Among all modern-day appliances, the dishwasher stands out as one of the most convenient inventions. It effectively handles the tedious task of scrubbing and cleaning dozens of dirty dishes daily, freeing you from the labor of handwashing. But while the dishwasher does the bulk of the work, you still have a role to play.
There are several important steps to take—some each time you load the dishwasher ,and others only occasionally—to ensure your dishes come out as clean as possible.
Clean the Dishwasher Regularly
Cleaning the dishwasher is a necessary task. But are you doing it correctly—and, if so, often enough? “Run an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner monthly to ensure your machine stays clean, which will, in turn, help it clean dishes more efficiently,” advises Morgan Eberhard, senior scientist for Cascade. If you don’t have a commercial cleaner on hand, pour distilled white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe cup, place it on the top rack, and then run an empty load.
An often-overlooked area of the dishwasher that needs cleaning is the filter. “Over time, the filter can accumulate food particles that can affect the efficiency of the dishwasher, so make sure to clean it regularly,” Eberhard says. Other spots to pay attention to: the drain, spray arms, and the bottom of the appliance.
