How to Clean Dishwasher With Bleach?

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Last Updated on December 5, 2022

Knowing the right procedure to clean the dishwasher with bleach is essential for maintaining this hard-working appliance to run safely for years. Various cleaning agents are available these days to do the job the best way, and bleach is one of them.

Bleach is a strong cleaner with disinfectant properties to kill bacterial and fungal growth. There are not only perks of using bleach in the dishwasher, but some damaging effects have also been noticed.

In this post, we have mentioned all the necessary steps and guidelines for you if you do not know how to clean the dishwasher with bleach.

Is Bleach Safe to Clean A Dishwasher

Bleach is completely safe to clean a dishwasher if it is made of plastic. If you own a stainless steel dishwasher, it wouldn’t be wise to use bleach as a cleaning agent. Instead, you can use baking soda, vinegar, or other less severe cleaners. Corrosion or rusting will result due to contact of bleach with stainless steel interior.

Bleach can act as the best cleanser for plastic interiors and plastic dishwashers. However, its excessive use will lead to discoloration. Mixing bleach with any soap is also dangerous.

Things to Consider Before You Clean Dishwasher With Bleach

The following consideration should be kept in mind while dealing with bleach for cleaning purposes:

Taking care of yourself while handling bleach is good as it has a pungent and strong smell.
Avoid direct contact with it by wearing safety gloves, masks, and glasses.
Never overuse bleach in a dishwasher. It will weaken the seals over time.
Check the interior and exterior carefully to ensure no component is stainless steel in nature.
Never add a concentrated form of bleach; rather, add some warm water to dilute it. Never use boiling water for mixing.
Avoid mixing bleach with any other cleaning agent, including vinegar, as it will initiate a chemical reaction.
Run extra hot water cycles in your dishwasher to remove all parts of bleach.

How to Clean Dishwasher With Bleach

Different methods are available to clean the dishwasher with bleach, such as directly spraying it over surfaces or adding it into a cup to make a mixture to apply on parts of the dishwasher. Other cleaning jobs will be performed by dishwasher cycles.

Supplies Needed

Detach Racks to Clean Debris

Before directly indulging yourself in cleaning activity, remove the dishwasher’s detachable parts, including racks.
Wipe all the stuck or dried food by using a cloth dipped in the solution.
One way to use bleach is by adding the mixture to the spray bottle.
Then apply the mixture directly over the dirty areas and clean it with a cloth.

Clean Rubber Gasket

You can spray the mixture over the rubber gasket or door gasket as it is hard to reach these parts. When these parts aren’t cleaned for longer, they develop molds and mildews that cause serious health problems.

Add three cups of warm water and a half cup of bleach to a bowl. You can also use vinegar in place of bleach.
Use a toothbrush to scrub the inner side of the gasket to remove molds.
If you find any part difficult to clean, you can directly look into the manual for instructions.

Cleaning the Inside of the Dishwasher

For deep cleaning of the dishwasher’s interior, take one or half cups of bleach inside a bowl and add water to make the mixture.
Then place the bowl at the topmost rack and turn on the hot water cycle of the dishwasher.
Set the temperature to the hottest settings.
Let the cycle run for some time until the inside of the dishwasher is fully cleaned.
Turn on the rinse or wash cycle to drain the bleach and dirty water.
Leave your dishwasher for a few hours to air dry.

Remove & Clean the Filter

Examine the filter of your dishwasher by removing it from the place.
Wash it to remove dirt and debris accumulated on it.
Use fresh water to rinse the filter and scrub its parts if any hard objects are present.
Rinse it again using hot water and place it back in the position.

Wash the Exterior

To clean the outside of your dishwasher to remove food spills, fingerprints, and water streaks, you need to wipe it.
Add the cleaning mixture inside the spray bottle and sprinkle it over the surface.
With the help of a paper towel or microfiber cloth, clean the surface.
Dirt and debris will remove with just a single wipe.

What Are The Potential Hazards of Using Bleach in Dishwashers

As already mentioned, bleach is safe to use for cleaning a plastic dishwasher. For further assurance, you can also look into the manual guide. Avoid using bleach on stainless steel parts of the dishwasher because bleach will ruin them.

If the manufacturer states that bleach is safe for dishwashers, you can use it. Using specified dishwasher detergents, baking soda, or vinegar is better if you have a stainless steel dishwasher. There are several other damaging effects of using bleach with other cleaners.

The effectiveness of bleach in cleaning is remarkable as it will kill all bacteria and germ particles, but excessive or concentrated amounts can badly damage some components.

Benefits of Using Bleach in Dishwasher

Bleach isn’t only beneficial for cleaning a dishwasher; rather it can clean utensils and your home.

It is the best disinfectant to kill bacteria and germs and eliminate molds and mildews. You will be safe from food diseases that usually result from bacteria.
Studies have revealed that dishwasher contains 62% of molds and fungi. This is due to moist environmental conditions that are favorable for such microbial growth. Bleach will deal with all these organisms.
It also acts as the best cleaner to remove nasty smells from the dishwasher.
Any blocking or clogging inside the drain pipe, hoses, or other areas will prevent by putting some amount of bleach in it.
When you take care of your appliance, there will be less risk or requirement of repairs. The extra costs of repairing will reduce.

It is good to clean a dishwasher with bleach once a month to avoid any risks of malfunctioning.