The room of the modern kitchen is distinguished by its technical equipment. Smart home appliances make the life of a housewife much easier. Electric devices today are varied. One of the most popular types of kitchen equipment is a dishwasher. As the name suggests, it is designed to automatically wash dishes. In order for this unit to work as efficiently as possible and for a long time, it is necessary to properly and timely clean both external and internal components. How to competently clean the dishwasher? We will tell in this article.
Cleaning the dishwasher at home with synthetic agents
Not a bad solution to the problem will be any means of washing dishes. But experts still recommend choosing one of the professional cleaners, designed specifically for dishwashers. Such a product should be used at least once every 30 working cycles. Such household chemicals have a suitable composition and take into account the specifics of the device, so they are the safest.
How to clean appliances from grease without using physical force
Every housewife by experience knows that for the most economical and effective solution to the task at hand, it is best to use improvised means. Everything you need, you can find in the house. Here is the most popular folk recipe:
- Prepare a solution of acetic acid and baking soda. To do this, dilute 5% vinegar with water in the ratio of 1 to 13 and put 55 grams of baking soda in the mixture. Stir everything thoroughly, making sure that there is a reaction.
- Put the container with the prepared solution in the dishwasher and run it, setting the standard mode, without dishes.
- After the end of the cycle, wipe the inner chamber with a clean cloth – the dirt and limescale should disappear without a trace.
Warning! Before you start cleaning the dishwasher, you must de-energize it and turn off the water supply tap.
Which parts need to be removed and carefully cleaned individually
The first thing to do is to remove the baskets and cutlery fixtures. They should be placed in a basin and soaked in a soapy solution for 0.5-1 hour. Then they should go over with a sponge and rinse thoroughly. Such manipulations give excellent results.
The dishwasher strainer is the most exposed to contamination – it collects grease and food residue on itself every day. Plaque clogs the small holes and can cause not only a bad smell but also the emergence of leaks. To clean this part of the dishwasher, the following steps are recommended:
– pull out and disassemble the bottom basket;
– remove the filter and rinse it under the tap with a dishwashing detergent;
– dry or wipe it with a dry cloth, and put it back.
This procedure should be done 1-2 times every 7 days if you want to keep the filtration system in good condition.
The next necessary action is to clean the blades. These parts are also prone to contamination by food particles and plaque. To clean them, you have to take them out and wash them thoroughly, cleaning the holes with a toothpick.
Every 6 months it is recommended to clean the seals with professional cleaning products. Their list can be found in the manual of the machine. It is best to use a toothbrush for this purpose – its bristles can easily penetrate into the space between the rubber gaskets.
Methods for removing rust and mold from dishwasher parts
If you need to remove mold, experts recommend using a bleaching agent. The older and more complex the contamination, the more hours will be needed for treatment (the strongest dirt will need to be scrubbed for 5-6 hours). Before using bleach, you can treat the mold with hydrogen peroxide. In this case, you will have to wait a couple of hours.
Warning. If the dishwasher has stainless steel parts, you cannot use bleach with chlorine.
To prevent mold from forming, keep the appliance door open at all times, allowing the residual water to evaporate.
If you notice that the surface layer of paint has swollen and begun to peel – it means that the unit has been corroded. Removing the rust is quite difficult. This will require the use of special preparations designed to remove corrosion damage. As a preventive measure, masters are advised to put a filter for water purification.
Features of cleaning with citric acid
It is not recommended to use citric acid for the care of seals – it negatively affects the properties of rubber. The result of using this agent will be the loss of tightness and elasticity of the latex gasket.
How to prevent dirt accumulation and scale formation on the parts
Before loading dirty plates and pots into the dishwasher, you need to remove food residue from them. This procedure will help reduce the frequency of general cleaning of the machine.
To prevent the settling of limescale, masters advise cleaning the dishwasher once every six months, using citric acid. The way to use this substance is simple:
– Pour 200 grams of acid into the tray of the machine;
– Turn on the dishwasher without dishes.
Also suitable are household chemicals that are designed for the dishwasher. Systematic use of salt will help to avoid limescale – it will significantly reduce the number of deposits.
If your dishwasher isn’t working properly, but you can’t figure out the cause, or you don’t want to waste time guessing, North Country Appliance Repair Service is always happy to help you and have your dishwasher professionally diagnosed and repaired in no time.
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