents will not cope with this task. For an active fight, purchase hydrogen peroxide, concentrated acetic acid and whiteness in the store.

• To begin, inspect the entire dishwasher for fungus. In order for the mold to disappear completely, it is necessary to exclude all its habitats.
• Spray heavily infested areas with hydrogen peroxide where possible. On the sides, treat with a damp cloth in peroxide. Leave the dishwasher for 3-4 hours.
• After time, remove the peroxide with a damp cloth. Next, we wash all parts of the dishwasher with whiteness diluted with water. Do not forget that all procedures are carried out with rubber gloves.
• To get rid of the smell of chlorine after cleaning, treat the surfaces with acetic acid diluted 1:1 with water.
• For final drying and airing, leave the machine door open for at least 16-20 hours.

How to descale a dishwasher

Many experienced housewives are accustomed to cleaning the scale with citric acid, the method is really effective, but very painful for gaskets and filters.

• To effectively get rid of scale, purchase a specialized product, pour it into the car and turn it on for the most powerful and longest mode.
• The only folk remedy that will remove scale and not damage parts is to dilute 3 tbsp in a deep plate. spoons of 5% acetic acid, add half a glass of water and 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir thoroughly and place in the upper bowl for washing mugs. Run the machine in normal mode, without dishes.
• For prevention, cleanse once a month.

After buying a dishwasher, users over time are faced with the question of how to clean the dishwasher at home. During prolonged use, food, grease, and other contaminants accumulate in the washing compartment, which must be removed regularly.

To make cleaning less burdensome, certain operating rules must be observed.

Similar rules are spelled out in the instructions or operating manual. They are designed for everyday use and are suitable for regular maintenance with some frequency. These rules include:

1. Regularly inspect the water supply hose for blockages and leaks.
2. Drying the door rubber seal at least once a month.
3. Correct stacking of dishes without overloading.
4. Preliminary cleaning of dishes from food residues.
5. Timely addition of washing and regenerating salts.

Inspection

It is always necessary to inspect the structure for dirt and blockages. Visual control should be carried out regularly, and as it gets dirty, you need to clean the dishwasher and the dirtiest structural elements. The sequence of parts inspection is as follows:

• nozzles on the spray arms, which often become clogged;
• joints and connections with the door where dirt accumulates;
• space under the door;
• baskets on which fat accumulates;
• mesh filter, the cells of which are clogged.

Cleaning frequency

The main structural elements are subject to certain contamination. They require special attention and need to be cleaned at different intervals. The desired frequency is indicated in the table.

Strainer

This is the part most vulnerable to dirt. The filter prevents food residues from entering the circulation pump. It is located at the bottom of the loading compartment next to the sprinkler. Comprises:

• honeycomb plate;
• external filter cup with fine-meshed walls;
• inner sleeve with the same wall structure.

With irregular and untimely cleaning, dirt will accumulate on the filter, an unpleasant odor will appear, there will be problems with water circulation, and the device will stop working. To prevent this, the filter must be disassembled, cleaned with a brush or toothpick and washed under running water. For more serious contamination, place the filter in a washing solution and clean it after soaking.

Spray arms

These elements are also sensitive to dirt. Plaque and food debris clog openings, contribute to the appearance of scale, interfere with the spraying of liquid in the compartment. All this negatively affects washing dishes. Despite the obvious ease of care, not everyone knows how to clean the rocker without compromising its performance.

When cleaning the nozzles, do not clog the clog inward, it must be removed outward with a toothpick or thin wire. Another option is to supply water under pressure from the back of the rocker.

External contamination is easily washed off under running water using detergents.

door seal

Plaque accumulates here, which can disrupt the tightness of the fit, cause the seal to leak. To clean it, it is better not to use citric acid. It will only exacerbate the problem. Use a standard cleaning compound by applying it to a rough cloth or regular toothbrush.

"Dead" space under the door

Another weak point is the lower part of the door on the inside. This space is not washed out during washing, but accumulates debris. It can be removed with a damp cloth.

Baskets

The problem of how to wash baskets is also often difficult. For a thorough cleaning, wiping with a dry cloth is not enough.

Baskets should be placed in the sink or tub, then applied with a sponge and left for 20 minutes. After that, it is necessary to thoroughly wash everything with a brush, rinse under running water and wipe dry. This will free the baskets of the inner compartment of the machine from grease and other dirt.

Elimination of defects

With untimely care, rust, mold, scale are formed on the listed nodes and mechanisms. They provoke odors, spoil the view, and can disable the device. Therefore, cleaning the dishwasher from these contaminants is very important.

Rust

Its occurrence on metal surfaces may be the result of exposure to water with an excessive amount of iron in the composition. Helps prevent corrosion coarse filter installed on the water supply hose. If rust has already appeared, it is necessary to apply a special composition to remove it.

Mold

Another result of improper use of the dishwasher. It can occur due to neglect of drying the internal space. The best way to prevent is to remove moisture residue with a dry cloth and ventilate the boot compartment with the door open.

Bleach is often used to clean mold, but be aware that its composition can be dangerous for stainless steel.

scale

One of the most common questions from users arises about cleaning the dishwasher from scale. Long-term operation of the apparatus with hot water inevitably leads to its appearance. Regenerating salt may slow down this process, but does not help to avoid it. To remove scale you will need:

1. Load special detergent into the detergent drawer.
2. Set the longest operating mode with the maximum temperature.
3. Run a car wash with an empty car.

It is important to choose the right cleaner. There are many such compositions on sale, but the most common is “ Finish". Its undesirable replacement with citric acid can ruin rubber gaskets.

A relatively safe and effective alternative is a mixture of water, vinegar, and table salt. The resulting solution in the beaker must be placed in the cup basket before starting the machine.

General cleaning

If users neglect regular cleaning of components and mechanisms, then it is imperative to carry out a general or general cleaning of the device.

Before proceeding to cleaning, it is necessary to completely de-energize the device and turn off the water supply. Next you need:

1. Remove all baskets from the compartment.
2. Place them in a bath with a solution of water and detergent for 20-30 minutes to soak.
3. Carefully clean filling valves.
4. Wash the joints of the door and the walls of the loading compartment using detergent, a rag, a toothbrush.
5. Wash the sprinkler with a trash filter.
6. Wash the walls of the inner compartment.
7. After cleaning is complete, return all components to their place.

Each model has its own design features that may require specific maintenance. Therefore, the best source for learning how to clean a dishwasher is the included instructions with instruction manuals.

Until I got a dishwasher, I had no idea how convenient this invention is! The main thing is not to forget to properly care for her.

The dishwasher has become a good help in housekeeping today. Its use makes life easier and allows you to free up time for important activities. But, like any technique, it requires some care. It is especially important to know how to clean the dishwasher from grease, scale and plaque, because during operation, not all contaminants are removed from the machine without a trace along with water.

You can put the iron assistant in order with the help of special chemicals or using products that can be found in every home. The composition of ready-made cleaning products includes components that remove settled fat, scale and rust from the surface of the working chamber. Some of them are designed to fight mold. As a rule, information about this is on the packaging, which allows you to purchase a product with the desired properties.

Chemistry to help

Household chemicals for the dishwasher are designed to degrease and disinfect the internal surfaces of the appliance.

It is available in the form of gels, powders and tablets.

Before using any form of cleaner, you must first remove the kitchen utensils from the baskets, rinse the filters and remove blockages from the drain pipe.

After preparing the device, the powder or tablet is placed in the detergent compartment, and the bottle with liquid or gel, after removing the protective sticker, is placed upside down in the cutlery basket. Then it remains only to start the work cycle at a water temperature of 65 degrees Celsius and wait for the result.

It is impossible to mix such substances with each other, as well as to use them for washing dishes.

Vinegar and Baking Soda for Dishwasher Cleaning

You can clean the dishwasher without aggressive detergents, using soda, vinegar and paper towels.

The removable parts of the device are washed by hand in soapy water or in water with vinegar, which is added at the rate of 1-2 cups per basin.

The internal surfaces of the device are treated with a liquid with vinegar diluted in it, after which they are wiped with dry wipes. Remains of food clogged in the drain holes are removed with tweezers or a toothpick.

Another option for cleaning the dishwasher with these products:

1. the removed processed parts are installed in place;
2. sprinkle generously with soda;
3. a glass with 9% vinegar is placed at the bottom of the device;
4. Run a long wash cycle with hot water.
5. The reaction taking place inside removes all existing contaminants, including scale.

Strong dirt is removed with soda paste and a small brush. In this case, special attention should be paid to the joints between the door and the body, because Often this is where dirt accumulates. You can also fill the bottom of the apparatus with soda and leave it overnight, and start the machine in the normal mode in the morning. This procedure will save the kitchen assistant from unpleasant odors.

Cleaning with citric acid

To remove scale, you can also use citric acid, which experienced housewives often use, if necessary, a washing machine and even kettles.

It is poured into the detergent compartment and the normal operating mode is turned on.

It is desirable to use this method as little as possible - acid can damage the rubber elements of the device. To reduce the risk, after completing the cycle, you need to repeat it, but without adding any substances.

How to clean mold

If there is mold in the dishwasher, a glass of bleach will help get rid of it. The liquid is poured into the detergent compartment and the machine is started in high temperature mode.

This method is not suitable for appliances with stainless steel surfaces.

In this case, it is better to use ready-made specialized products, the action of which is also aimed at preventing the appearance of fungus.

In the future, you should dry the device more often after use, leaving the door open for a while.

In order to keep the appliance clean longer after manipulations to remove dirt, it is necessary to remove food residues before loading the dishes. And to prevent the appearance of deposits, you can occasionally run an empty device by adding 0.5 liters of hot vinegar to the water, after which it is imperative to ventilate the internal chamber.

Useful video

This video shows an easy way to clean with baking soda and vinegar: