Clean your dishwasher in 3 easy steps

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When's the last time you cleaned your dishwasher? Some of the most diligent kitchen cleaners forget to tackle this oft-used kitchen appliance. Dishwashers need to be cleaned at least once every three to four months to help remove debris and food particles (which can cause icky odors).
Keeping your dish washer clean is pretty easy (thankfully) and requires very little (if any) scrubbing. Check out this helpful video below for more details.
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First, check your drain to make sure there are no bones, silverware or other debris in your drain. Next, fill a dishwashers safe glass with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar and place on the top shelf. Run the dishwasher through a cycle.
Once the cycle is complete, remove the vinegar cup and sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher. This will help remove smells and clean up stains. Run your dishwasher through a short cycle (hot water).
Sanitizing the filter
About once or twice a year you should remove the filter from your dishwasher to sanitize it. This helps remove small particles you may not be able to clear out otherwise (and eliminates odors).
First, remove the filter from your dishwasher. Check inside the filter area for particles of food. Soak the filters in warm, spray water for about 10 minutes. If you notice any grease, use boiling water to remove the grease.
Once the filters are clean, place it back and add 1 cup of white vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher. Run for a cycle. Then add 1 cup of baking soda to the bottom of your dishwasher and let it set overnight. Scrub any dirty areas (particularly in the door or other grooves) with a toothbrush in the morning and run through a short cycle to finish cleaning.
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Keeping your filter and dishwasher clean not only removes odors and looks better, but it can also help your dishwasher work better. If your dishwasher doesn't seem to clean your dishes properly, try cleaning the filter and machine before spending money on an expensive repair job you may not need!
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