5 Methods to Clean a Dishwasher: Which is the Best for You?

Picture of a man unloading a dishwasher full of clean plates with the caption that reads the title
 
Everyone deals with A stinky dishwasher at some point in their lives. If you have ever pulled dishes from the dishwasher and had them still be stinky and crusty, than odds are you know what I am talking about.
 
Between work and family, this can be a major interruption to everyday life as you diligently rewash dishes by hand until you can find the time to clean your dishwasher. It's a  common story.
 
But ways to fix this problem aren't so common. Finding the right solution for your dishwasher is an important factor in getting an affective cleaning. Here is a list of Dishwasher Cleaners with their pros and cons. Hopefully you find them helpful!

 

1: Hot Water

One solution is to run the dishwasher on it's hottest setting. Sometimes this is all it takes to get the clean you need, especially if you don't have the time to pursue other options. However, dishwashers don't get funky very often and when they do it is likely due to an odor causing build-up which hot water may not be able to remove by itself.

2: Vinegar

Another Solution is to take two cups of vinegar in a glass or mug and put it on the top rack of your dishwasher and run a normal cycle. White vinegar has several attributes which makes it a good cleaner. It functions as both a great descaler and as an anti-septic. The cons of vinegar are that it smells very acrid and it can often be too diluted to do much good when used in a dishwasher.

3: Baking Soda

If you are looking for another simple and quick solution, baking soda both sanitizes and polishes your dishwasher. It also makes a great deodorizer. To use this method, take a 3/4 measuring cup of baking soda and sprinkle it across the bottom of your dishwasher. It's important to realize however what baking soda cannot do: It doesn't degrease like soap does and it cannot be paired with vinegar (Otherwise you might be building a science fair volcano in your dishwasher!)

4: Eco-Scrubz: Dishwasher Cleaner

What makes Eco-Scrubz such a great solution to this household problem, is that it is far easier to use (No measuring) and it is specifically formulated for cleaning dishwashers. Eco-Scrubz descales, degerms, deodorizes, and degreases. However it is more expensive and specialized. Additionally, it cannot remove clogs or blockages in the filter which should be done manually. 
Eco-Scrubz Dishwasher Cleaner can be found on our website or at Amazon.com

5: Manual Clean

No matter what method you choose, Sometimes you just need a good old manual clean, elbow grease and all. Inside the bottom of your washer there is a mesh that protects the outgoing drain from getting food particles stuck in it. Nearby there is a filter that traps food before it can get stuck in your drain. This filter can get full of odor causing residue that no amount of cleaning products can remove. Opening up the filter and cleaning it might be a lot of work in the present but will extend the life of your washer and save you money on cleaning products. No matter what product you choose to clean your dishwasher, a manual clean should be done regularly on a yearly basis. 

 

 

Which method is right for you?Simple answer is it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For example, if all you are trying to solve is the unpleasant streaking on your dishwasher caused by hard water stains, than vinegar is all you would have to use to get it shined up again. If you want a good clean and have limited time, then Eco-Scrubz Dishwasher Cleaner would be a great fit.

 

We hope this article helps you on your cleaning quest so that your home can be a place of cleanliness and comfort!