How to remove mold in a dishwasher?

How to Remove Mold from a Dishwasher If there is even the slightest suspicion that harmful fungi have settled in the dishwasher, you need to sound the alarm and get rid of the mold as soon as possible. A humid, warm, dark environment with plenty of food debris is ideal for spores to multiply quickly, so it is important to clean your clippers regularly. Otherwise, not only the equipment itself will suffer, but also the health of the household. So read the article and find out how to eliminate harmful accumulations and by what means.

Particular attention to the filter

Mold has a few favorite spots in your dishwasher, and the garbage filter is first on that list. Here, humidity remains longer and food particles collect, which allows hundreds of all kinds of fungi to develop. To get rid of them, you will have to thoroughly clean the garbage collector. We act like this.

Make sure there are no dishes in the dishwasher.
Pull the lower grill out completely by pulling it towards you.
We inspect the bottom of the machine near the drainpipe and look for a round plastic part - a filter.

If a crusher or waste shredder is installed in place of the filter, then there is no need to continue cleaning - such devices break down food and are washed with plenty of water.

We take the filter “cover”, turn it counterclockwise about ¼ turn and, pulling it towards ourselves, pull it out.
We wash the filter. The duration and degree of cleaning depend on the condition of the nozzle. For light soiling and preventive cleaning, it is enough to hold the part under a warm stream for several minutes. If this is not enough, then add dishwashing detergent and a sponge. Heavy stains can be cleaned with an old toothbrush. It is also not prohibited to soak the trash can in a solution of water and citric acid. The main thing is to be careful and not damage the plastic.
We immediately assess the condition of the filter hole. It is likely that mold has gotten in here too. Therefore, we arm ourselves with dish gel and a toothbrush and thoroughly clean the surface.
We return the filter to its place. We rinse it again, insert it into the hole, press and scroll clockwise until it stops. There is no need to dry it.

After all the steps, we return the grille to its place. But you shouldn’t stop the entire washing process - it is likely that mold particles remain in other places. So don’t neglect comprehensive cleaning of the dishwasher.

Internal cleaning with home remedies

To get rid of fungus, you don’t have to buy expensive products.. Well-known products, such as vinegar and baking soda, will help fight mold. The main thing is to know how to use them correctly to achieve an ideal result. Vinegar cleaning goes like this:

we find a plastic container;
pour a glass of vinegar (approximately 240 ml) into the container found;
place it on the top rack without covering it with a lid;
close the dishwasher;
We turn on any mode with heating the water to 60-70 degrees.

It is important that there are no objects in the chamber other than the container with vinegar. Then the water enriched with acetic acid will destroy the mold and dirt accumulated inside. All that remains is to remove the empty container after the end of the cycle and run an “empty” wash to eliminate the odor.

Cleansing with soda works differently. First, make sure the dishwasher is empty. Next, sprinkle at least 240 g of baking soda on the bottom of the machine, close the door and leave them for 6-8 hours.Then turn on the express wash with hot water. All that remains is to remove the remaining mold with a brush or sponge.

It is worth understanding that soda and vinegar will easily defeat mold on the walls of the chamber, but some nooks and crannies, joints and hard-to-reach places cannot be completely cleaned. The door seal, folding mechanisms, drain and sprinkler must be processed manually. It is enough to take a brush, dip it in a soapy solution and go through all the suspicious corners of the dishwasher.

We use complex cleaners

There is a worthy alternative to home folk remedies: factory-made complex action cleaners. Their main advantage is their versatility, which allows you to get rid of all accumulated mold, as well as grease, dirt and scale, in one wash. Experts recommend choosing from the following brands:

Frau Schmidt. Unique tablets that can clean your dishwasher immediately from all unpleasant accumulations, from fungus to scale. In addition to high-quality cleaning, the product fights unpleasant odors, extends the life of equipment, saves energy and leaves a pleasant lemon aroma. But it is useless against thick layers - the insufficiently “powerful” composition affects it. Produced in France and sold in packs of two tablets costing about $2.
"Top House". The peculiarity of this cleaner is its gel consistency, which allows you to quickly and efficiently remove all foreign formations and accumulations from the surfaces of the dishwasher. Due to its soft structure, the product penetrates faster into drain hoses and sprinkler nozzles, ensuring ideal results. It is manufactured in Germany and sold in 250 ml bottles, which cost around $2.
"Clean Home" A domestic product that has gained popularity among housewives for its low cost of $2 and comprehensive cleansing. It can eliminate all types of fungus down to minor scale, as well as overcome unpleasant odors and add shine to the metal.
"Clean Home" A domestic product that has gained popularity among housewives for its low cost of $2 and comprehensive cleansing. It can eliminate all types of fungus down to minor scale, as well as overcome unpleasant odors and add shine to the metal.

It is important that the product chosen for cleansing has a composition that is safe for humans.

Electrolux. The complex cleaner of this brand is intended exclusively for dishwashers of the corresponding brand. It is valued for its strong action, as it can easily cope with even 3-4 mm of scale. But efficiency is not cheap: 200 ml for $8, with the condition that the bottle will last for a maximum of two times.

It is up to the housewife to purchase special chemicals or use natural cleaners; the main thing is not to leave mold in the dishwasher. The modern market offers hundreds of safe and inexpensive methods for comprehensive cleaning of a machine, among which it is not difficult to find the ideal option. We remember that the substances released by mold irritate the human respiratory tract and mucous membranes, and also have a detrimental effect on the condition of the equipment itself.

So that the fungus does not appear again

Removing the fungus is half the battle, because with further use it will appear again and again threaten the health of the residents. It is necessary to eliminate the problem of mold, which most often consists of violation of operating conditions.So, in order to forever forget about germs in the dishwasher, you should follow some rules.

Carry out preventive cleaning at least once a month.
Leave the door open after the cycle is complete. If this is not done, the machine will retain moisture and heat for a long time, which, together with unwashed food debris in the garbage filter, will provoke the appearance of fungus. Good ventilation will eliminate the problem and help get rid of mold.
After emptying the dishwasher, run an “empty” cycle with detergent or turn on the special sanitizing option.
Choose high-quality cleaning products, ideally chlorine-based.
Clean the drain regularly.
Do not leave dirty dishes in the machine for a long time.

Mold in the dishwasher is unpleasant and dangerous, but fortunately, it can be easily solved. It is enough to thoroughly clean the camera and use the machine more carefully in the future. And you have already learned how to do this.