Your dishwasher is the backbone of your kitchen. It certainly needs some routine maintenance after all its hard work. Learn how to clean a dishwasher and keep odors at bay with our step-by-step guide.

Use a sponge and hot, soapy water to clean the front of plastic dishwasher door. Scrub off any stuck on food and wipe excess water away with a rag or paper towel.

Glass cleaner works fine to remove fingerprints and grime on a stainless steel unit. Spray a paper towel with cleaner and wipe down the dishwasher. This will prevent any overspray from getting on electronic parts.

Next, you’ll need to remove any food particles and other build-up from the filter. To do this, remove the bottom rack and then remoe the filter system on the floor of the dishwasher. Clean individual parts with warm soapy water.

Let the parts dry completely and replace.

Check the spray arm in your dishwasher for clogs. Food particles can become lodged in the spray arm holes, but you can easily remove them using a toothpick.

To clean the spray arm, gently lift the arm off its base and replace it when done.

This is another essential step when learning how to clean a dishwasher. The walls of your unit may become discolored over time and odors may develop.

To sanitize your dishwasher, pour a cup of white vinegar into a clean bowl. Place the bowl on the bottom rack and run a regular wash cycle without detergent. Finally, sprinkle the bottom of the dishwasher with a thin layer of baking soda. Run a short cycle with hot water.

Now that you know how to clean a dishwasher, you won’t have to worry about those foul smells anymore.

If you experience bigger problems, be sure to contact a professional appliance repair technician, like Reliable Appliance Service. We offer fast dishwasher repair in Tehachapi, Ridgecrest, and surrounding areas.