Cooking Tips: Cleaning your Dishwasher

Cleaning the interior of your automatic dishwasher is a two-step method, so please read the entire directions before beginning. While cleaning, you can wash any cloudy glassware, ceramic or china dishes that could use the same treatment, but don't put in any silver, plastic, aluminum or brass. They may discolor and then you'll really have a mess on your hands. Step 1: Pour one cup of bleach into a bowl and set the bowl on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. Run in through the "wash" cycle only. Do not dry. If your dishwasher cannot be stopped after a cycle, then punch the "cancel drain" button. Step 2: Fill the bowl again, this time with one cup of vinegar. Let the dishwasher run through the entire cycle this time. You will find the discolorations, film and buildup on the interior of your dishwasher, as well as on your dishes, even down to the gunk that settles in cracks and crevices, gone. A word of caution: Don't be in a hurry and combine the bleach and vinegar for a one-step process. It will result in dangerous fumes.

Submitted by: Traci G

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