How to Clean and Descale Your Dishwasher

Did you know that over 45% of Australian households have a dishwasher, and 29% use their dishwashers daily? Dishwashers are highly efficient machines that help eliminate all the dirt and gunk from your dishes and make them shine and sparkle. But over time, and especially in areas with high hard water content like Adelaide, your dishwasher will develop thick calcium and magnesium deposits. These will look like thick white or greyish clumps on the insides of your dishwasher. This is because when hard tap water comes in contact with the heat in your dishwasher, it solidifies the calcium and magnesium in the hard water. These deposits then stick to the bottom and insides of your dishwasher and are called limescale or hard water deposits. This can hamper the working of your machine, and thus you must clean and descale your dishwasher as soon as possible. Here are some effective tips by cleaning experts who offer end of lease cleaning Adelaide to help you descale your dishwasher:

What Is Descaling

Descaling involves removing the scaling of calcium and magnesium deposits from your dishwasher so it can function properly. Ideally, you should descale your dishwasher every six months and properly clean it if you notice a lot of debris on the insides. Removing stuck food bits and dirt from the dishwasher with soap and water regularly is a good idea to keep it in good working condition.

How To Descale Your Dishwasher

Suppose you already have large clumps of calcium and magnesium deposits in your dishwasher. In that case, you need to follow the tips below by bond cleaning experts in Adelaide to keep your dishwasher clean: 1. Clean The Filter Regularly You must check your manual to see where your filter is located and then take it out and clean it. Dip the filter in a soap and water solution and scrub it gently with a microfiber sponge. You must ensure it is completely dry before placing it back in your dishwasher. 2. Rinse With White Vinegar And Baking Soda White vinegar and baking soda are two of the most popular natural solutions that can remove the toughest food and mineral deposits. This is important to keep your dishwasher free from harmful bacteria and germs that can transfer to your dishes. Eating food from these dirty dishes puts you at risk of food poisoning, which can cause serious kidney problems and gastroenteritis symptoms. Thus, it is necessary to rinse your dishwasher with white vinegar as the acid will break down limescale deposits in the insides of your dishwasher and your pipes. Baking soda, however, is great for sanitising and removing mould from your dishwasher. Here is how you can combine the two to clean your dishwasher:

First, put 1 cup of distilled white vinegar in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Next, run the cycle without adding any detergent.

Now, sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda along the rack’s bottom and on the arm.

Run the dishwasher again.

Your vinegar and baking soda will loosen and lift all deposits on your machine, and the dishwasher will rinse these loose deposits with water.

The vinegar and baking soda will also completely remove foul smells and help bring back the shine of your dishwasher.

3. Clean Calcium Buildup With Lemons You should use the citric acid in lemons to clean up any calcium deposits in your dishwasher in the following ways:

Take 1 cup of lemon juice in a container and place it on the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

Next, you should run the dishwasher and watch as the citric acid removes all the calcium buildup.

If there is still some deposit, you can use white vinegar as a rinsing agent to lift and remove the remaining deposits.

Important Tip

If you have a stainless steel dishwasher, use white vinegar instead of lemons as a rinsing agent, as the citric acid can scratch and damage the steel. Along with regular cleaning and deep cleaning of your dishwasher, expert bond cleaners in Adelaide also recommend taking the following precautions to prevent any limescale buildups:

Preventive Measures

You should descale your dishwasher with baking soda and vinegar every six months.

If the tap water in your region is hard, use a water-softening agent like Sodium sesquicarbonate or a softening filter.

You should run the sanitising cycle on your dishwasher every once a month.

You should also ensure the temperature of your dishwasher is between 120-150 degrees Fahrenheit, as these temperatures are considered hot enough to clean your dishes effectively.

Lastly, if there is a lot of deposit in your dishwasher, you should hire professionals like experienced bond cleaners in Adelaide who will keep your appliances sparkling clean.

Conclusion

Following the above cleaning regime and preventative measures, you can clean and descale your dishwasher to remove any mineral deposits. It is very important to keep your dishwasher clean so that no harmful bacteria and germs lurk and infest your dishes and food. Thus, clean your dishwasher regularly and deep clean it every six months to keep it working well.