House tools and appliances can collect dust and grime over time, and the dishwasher is no exception. If your dishwasher is leaving gritty residue on your dinnerware and cookware, it means your dishwasher is overdue for a good cleaning.
Why is My Dishwasher Leaving Gritty Residue?
A dirty dishwasher won't clean properly, nor can it properly dissolve food particles left on your dinnerware. Low quality dishwashing detergent may not dissolve completely, leading to white, chalky grit on your plates and pan handles. Food and soap grime may also cause gritty residue, especially when they aren't filtered out by a dirty dishwasher filter.
There are multiple causes for your dishwasher leaving gritty residue on your dinnerware and cookware, but the problem mainly stems from having a dirty dishwasher. Before this happens, you should be cleaning your dishwasher regularly to ensure your appliance is working in tip top condition!
What You'll Need
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Dishwasher pod
- Spray bottle
- Scrub brush
How to Clean Dishwasher Residue: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Start with an Empty Dishwasher
Start by emptying the dishwasher. Remove all the dinnerware and cookware inside, and wash the racks separately. This will allow you to get into all the nooks and crannies of the appliance, such as the nozzles of the spray arms, the dishwasher bottom, between the racks, and more.
Step 2: Spray Vinegar
Place white vinegar in a spray bottle, and give your dishwasher a good spritz. Be sure to apply a generous amount to the interior walls, the dishwasher spray arms, the bottom of the dishwasher, and behind the door for a thorough cleaning.
Vinegar is acidic, and will break down traces of hard water stains, dishwasher detergent, food residue, and mold. Vinegar will also break down grease and oils left behind be food, so spray a generous amount all over the interior of your dishwasher.
Step 3: Apply Baking Soda
Slowly sprinkle baking soda around where you sprayed vinegar. Baking soda helps lift out stains, tackle tough grime, and deodorize your appliance as well, perfect for cleaning a dishwasher leaving grit on your plates!
Step 4: Let it Sit Overnight
Scrub the solution to dislodge any tough grime. Let the solution bubble, and close the dishwasher door. Let the solution sit overnight so the vinegar and baking soda can properly clean your dishwasher. As the solution sits, it works to unclog your dishwasher, and remove any stains that may be causing the gritty residue.
Step 5: Run a Wash Cycle with Vinegar
The next day, place the racks back into your appliance. Use a dishwasher-safe bowl, and fill it with vinegar up to the halfway mark. Place the bowl on the top or middle rack of your dishwasher, then run a wash cycle like you normally would. However, avoid using liquid detergent or low quality dishwasher detergent, and instead opt for powder or pods.
Step 6: Run a Rinse Cycle
After running a wash cycle, remove the bowl of vinegar, and run a rinse cycle with rinse aid to complete the deep clean of your dishwasher. Run hot water through the dishwasher, and set the appliance to run a long and hot cycle to completely rinse off any cleaning solution residue. Your dishwasher should not have any vinegar smell at all afterwards.
Step 7: Let the Dishwasher Dry
Keep the dishwasher door open to let the interior air dry. It would be best to use a kitchen towel to pat the interior dry to help it dry faster, but this step is optional. Letting your dishwasher air dry before using it again will help prevent mold, and won't consume additional energy from running the dryer function.
Tips to Keep Your Dishwasher Clean
Keeping your dishwasher clean is the proper way of making sure your appliance doesn't leave gritty residue all over your pots and pans. Here are a couple of tips to help keep your dishwasher clean:
- Use powder or pods instead of liquid dishwashing detergent, as liquid detergent can clog your dishwasher, leading to dirt and residue.
- Use good quality cleaning tablets or powders. Low quality cleaning solutions will leave grit in your appliance, clog the spray arms, and may even cause damages to your dishwasher.
- Clean the dishwasher filter every week or so, depending on the frequency of usage. This will upkeep your appliance so you won't have to deal with gritty dishes again!
Cleaning Made Easy
When it's time to clean your kitchen, don't fret the mess! Instead, let our cleaning team at Luce Home tackle the grime for you, while you spend time doing the things you want to do! Our house cleaning professionals will leave you with a spotless, squeaky clean kitchen you can be proud of!
Contact us today to hear about our cleaning solutions and packages!
