The Trick To Cleaning Your Dishwasher With Vinegar

So the dishwasher cleans your dishes, or at least, that is what it should be doing, as long as you don't make the mistake of doing all the work yourself before you load it. But in the course of all this cleaning, doesn't the dishwasher itself get a little dirty? And if so, who washes the dishwasher? 

According to Bob Vila, the someone who should be cleaning this household cleaning appliance is you, and you're probably way overdue. Bob says you should clean your dishwasher at least once a month, and you wouldn't want to diss Bob the Builder, would you? So grab some white vinegar and baking soda, maybe some rubber gloves if you're finicky, and get cleaning!

As Bob told the Today show, the first step toward a cleaner dishwasher involves removing the bottom rack and removing any food or other gunk that might be caught in the drain (this is the part where you might want to wear the rubber gloves). Cleaning out anything that could be clogging up the works inside your dishwasher will help it to run more efficiently and also improve drainage.

You'll then need to pour a cup of vinegar into a dishwasher-safe container, like maybe a small Tupperware bowl (no lid). Place this on the upper rack of the dishwasher, and then run it through a hot water cycle. The vinegar will help wash off any grease and grime and also cut down on odors.

The final step in cleansing your dishwasher involves rinsing it out with baking soda — a surprisingly versatile product good for so much more than just baking, including in your beauty routine. Sprinkle one cup of baking soda over the bottom of your dishwasher, then run another hot water cycle. Once that's done, the inside of your dishwasher should be sparkling bright, stain-free and will smell as fresh as a... clean dishwasher.