How to clean your dishwasher at home
The dishwasher has become part of everyday life, freed the hands of the owners from dirty dishes and cutlery. In order for the equipment to work for a long time and without interruptions, it must be monitored and looked after. The first signs that should alert the dishwasher are the appearance of unpleasant odors, fungal mold or greasy stains inside the case.
How to properly clean your dishwasher
There are many ways to clean your dishwasher. But first of all, read the technical instructions. You must clearly understand the structure of your technique and the purpose of its main parts.
Mechanical cleaning
Most machines are able to self-clean and remove blockages on their own. But this does not relieve the owners of equipment from the need to clean the structure mechanically.
It is necessary to inspect and rinse the filters, check the openings of the spray arms and the condition of the rubber seals. And this is a small fraction of what an attentive owner has to do to ensure proper care.
Flushing the drain and filler
Filters keep food, hair and animal hair out of the dishwasher's internal system. If there was no filtration system, the equipment would regularly break down due to blockages.
To safely remove the meshes and clean them, follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Unplug the machine.
- Remove the basket for receiving dishes.
- Remove any remaining moisture on the bottom with a sponge or napkin.
- The filter is located in a recess in the bottom of the machine.
- Depending on the model, the filter element can be removed manually or with tools.
- Remove water and dirt from the bottom of the recess where the filter bowl is located.
- Wash all parts with a cleaning agent, remove grease and limescale.
- Assemble the structure and put it back in place.
Filters are also located in the inlet system behind the tap and at the entrance. They also require periodic cleaning. Check the condition of the intake hose. They like to accumulate sand, salt deposits and rust. If any part of the filter is out of order, replace the element with a new one. Do not use defective parts as this can cause more serious damage to your bosch dishwasher.
Cleaning the sprinklers
The spray arm holes can become clogged with limescale and salt deposits. It is recommended that this part be inspected monthly. For this you need:
- Pull out the basket with the rocker.
- The latches are released differently in different models of dishwashers. Check the instructions before removing the rocker arm to avoid breaking the mountings.
- Check the integrity and general condition of the seals.Replace worn-out items.
- Flush the blades and reassemble the entire system.
Cleaning the body and seal
The body and seals are constantly exposed to aggressive action of tap water, grease and dirt, detergents. Not surprisingly, this is where a lot of dirt accumulates. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to disinfect the inside of the case with any dishwasher-safe product.
Thoroughly inspect doors, containers for detergent or tablets, joints and seams. Fat and food waste is often layered here.
Removing dirt from baskets
Food leftovers can get stuck in the elements of the basket. If not cleaned, food debris dries up and builds up. To remove food waste, soak the basket in water until the dirt begins to flake off.
Then rinse the accessory in soapy water and scrub with a soft sponge or a medium-hard kitchen brush. Leave to dry for a few hours to prevent moisture from remaining.
Removing scale and grease
The appearance of a white coating on the parts of the dishwasher - it's time to sound the alarm. The chemical industry offers a large number of professional products for cleaning equipment from scale and grease. But you can get by with homemade recipes if the situation requires immediate intervention from the owners.
Use of chemicals
Chemicals clean the dishwasher of unwanted components in one program cycle at high temperatures. Add dishwasher cleaner according to the instructions and be sure to run the appliance for a rinsing session with no load. This is guaranteed to eliminate chemical residues inside the dishwasher and make it safe for future use.
Among the popular cleaning agents are Antinakipin, Finish Machine Cleaner, FILTERO and ELECTROLUX. They remove limescale, scale, grease from the interior of the machine.
Folk remedies for cleaning
It happens that there was no chemistry at hand or for some reason you do not use it in everyday life. Folk remedies from a kitchen or pharmacy cabinet will come to the rescue. Cleaning your dishwasher has never been easier.
- Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the top tray and sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the appliance. Start a dishwashing cycle. After heating the water, pause the technique and hold it for at least an hour. You can even leave the dishwasher in this state overnight. During this time, deposits and dirt will come off the interior of the machine. The water then flushes out all the dirt during the end of the cycle.
- You can remove scale with citric acid. It is poured into the upper tray and the machine is started in a washing mode. You will need an average glass of the product to see the result of how to clean the dishwasher with citric acid.
- If you plan to wash the dishwasher by hand, create your own cleansing mixture. Make a mixture of vinegar, citric acid, and water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply to the inside walls of the appliance. This technique will quickly get rid of scale and unwanted plaque.
- Make your own soda pills that work as well as store-bought ones. In a glass of baking soda, take one to two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix the ingredients until the mass can be formed into small tablets.The agent is placed at the bottom of the dishwasher and a blank wash cycle is started without loading the dishes.
Rust removal
Before removing rust, you need to find the cause of its appearance. Some metal parts may be chipped and need to be replaced.
A problem may have arisen in the filtration system and the water is supplied untreated from impurities. How to clean a dishwasher at home when the equipment is in danger of serious damage, if the situation is not corrected?
Rust is removed with special cleaners that are sold in stores. Among the most popular are "Mister Muscle", Cilit and others.
Care and maintenance tips
There are a number of rules that you should adhere to if you want the equipment to work for a long time and trouble-free.
- Clean dishes from food debris before loading. It is recommended that you wipe down the plates with a clean, paper towel to keep out any food debris.
- The use of non-dishwasher detergents can damage the internal structure and cause breakage of individual elements.
- Do not overload the machine with dishes. It is better to run two separate cycles than to get upset about poorly washed kitchen utensils.
- All dishes in the baskets must be arranged in accordance with the established rules. Larger and deeper plates are at the bottom, while cups and cutlery are in dedicated compartments.
- Do not place sharp knives, wooden utensils, or sharp-edged graters in the wash basket. This is fraught with damage to the objects and parts of the car around during washing.
- Regularly clean the dishwasher from dirt, check filters and spray arms.
Despite the fact that dishwashing equipment makes life easier for the owners, it requires attention and accuracy in handling. In the event of a serious breakdown of the machine, do not try to restore the functions of the machine yourself. Better contact the service center.
Video: how to clean a dishwasher