Appliances make life easier for us, or at least household chores. Today nobody thinks of washing clothes by hand (except for some particularly delicate garments) or heating water or milk with a saucepan, if a microwave is at hand. In order for these devices to continue to perform optimally and to extend their useful life, it is necessary to carry out good maintenance on a regular basis. Proper cleaning is also a matter of hygiene. We have already seen how to clean the oven, the washing machine or the microwave. Now we go for the machine that saves us from washing glasses, plates and cutlery by hand. This is how you clean the dishwasher.
To begin with, you need to have a little idea about how the dishwasher works and thus better understand the importance of all its components being in good condition. Once a wash cycle is activated, the machine pumps the detergent and water through one or more rotary sprayers; This mixture is recirculated through the same circuits, which saves water and energy, until it is drained once the program is complete.
Experts recommend not rinsing the glasses or plates before placing them in the trays, since this operation is not necessary and we will only be wasting water. What does have to be removed are the solid remains that have remained on plates and cutlery; for this, it is enough to pass a napkin or a brush reserved for this purpose. And it is that in the event that food fragments accumulate, the appliance will not wash correctly and may end up getting stuck.
Many people only need to clean the dishwasher when they see that there is dirt accumulated in some area of the machine, when the glasses or dishes do not come out clean, or when unpleasant odors emanate from the appliance. That is an error.
In almost all user manuals, manufacturers usually indicate how often the components must be reviewed and how to clean them. As a general rule, the filter basket must be emptied every time it is observed that it contains debris; the filter and the internal ducts must be cleaned at least once a month and the blades, between two and three times a year.
The filter should be cleaned frequently, as failure to do so risks clogging the dishwasher and causing a breakdown.
Remove the lower tray to gain access to the base of the appliance, where the screw cap of the salt compartment and the filter (cylindrical part) with its basket, a metal grill, are located.
Rusty trays. Rubbing against kitchen utensils can end up damaging the plastic that covers the metal rods of the tray, which gives rise to the appearance of rust. If this problem has arisen, from the OCU they remember that there are plastic covers for rods on the market. Another option is to use anti-rust paint or two-component polyurethane enamel.
Once we have cleaned the filter, the blades and the tray, it is a good time to review the insides of the appliance.
The most effective solution to clean the internal passages of the dishwasher is to use a specific product for this purpose. In the supermarket there is a variety of machine cleaners with affordable prices. Although you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions, you usually have to open the seal on the product and place it face down on the top or bottom shelf of the empty appliance. Finally, the door is closed and the indicated washing program is activated (normally it is a long one with a high temperature).
There is a homemade trick that replaces machine cleaning fluid. With the dishwasher empty, open the detergent drawer and introduce two or three tablespoons of baking soda. Next, distribute two or three cups of white vinegar on the walls, trays, and base. It only remains to close the door and put a long wash program with high temperature (65º Celsius).
The gasket and rubber on the dishwasher door make up another area where dirt and even mold accumulate. Routine maintenance consists of running a damp cloth or small brush through the grooves in the rubber. If mold has appeared, it is best to rub the affected area with a little bleach, being very careful that the product does not get inside the machine.
Since we have left the inside of the dishwasher like gold jets, the icing on the cake is to clean the outside. Pass a soft sponge with soapy water over the entire surface, rinse with a damp cloth and dry with a cloth. Check the salt and rinse aid levels. And ready!
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