Dishwasher soap residue, grease and food remnants take their toll.
Build up from soap residue, grease and food can cause dishwashers to work less efficiently over time. Additionally, the walls of the dishwasher may become stained and the inside of the machine may smell musty. Regular maintenance may improve a dishwasher's performance and vinegar can help. Does this Spark an idea?
Uses
After thoroughly cleaning a dishwasher by wiping it down and removing any gunk from moving parts, vinegar may be used as a final rinse. It is placed in a cup on the top shelf, while the dishwasher runs through one hot regular cycle (with no soap or dishes in the appliance).
Benefits
Vinegar is a natural cleaner. It removes odors from the dishwasher and may break down soap residue or grease left on the dishwasher walls.
Considerations
Vinegar won't remove all stains, advises Martha Stewart, including rust stains, mildew and calcium deposits. Citric acid, available at hardware stores, removes calcium deposits, while a commercial rust remover removes rust. Bleach or ammonia remove mildew stains, although the two should never be mixed.
Tags: residue grease, soap residue, soap residue grease, calcium deposits, grease food, residue grease food