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The Kitchen Table

Cleaning your Dishwasher

18 years ago

What do you use to run through a cycle to clean your dishwasher. Something you'd have on hand already, in the house? Is it vinegar?

Leslie

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Comments (16)

Linda
18 years ago
Leslie, yes, and the info came directly from a GE representative. Pour white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and let it sit for 24 hours. Then run it thru a regular cycle.
okwriter
18 years ago
Just this week, I started using white vinegar instead of a "rinse aid" in mine. My mom has been doing that, and her dishwasher looks like new! She said it started out all crusty with hard water gunk but has gradually cleaned itself up with the vinegar.
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I've had a couple of problems with my 10 year old DW recently, and got both manufacturer's (Maytag) and DW repairman's input. I also got some advice from my kitchen GC, for whatever that was worth. Sometimes grime can build up around the door gasket. Wipe down once in awhile. Seals are made of rubber; rubber will deteriorate. Best kind of detergent for MY dishwasher is powdered. Liquid leaves a residue on the sides and internal parts of the dishwasher that will build up over time. (YMMV depending on your DW age and brand, on this.) If one is having a problem with odor, run bleach through the machine ONCE according to the manufacturer's directions, but don't use bleach all the time (yes, it's havoc on the rubber gaskets). Read your manual, it should tell you whether bleach is OK in your machine. It may also tell you what the best variety of detergent is, for your machine. If you lost your manual, try finding another one by going to the manufacturer's website. (I lost my DW manual and was able to download a new one, free.) If all else fails, call your manufacturer (phone number should be on the website too). Use one repairman/repair company, so that they can keep track of service on your machine. My DW repair guy just told me last week - new DW's have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years. The older ones like mine have a 15-year lifespan. Mine has only been repaired twice - a rubber door gasket and a water valve - pretty good for a 10 year old machine, he said. DonnaR/CA
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azzalea
18 years ago
I like the dishwasher cleaner sold in stores, near the dw detergent. I've done the vinegar thing, and didn't find it to be nearly as effective as the actual cleaner. It's made a huge difference in the operation of my very iffy dw, since I've been cleaning it with that stuff (supposedly, it cleans not just the tubs, but the lines, etc).
pattico_gw
18 years ago
Boy am I going to try that....With this hard well water, even with the water softener I have some build up on my soap dispensers.

Hope it works..

patti
iowagirl2006
18 years ago
I buy a product called "Glisten" at Wal-Mart. It is in with the dishwasher supplies.

It comes in a small box and you use the whole box. It really cleans out the gunk and makes the inside all bright white again. I use it a couple times a year. I swear my dishwasher works better afterward too.
nicki_in_niles
18 years ago
I heard somewhere (seriously) that lime koolaid (the packet of powder) works well for cleaning a dishwasher.

(Of course this is coming from someone who doesn't have a dishwasher anymore) lol

Hugs,
Nicki
grammahony
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the help everyone. I have white vinegar on hand. The other stuff I don't. So, I'll give it a try, and let you know tomorrow.
Leslie
aprilflower
18 years ago
How ironic that you posted this, just looked into my d/w and said "ewww we need to clean this!"

Going to try the white vinegar trick, since I have some on hand.

april
alisande
18 years ago
Do these products (including vinegar) work with stainless steel interiors?
redrosee
18 years ago
I'll second the "Glisten". We have very hard water here & my DW was looking pretty crappy. After using only ONE PACKET of Glisten, it looks like NEW again! And yes, it works on stainless interiors, as mine is stainless.
kacram
18 years ago
I've used TANG! and it does work,
but I think I will use some of the actual dishwasher cleaner that some of you have mentioned!
iowagirl2006
18 years ago
Glisten is citric powder - so the KoolAid and Tang are probably the same - but the Glisten has no coloring.

My luck, my dishwasher would turn green if I used KoolAid - LOL!
vicki_lv_nv
18 years ago
I used the stuff near the DW detergent...comes in a bottle you run thru. My DW is stainless on the inside. It literally sparkled afterward. Looks brand new. I tried vinegar over and over, to no avail.
des_arc_ya_ya
18 years ago
Wonder if vinegar or Glisten would get the black acrylic paint that's dribbled all over the inside of my dishwasher door? (We've had TOO many good times with the paint and brushes around here! LOL) The kids and I are all messy and just stuck the brushes in the dishwasher. Oops! lol
whidbeykathy
18 years ago
I have a white interior and so I use Iron Out. I put it in the soap dispenser and run a wash cycle. My dishwasher looks as good as when we first bought it. I don't know if I'd use it on stainless though,, Kathy
cherbo
18 years ago
I have trouble with my rinse aid dispenser. It doesn't seem to dispense the Jet Dry that I use in it. Could it be plugged up? If so would a dish washer cleaner help this? I have been using vinegar instead of the rinse aid but can't always catch the rinse cycle in time to put it in and end up having to turn the DW on rinse again and that is a waste of energy.

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