Does putting vinegar in your dishwasher help clean it?

Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer, so it will not only help remove all sand, dirt, build-up, and dirt from the dishwasher, but it will also get rid of persistent odors. White vinegar is typically touted as a magical cleaning aid and a natural odor neutralizer, but it can wreak havoc on the dishwasher.

Does putting vinegar in your dishwasher help clean it?

Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer, so it will not only help remove all sand, dirt, build-up, and dirt from the dishwasher, but it will also get rid of persistent odors. White vinegar is typically touted as a magical cleaning aid and a natural odor neutralizer, but it can wreak havoc on the dishwasher. Pour at least one cup of distilled white vinegar or three-quarters of a cup of cleaning vinegar into a dishwasher-safe container. Place the container on the top rack of the dishwasher.

Using a little more than up to two cups if the dishwasher has never been cleaned is perfectly fine. The vinegar removes any build-up and leaves the dishwasher shimmering. In addition, vinegar eliminates musty odors and also removes mold or mildew. It is important to note that the vinegar should be on the top rack of the dishwasher and should not be poured into the area where the detergent normally goes.

The acidity of the vinegar will slowly erode parts of the dishwasher, such as the joints or the coating, if it passes through the same area as the detergent. Vinegar is natural and safe to use in the dishwasher and works well as a home dishwasher cleaner. First, empty the dishwasher, then put a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher, Poole explains. Run the hottest cycle in the dishwasher.

Skip the drying cycle and open the dishwasher door to allow it to air dry. Be sure to omit the detergent during this cycle. These options are useful because it's best to use non-toxic cleaning products when cleaning anything that might come into contact with food. If you want to keep your dishwasher clean for longer periods of time, it's important to clean the dishwasher filter often.

To keep your dishwasher smelling clean for longer, make sure to clean all food trapped in the cutlery baskets, the bottom of the dishwasher, and the filter every day. According to Poole, cleaning the dishwasher with bleach can deeply clean the interior and remove stubborn stains, mold and mildew. While there are dozens of types of vinegar, distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar are the best for cleaning. If you've never cleaned the dishwasher or it's been a long time, cleaning the vinegar (which is more expensive) will remove the buildup more easily.

Maribel Culloton
Maribel Culloton

Professional social media enthusiast. Extreme decluttering ninja. Subtly charming bacon enthusiast. Music lover. Evil pop culture geek.