Dishwashers are found in almost every household, and they are truly essential when you have a large family. Having the privilege of putting dirty dishes in a machine that will wash them for you is nothing less than revolutionary. A Kenmore dishwasher will do it for you!
Kenmore dishwashers are designed to fit snugly into your kitchen, easily blending into your décor. The dishwasher has built-in cleaning features that scrub off the dried food for you. Giving you squeaky clean dishes with the push of a button.
Kenmore dishwashers also come with the option to opt for controls that work for you, console, hidden, or panel-ready designs, depending on the style of your kitchen.
But what most people don’t realize is, that while having a Kenmore dishwasher makes washing dishes almost effortless, you will still have to clean the dishwasher regularly. Dishwasher maintenance is neglected in many kitchens until something goes wrong. However, cleaning the dishwasher is a no-brainer and can help avoid future problems.
Here’s a quick and simple step-by-step guide to clean your dishwasher:
How to clean Kenmore dishwasher step by step
Remove food remnants
While the Kenmore dishwasher guarantees to scrub-off dried food and give you squeaky clean dishes, remove leftover food from your plates as much as possible. Not because the dishwasher may not clean the plates properly, but because it may clog the dishwasher drain.
Some people may even go through the effort of rinsing the plates before putting them in the dishwasher to prevent food from clogging the dishwasher drain.
However, all you must do is remove the leftover food from the plates. The food leftovers will not only clog the drain but also damage the dishwasher. When cleaning the dishwasher, the first step is simply to remove the bottom rack and find the filter.
Some models of Kenmore dishwasher are built with removable cylindrical filters, but other older models may not have filters that can be taken out. If you can fully remove the filter, take it out and rinse it under warm water to dislodge any food debris. Or you can simply remove the remnants of food from the filter wearing gloves.
Clean Kenmore dishwasher with vinegar
Once you’ve properly cleaned the dishwasher filter, the next step is to clean the inside of your dishwasher. You don’t need to buy any commercial products to do so.
The best way to clean your dishwasher is with vinegar from your pantry. Put one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack of the dishwasher and run a cycle.
White vinegar has excellent cleaning properties that will remove all unwanted smells and clogs in the drain. It will also remove leftover grease and detergent from previous cycles.
Use baking soda
Finally, the benefits of double cleaning with baking soda. The second cycle of cleaning with baking soda will remove any odors or build-up that may have been left behind following the vinegar cycle. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher and run an addition hot water cycle.
Disclaimer: never run a cycle with vinegar and baking soda at the same time!
If there are signs of mold or mildew, the vinegar and baking soda may not be enough. You will need to use a stronger cleaner, such as bleach. Fill a bowl with 1 cup of bleach, put it at the bottom of the dishwasher and run a cycle. Let the bleach do its magic and your dishwasher will be as good as new.
However, don’t use this method of cleaning if the interior of your dishwasher is made of stainless steel. Cleaners with bleach will damage stainless steel. Also, while this goes without saying, don’t run a cleaning cycle with dishes in the dishwasher.
How to locate filter on Kenmore dishwasher
Your Kenmore dishwasher will generally have three filters. The one visible right away is the one that protects the dishwasher’s spray arm. There is another piece that fits over the spray arm and protects it from utensils flying around in the middle of a cycle.
Two out of the three filters are for removing remnants of food from the inside of the dishwasher. These filters are located at the bottom of the dishwasher, right below the spray arm mechanism.
How to clean Kenmore Dishwasher Filter? (Step by step)
Remove the filters from the dishwasher
The first step is to detach the filters from the dishwasher. Kenmore dishwashers have three filters, the firs one is on the spray arm, whereas the other are located behind the dishwasher. The first filter can easily be removed manually, but the other two need to be screwed out.
The job of the filters is spraying water and to remove debris from the pots. Locate the three filters and remove them carefully.
Soak the filters into solutions
You can use a solution of soap and warm water to wash the filters. After doing that soak the three filters into vinegar and lastly, rinse the filters with water.
Clean the filters using an anti-bacterial solution
The next step is to soak the filters in antibacterial solution. You can either use products on the market or mix a few tablespoons of baking soda into hot or lukewarm water to make an antibacterial solution.
Let the filters sit in the solution for a few minutes and thoroughly wash them. Accumulated baking soda or vinegar in the filters may cause excess foam.
How to wash food trap on Kenmore dishwasher?
The first step is to locate the food trap. The food trap is located under the spray arm, at the bottom of the dishwasher’s basin. Remove the filters and clean any food remnants from the trap.
How to clean bottom of Kenmore dishwasher?
Fill a dishwasher bowl with a cup of white vinegar, put it at the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot water cycle. The vinegar will get rid of remnants of food, soap scum, grease, and grime.
Supplies needed to clean a Kenmore dishwasher
Things you will need:
- Warm water
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Toothpick
- Toothbrush
- Microfiber cloth
- Rubber gloves
Best way to clean Kenmore dishwasher
Remove filters, dishwasher racks and utensil holders
First things first, gather all the supplies. Next, remove all the racks, utensil holders and filters to get down to the cracks and crevices of the dishwasher. Leave them to soak in a mixture of warm water and vinegar for at least half an hour.
Clean the debris
Now that you have removed all the filters, dishwasher racks and utensil holders, look for any debris along the spray arms, side walls, corners, top and bottom. Inspect all the tiny holes and slots. If you see food particles lodged in these tiny crevices, use a toothbrush or toothpick to clean them.Run a hot cycle with vinegar
Fill a dishwasher-safe bowl with 1 cup of white vinegar, place it at the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a hot water cycle. The vinegar will help breakdown any food remnants, soap scum, grease and grime left behind from the previous cycles.
Run another cycle with baking soda
When the vinegar cycle ends, remove the bowl, sprinkle a cup of baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher and run another cycle. The baking soda will remove all odor and stains, giving you a sparkling clean, nice smelling dishwasher.
Clean the dishwasher door
Finally, clean the dishwasher door with either a commercial cleaner specially formulated for dishwasher surfaces or a DIY cleaner. Look for a cleaning product that is safe to use on stainless steel surfaces.
Or mix dish soap, water, and white vinegar to make a homemade cleaner that is safe for all dishwasher surfaces. Wipe the surfaces, including the control panel and handles using a microfiber cloth dipped in the soapy water.
Summing it all up!
If you want your Kenmore dishwasher to be running for years to come, make sure you’re cleaning it regularly. Dishwashers are a hefty investment! Cleaning it routinely will make sure to keep grease and oils from building up. Similarly, will prevent food remnants from clogging the filters.
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