Is your dishwasher cleaning as efficiently as it could? How would you know if it's not? What can you do, other than start rinsing your dishes just a little bit better than you used to? Could it be that your dishwasher detergent changed its formula and doesn't work as well anymore. Maybe you just need to refill the liquid shine solution. But what if none of the usual solutions work for you? What if your dishes don't shine and sparkle after you've tried the things that have always worked in the past?

Do you really have to go purchase a new dishwasher or be sentenced to doing your dishes by hand? No, you don't. In fact, the answer to your problem might be solved easier than you thought, just by cleaning the actual appliance itself. That's right. Cleaning your dishwasher could save you a whole lot of frustration, time, and maybe even a few pennies.

Soap and detergent build up in dishwashers, especially if you have hard water. Food particles get stuck and don't always end up going down the drain in the rinse cycle like they should. Water pressure fluctuates, and when it's low while the dishwasher is running, the scouring mode may end up scrubbing your dishes more like a light sprinkle than a heavy downpour. The powerful flow of water you think always happens, doesn't necessarily work the way it should, depending on the circumstances.

That's why you need to roll up your sleeves and super clean your dishwasher every once in a while. Some people get hooked on the idea and scrub their dishwashers every three months or so. On average, it's a good idea to do it at least twice a year for proper maintenance. It's really not that hard, if you clean your dishwasher regularly.

*Steps for Cleaning a Dishwasher

^Take out all loose parts and soak in a sink filled with one cup vinegar, half cup baking soda, and super hot water.

^Use a scouring brush to scrub soap dispensers. Take a sharp, pointy edge to get gently loosen build up around edges.

^Spray a solution of one part vinegar to three parts water all over inside the dishwasher.

^Spray the water dispensers with vinegar solution. Scrub with a scrub brush and use a skewer or pointed object to clear water holes of any stuck on debris. Rinse with hot water.

^Carefully sweep all debris away from drainage area and heating element, and remove with a paper towel.

^Use a soft damp cloth to wipe off heating element.

^Put back all loose parts after scrubbing them.

^Use a dishwasher cleaning solution that can be purchased at your grocery store, and follow the directions to finish cleaning your dishwasher. If you choose not to purchase a dishwasher cleaning solution, run your dishwasher on the pot scour mode to finish loosening unseen debris and rinsing excess dirt down the drain. Do not add detergent, as this step is to fully rinse your dishwasher only.

Learn more about this author, M. J. Joachim.
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