Why You Should Clean Your Dishwasher
Why You Should Clean Your Dishwasher
The average sponge in the kitchen contains billions of types of bacteria, and although using a dishwasher is a better way of cleaning your dishes, the dishwasher is also likely to contain bacteria.
Cleaning your dishwasher may seem counterintuitive, but it’s an essential job. Here are some reasons why you should clean your dishwasher and some tips on how to get it done.
When Do You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher?
It might not be a chore you think of often, but you should learn the signs of a dishwasher that is in need of cleaning. Some of the red flags include:
Bad odor
Dishes are coming out dirty
Food buildup or rust in the washer
So Why Should You Clean It?
The purpose of the dishwasher is to wash and sanitize the dishes in your kitchen. A dirty dishwasher isn’t going to do its job effectively. If you are using a tool that isn’t doing its job correctly, then why use it at all?
Take a look for build up. You can often find it in the bottom of the machine or on the seal around the outside. Do you see a sliminess or discoloration? Maybe you’ll find grease or limescale. While the dishwasher is running, it’s running water around that dirt and grime, and it’s spreading it all over your dishes. This is contaminating everything you put in the washer and therefore contaminating everything in the cupboards when you put your dishes away. If you clean your dishwasher, you’re keeping your whole kitchen cleaner and safer.
How to Clean Your Dishwasher
A great place to start when cleaning the dishwasher is the drain. The drain is located at the bottom of the machine and tends to collect the majority of the debris. Wear gloves or use paper towels to clean the gunk out of this area. Spray some vinegar into the drain and wipe it clean after a few minute of soaking.
The next area that collects a lot of debris is the seal. The seal is located around the door area, and it keeps the water from leaking out of the dishwasher. It also catches a lot of the loose food, etc that flies around the dishwasher.
Your dishwasher may have a removable filter. If you are unsure whether or not your machine has one, you may want to look through your owner's manual. If your washer does have one, go ahead and take it out and give it a good cleaning.
Lastly, we advise removing the silverware basket and giving that a good wash, as the smaller holes may have collected some debris as well.
If you need help keeping up with the cleaning in your home or kitchen, Primavera Cleaning Service would be happy to lend a hand! Reach out today for a free quote!