Major calcium build up. what will cut through it?
Hello there and happy new year as well
How to Clean a Dishwasher
Dishwasher manufactures tell us that the inside of dishwashers should
not need cleaning---after all, it is constantly being cleaned as you
wash your dishes.
You
know better. There is a slimy feeling on the walls or door gasket of
your dishwasher---or there is something black "growing" at the bottom
of the dishwasher by the drain---or it doesn't smell very nice---or
there is a white coating on the heating element (even manufacturers
acknowledge this one as common).
What do you do?
The first thing is to try to prevent as much of this as possible:
1)
Be sure your water is coming into the dishwasher at a minimum of 120°;
140° is even better. If your water heater is a long ways from your
dishwasher, before you turn on the dishwasher you may need to run the
water into the sink until the required temperature is reached. If the
water is not hot enough, the detergent (even gel detergents) won't
completely dissolve, and you get the slimy feeling on the walls and
gasket of your dishwasher. You also foster the growth of bacteria and
mold or mildew in your dishwasher.
2)
Be sure you are using the right kind of dishwashing detergent.
Manufacturers usually recommend using certain brands. That is because
they have tested those brands in their machines, so they know they will
work. Others may do fine, but they haven't been tested.
3)
Be sure you are using the right amount of dishwashing detergent.
Ironically using either too much or too little can cause similar
problems. The amount you need depends on the hardness of your water,
not the amount of food left on your dishes.
Okay, you've got all that under control. Now, how do you clean the dishwasher?
Problem 1: Slimy feeling on walls and gasket
---Use good old soap and water (yes, soap to clean soap residue!) and
clean away. Be sure to rinse well. If you don't you may have suds
coming out from around the door the next time you use the dishwasher!
Problem 2: Something black "growing" by the grates at the bottom of the dishwasher
---You have a mold problem. This is also what causes a bad odor to
"grow" in the dishwasher. The mold is caused by food particles not
getting fully pushed through the drain hose when the dishwasher drains.
The drain hose is corrugated, and bits of food particles can sometimes
collect on the ridges and in the valleys of the corrugation. Given the
right circumstances, this can cause a gradual buildup inside the hose,
just like cholesterol in our arteries. The presence of moisture and
lack of sunlight in the hose allows mold to grow on these food
particles. You will want to remove the grates at the bottom or back of
your dishwasher (usually removing just a couple of screws will do it)
and clean with bleach water (a cup of bleach in a gallon of water) as
far down as you can reach. After you have done that, replace the grate,
put the rest of the bleach water in the bottom of the dishwasher and
run a regular cycle (no dishes, please!). Why not just put the bleach
water in and run the cycle? Because that will kill the mold, but will
not remove its build-up. You want to remove the build-up first, as far
as you can reach---it's easier to remove when it's live. Then kill
what's left in the drain.
If your problem was serious enough, you may want to replace your drain hose, too.
Problem 3: Brown spots on the door gasket
---This is mildew. Mildew can also cause a stale odor in the
dishwasher. Use the bleach water recipe to clean the gasket, and then
run the rest of the bleach water through a cycle, just as for Problem 2.
Problem 4: White coating on the heating element
---This is a build up of minerals, mostly from your water. You may have
heard people recommend putting TANG® Drink Mix in the dishwasher and
running it through a cycle. This does work to help remove the calcium
from the heating element. That is because there is citric acid in
TANG®. However, the sugar in it may contribute to other problems you
have been trying to clear up. So why not just use plain citric
acid---what an idea! You can often buy the crystals in a drug store or
in the canning section of the grocery store---it is used for making
jelly with a fruit that does not have enough acid in it to allow it to
jell. Fill the dispenser cup with the crystals (3--4 ounces), and run a
cycle. If the build-up is unusually thick, you may need to do this a
second time.
So,
now you have a clean dishwasher! How do you keep it that way? After
all, who wants to have to go through all of those steps every so often?
The best thing to do is occasionally run it empty with a cup of white
vinegar and a cup of baking soda. How often depends on your water
quality, how often you use your dishwasher, how much food you leave on
your plates, etc.o there and happy new year as well
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