Mold can be really annoying and appears seemingly everywhere. It's as if these harmful spores will stop at nothing. Have you even discovered one in the dishwasher or suspect that it might be there? How can you locate and, more importantly, eliminate mold in the dishwasher?
Since mold spores are known to be harmful to your health, you should do something about them as quickly as possible. Luckily, this isn't a problem with the dishwasher and can be done quickly.
Do I even have mold in the dishwasher?
The mold is not always immediately visible. It often hides under seals or around the drain or on the filter - where the most water collects after the rinse cycle and dries the slowest or where there are even leftover food. So if you are not sure, check these places in the machine.
How to effectively eliminate mold spores
If you want to get rid of mold in the dishwasher, one isthorough cleaningwith the right means and steps necessary. How to proceed:
Clean the individual elements
- Empty the machine completely.
- Remove all elements that are removable (cutlery basket and filter, for example, and any lids). The filter can usually be easily unscrewed in a clockwise direction.
- Rinse all these removed parts thoroughly by hand. Use a sponge and dish soap for this purpose, while you can brush hard-to-reach areas with an old toothbrush.
- Rinse all cleaned parts with hot water and reinstall them correctly.
Also clean the machine: the home remedy vinegar
The dishwasher is then thoroughly cleaned with a mold-killing agent. That shouldnobe harmful or caustic cleaning agent, because after all you are using the dishwasher for dishes. Instead, good old vinegar has proven itself useful here again:
- Take a dishwasher safe container.
- Pour in 250 ml of vinegar and place it in the top basket.
- Rinse the dishwasher completely once while idling.
- Be sure to choose an intensive program with a high temperature. This is the only way to kill the mold in the dishwasher.
- Allow the machine to dry with the door open.
Remove stubborn mold stains
If the stains on seals etc. have not completely disappeared after this cleaning process, use another effective and popular home remedy: baking soda.
- Sprinkle the powder on the affected areas.
- Let it work overnight.
- Also take another look at the difficult areas under the seals and the corners. If there are still residues there, scrub with a brush and soapy water.
- Set the intensive program again.
- Leave the machine open to dry.
What you can do to prevent rust in the dishwasherread here.
Final steps to remove mold in the dishwasher
- Remove the machine's spray arm.
- Wash it thoroughly under running hot water with detergent.
- Be particularly thorough with the holes. The best way to clean these is with a compact toothbrush.
- Rinse the arm well and reinstall it.
Prevent mold growth in the dishwasher
So that you no longer need to take extra action against the spores in the future, it is recommended that you carry out a more thorough cleaning program on a regular basis. All you need to do is set a program that uses water at a high temperature at least once a month. But at what temperature does mold die? As a rule, 50 degrees is sufficient, but we recommend that you choose a washing program with at least 60 (better even 70) degrees. This kills any spores before they can spread. An additional advantage that this cleaning brings with it is that fats that remain at lower temperatures are also washed away. The machine is therefore cleaned completely.
You should also:
- Clean and disinfect the seals.
- Only allow washed dishes to air dry if the dishwasher door is open.
- Clean the filter regularly.
- If you don't fill your dishwasher often, always leave the door slightly open between cleaning cycles. This means that no moisture builds up inside (from leftover food and drinks) as the air can circulate.
What if mold still appears in the dishwasher?
Do you follow all the rules mentioned, but this annoying mold still keeps appearing? Then the problem could be a little deeper, namely in the drain pipe. If leftover food, fat and moisture build up there, mold will also form, which will then continually migrate back up into the machine. So it's worth checking there too.
Does the washed dishes have a strange taste?That could be the reason.
Dirty dishes can also be the cause. It's probably happened to everyone at some point that mold has formed on one dirty item or another, simply because you didn't fill up the dishwasher quickly enough. And this mold will then spread rapidly as long as you use a program with a temperature that is too low.
If you have found mold in the dishwasher, you don't need to panic straight away. In this case, cleaning is quick and easy and future infestations can easily be prevented.
