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Cleaning: Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

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Ridding mildew from the dishwasherUpon returning home from our vacation, I found mildew growing in our dishwasher. Disgusting!

My house was nice and clean with I left, so I was surprised that my dishwasher did not enjoy its vacation from us. 🙂

Since we do not use paper plates in our home, I serve each meal on our everyday ceramic dishes. With dishes from three meals a day and snacks, our dishwasher gets a workout.

The warmth inside and the bout of inactivity brought on a growing case of mildew.

Though the black residue was only on the sides and the vent of the door, I quickly started ridding mildew from the dishwasher.

Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

  • Tracy’s Tools of the Trade

1. Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Toothbrush

3. Old towel

  • Tracy’s Cleaning Technique

1. Spray the mildew with the Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Wait about 5 minutes

3. Use the old toothbrush to remove stubborn mildew from the sides and vents

4. Dry off with the towel

One of the sides needed extra scrubbing to release the mildew. To get a thorough cleaning, I scrubbed inside the rubber seals around the dishwasher door which trapped mildew in the creases.

Preventing Mildew from the Dishwasher

In running our dishwasher almost every day, I did not realize that frequent use keeps mildew away. Simple wipe downs and scraping food from the dishes prior to loading the dishwasher keep the appliance parts clean and clear to operate efficiently.

For more tips, visit this How to Clean and Maintain a Dishwasher post which explains how to take the dishwasher apart for a thorough cleaning.

 As you load and unload your dishwasher, check and rid mildew before it builds up. Keeping your appliance clean and clear of debris prevents overworking your dishwasher. Yes, it takes time, but in using time wisely, your efforts can lengthen the longevity of your household appliances which saves you money, energy, and time. Happy cleaning!

Question: How often do you run your dishwasher?

Waiting or Working?

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When my hubby arrived home and played with the kids, I took the opportunity to work on dinner alone. I put the pot on the stove and had some time to wait for the water to boil. During this time, I would have sat down to rest, if needed. But on this day, I needed to get my kitchen in order. Here is what I was able to accomplish while making dinner:

  1. Unloaded the dishwasher,
  2. Reloaded the dishwasher,
  3. Wiped down the counters,
  4. Finished my menu plan for the week, and
  5. Wrote out my grocery list.

At the end of the 25-30 minutes, I had a clean kitchen, menu plan, grocery list, and dinner made. After dinner, I was able to play with the kids while hubby graciously cleaned up the kitchen. Using the little chunks of time during the day to accomplish small tasks adds up to extra time spent doing what I enjoy – playing with my kids. What can you accomplish while waiting for water to boil?