If you’re like us, you don’t like to spend any longer washing dishes than you absolutely have to. With a KitchenAid dishwasher, your dishes are done so quickly and quietly you might even forget it’s running. But your dishwasher is working hard scrubbing gunk and grime every day, and every now and again, it needs a good clean too. Follow these five tips to keep your dishwasher squeaky-clean and running smoothly.

1) Outer Beauty

The exterior of your KitchenAid might not be doing the dirty work of cleaning dishes, but you don’t want spilled food and water stains to hide the stainless-steel finish. Glass cleaner is great for getting tough grime and smudges off the surface of your dishwasher. Just don’t spray the cleaner directly onto the machine – the moisture could damage the electronic controls. Instead, spray onto a clean cloth and apply to the front.

2) What’s on the Inside Counts

You’d be surprised how much junk can get trapped in your dishwasher’s drain without you even noticing. Old bits of food and trash can gum up the works, keeping your dishes from getting a complete clean. When you crack open the dishwasher, you’ll want to start by cleaning out the filter.

KitchenAid dishwashers have a removable triple filter system that you can access by removing the bottom rack. Just twist the cylindrical upper filter counterclockwise, then lift out the mesh lower filter from under the propeller. No need for coarse scrub brushes or scouring pads, just rinse them both out under running water, and use a soft brush for ground-in debris.

3) The Secret Ingredient

It turns out, you don’t need expensive cleaning products to clear the gunk out of your dishwasher. All it takes is a bit of white vinegar. Leave a dishwasher-safe mug or measuring cup filled with two cups of vinegar on the bottom rack of your dishwasher, and run a normal wash cycle.

The acidic vinegar strips away all the hard-to-reach soap scum and food particles. Don’t add any detergent – the vinegar gets the job done all by itself. It’s effective, but be sure not to take this step more than once a month – too much vinegar could damage the interior of the machine.

4) A Sparkling Finish

To flush out any lingering odours, give your KitchenAid one more rinse with baking soda. After you’ve thoroughly cleaned the machine with vinegar, sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom of the dishwasher and run one last cycle. You should use the hottest water you can. This will leave the dishwasher sparkling clean and smelling fresh.

5) Daily Upkeep Works Wonders

Cleaning your dishwasher every once in a while is just a fact of life if you want spotless dishes and an odour-free kitchen, but you can take steps in between washes to keep your KitchenAid fresh and functional. Your sink is usually linked to your dishwasher, so run your disposal before starting a load of dishes to keep gunk from the sink from getting mixed into the wash. Also, checking the drain for large bits of food and debris after every cycle can help prevent buildup before it starts.

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert