How Do You Clean/Disinfect Your Dishwasher?

How is a dishwasher dirty? I don't get it. It's like saying how do I wash my washer/washing machine (clothes.)
What EXACTLY is dirty?
Maybe it's broken, or just needs some service/maintenance.

You're supposed to clean it? I figure it gets detergent and hot water run through it every time I use it. That's clean enough.

Wow, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even realize dishwashers might need to be cleaned. I guess I thought they just got cleaned while doing their job. I'm going to check back when there are more answers to see how to do it,

I clean around the door edges, etc and wipe it out if needed ; which it usually needs) then I run a hot wash with no dishes and vinegar through it.

Works for me.. My dishwasher inside is stainless and it looks great!

Well, if I get build up in mine I run a hot water load with a bunch of white vinegar in it. I run it on pots and pans.

There are many products you can use. One that I have used and liked was lemony something from Walmart. Here's a link but I buy mine at Walmart. No shipping and handling or waiting.

http://www.amazon.com/Shine-Dishwater-Detergent-Additive-...

I wipe the door if there's gook in there. Sometimes I clean or replace the filter. And occasionally I'll run an empty cycle, with a little vinegar.

Put a bowl filled with a white vinegar and water solution in the top rack. Run the dishwasher as normal and voila!

White vinegar. Run it empty.

vinegar. Lots of it.

I think it's easier just to rinse the dishes off first. That way all the food and gunk goes down the disposal in the sink instead of in the dishwasher. I know some people think it's crazy to do that (you know, wash the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher!). But I don't really WASH them, it's definitely just a rinse, of all the big globs of food. I've lived on my own and have used a dishwasher for 22 years. I have never cleaned a dishwasher in my life! So I guess that doesn't help you now, but my advice would be to rinse your dishes before you stick them in there.

If the inside of a dishwasher is actually visibly dirty (like with tiny food particles or grit) after normal use, something is wrong. There may be a filter that you need to pull out and clean on a regular basis, or a drain that is partially clogged.

For the most part, dishwashers are self cleaning but sometimes a citric acid wash helps with mineral buildup and stains.

Toss a cup of vinegar in the bottom and run the sanitize cycle. You can do dishes the very next load.

I think I learned on this board that running TANG powdered drink mix through an empty dishwasher will clean all the gunk out. Just put a good amount in (sprinkle some in the bottom and fill the container that will pop open later in the cycle) and run it through a cycle on the hottest setting. The citric acid in the Tang will get rid of all the build up. I've also used vinegar, but the Tang works better. Cheap and easy.

I run it with some vinegar in it a couple of times a week. Works like a charm! About once or twice a month, I add a little borax to the mix.

I run the empty dishwasher with a cup of vinegar to clean it out. Vinegar is a natural and safe disinfectant.