Dishwashers can be amazing timesavers.
Not only do they allow you to shorten your time spent at the sink, they also save water.
However, there is a caveat.
to make it work their cleaning magic, dishwashers need a little TLC.
They may clean your dishes, but unfortunately, they don’t clean themselves.
Dishwashers that aren’t maintained can lose some of their dish-cleaning prowess and become a home to bacteria.
This definitely ups the ick factor and makes a case for dishwasher cleaning.
Cinch Home Servicessurveyed 1,007 Americans and discovered approximately 20% have never cleaned their dishwasher.
If a ready-to-go product is your method of choice, Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner isThe Spruce’stop pick.
Whatever your product of choice happens to be, follow the package’s instructions for cleaning.
For people who prefer a natural cleaning product, vinegar can be an easy-to-find choice.
According toBob Vila, place a cup of white vinegar on the dishwasher’s top rack.
Next, turn the dishwasher on a hot-water cleaning cycle.
For dishwasher owners with hard water who want to use natural products,Apartment Therapyhas an added cleaning tip.
Using two cups of vinegar, pause the appliance halfway through an energy-saving wash cycle.
After soaking for 20 minutes, resume the cycle.
Once a week,Good Housekeepingrecommends cleaning the dishwasher filter.
Twist to unlock the filter, then clean it in the sink.
Instead, they suggest scraping food particles off the dishes prior to using the dishwasher.
Scraping dishes can also prevent the dishwasher from getting clogged or causing internal damage in the machine.
According toConsumer Reports, manufacturers claim a dishwasher should have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.
