Cleaning Your Dishwasher & Washing Machine
Two of the most cleaning-capable appliances in an Ontario home — the dishwasher and washing machine — are paradoxically among the most in need of regular cleaning themselves. Both accumulate organic buildup, scale, and mould at the door seals and filters that affects performance and produces unpleasant odours.
Dishwasher
- Filter: Remove and rinse the dishwasher filter (check your manual for location — usually at the bottom of the tub) monthly. Run it under warm water with a soft brush — a clogged filter is the number one cause of dishes not getting clean and of dishwasher odour
- Door seal: Wipe the door gasket and the interior edge of the door with a damp cloth — food debris collects here and goes mouldy if not addressed
- Interior clean cycle: Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar placed on the bottom rack monthly. Alternatively, use a commercial dishwasher cleaner tablet monthly
Front-Load Washing Machine
- Door seal: The rubber gasket on a front-loader is where mould grows most commonly — the gasket folds trap moisture and laundry residue. Wipe the entire gasket surface after every wash cycle, and leave the door open between loads to allow drying
- Drum and dispenser: Run a hot, empty "drum clean" cycle monthly with a washing machine cleaner tablet or a cup of white vinegar
Top-Load Washing Machine
Run a hot empty cycle with white vinegar or a washer cleaner tablet monthly. Wipe the drum interior and the dispenser tray after the cycle.