Nowadays, a lot of people encounter various problems with their dishwashers, and a dishwasher that is not draining is one of those problems.
If you also have the same problem, you must be wondering what you should do to fix it. In such a case, the best thing you can do is to clean your dishwasher drain. In this article, we’ll give you helpful tips you can use to solve this issue.
Clean Dishwasher Drain By Using Screwdriver And Damp Cloth
- To thoroughly clean the smelly dishwasher of all the old pieces of food as well as mold, try removing racks from a dishwasher so that you can access a tub easily. Use a damp cloth for removing any gunk and food debris from around a filter and catch basin.
- Follow the owner’s manual instructions in order to unscrew a filter, removing it from a dishwasher.
- Now wash a filter thoroughly under a kitchen sink faucet by using water and soap.
- Finally, reassemble the filter back into the tub drain.
Use Bleach, Salt, And Baking Soda
It’s important to clean the dishwasher filter so that a dishwasher can keep working properly. The filter that is clogged with grease, gunk, and food will no longer be able to function the way it used to.
Since water can’t drain properly, it’s not uncommon for dishes to end up being washed in unclean water, meaning it’s vital to use the drain cleaner for the dishwasher in order to prevent this kind of contamination.
- First, use the owner’s manual and remove a filter from the dishwasher’s bottom.
- Rinse a filter under a faucet for removing debris down a sink drain.
- Mix 1 cup of bleach, 1/2 cup of salt, and 1/2 cup of baking soda into the container and then submerge a filter in a solution, allowing a filter to sit overnight.
- Finally, re-install a filter in the morning. Then try running a dishwasher on a standard-setting without any dishes.
Deep Clean The Dishwasher
If you’ve never cleaned the dishwasher before, you will need to do the deep cleaning.
This is a more intense and thorough type of cleaning than the standard sanitizing method, so prepare yourself for this time-consuming process.
But in the end, It’s all worth it because if you finish it successfully, your dishwasher will continue running smoothly.
Before you start deep cleaning, you’ll need a hanger, toothbrush, dish soap, 1 cup of vinegar, and 1 cup of baking soda. To begin deep cleaning:
- First, inspect a drain for clogs. In case a washer tub is very slow to drain, try using the homemade drain de-clogger. Then begin with the empty dishwasher.
- Use the old toothbrush for removing any grime from the inside of a dishwasher door and spray arm.
- Use the hanger’s end for cleaning crud out of the crevices.
- Try removing and soaking a filter in soapy, warm water.
- Rinse a filter and then replace it.
- Once racks and a filter are finally back in place, try running a regular wash cycle with the cup of vinegar that is placed on a top rack. Then sprinkle a baking soda along the dishwasher’s bottom and at the hottest setting, run the short washing cycle.
Natural Dishwasher Drain Cleaner
In order to create a DIY drain de-clogger, you’ll need 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of baking soda, and water.
- First, you need to remove a bottom rack and a filter from a tub.
- Then carefully pour both baking soda and vinegar down through a basket that is located at the dishwasher’s bottom. Let a solution sit for fifteen minutes.
- Now pour hot water into a dishwasher drain to work a clog loose. In case doing it only once won’t work, you need to repeat this process several times.
- In order to maintain the proper operation and optimal performance of your dishwasher, make sure to regularly check a tub filter, and door gasket. Performing regular cleaning by using your DIY dishwasher soap can help as well. If you do all these things, your dishwasher will continue working smoothly.
Bottom Line
As you can see, cleaning a dishwasher drain isn’t as complicated and difficult as many people imagine.
All you need to do is follow the tips or instructions mentioned above to solve the issue successfully by yourself.
However, if none of the above-mentioned methods work for you, consider contacting a professional to help you solve the problem.
