Dishwashers can have fungi 5 ways to keep your dishwasher clean!
What can you do eliminate fungi in your dishwasher that survive well in high temperatures, high moistures, and high alkaline pH values?
Check out these 5 tips!
Let the dishwasher dry out
Since the fungi do survive well in warm and moist places, letting things dry out would be a good preventative. After the dishwashing cycle is done, get the clean dishes out and leave the door opened all day/night to dry out and cool down.
Make sure the water is getting hot enough
Although fungi do survive in warm temperatures, putting your dishwasher on a long sanitation cycle should, well, sanitize. Some dishwashers even have a steam clean option. Just make sure to let the dishwasher dry out afterwards to prevent any new growth from occurring.
Use a cup of vinegar
If you want to add a little bit of extra death to your sanitization cycle, add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher before the cycle begins.
Spray on some Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil, unlike bleach or bleach based detergents such as Cascade, is the most effective, natural antifungal and antibacterial. Tea tree oil is harmless to people and pets and a small amount goes a long way in fungi-killing power. You can buy tea tree oil for about $10 for a small bottle from most natural food stores. The technical name for the tree is the Melaleuca Alternifolia, so make sure the brand you buy is made from this tree (not all of them are). To use tea tree oil, mix a teaspoon per every cup of water in a spray bottle. You don’t even have to wipe it away – just spray it in your dishwasher or other surfaces of your home as a cleaning solution. Leaving it on the surface will kill fungi and bacteria and will prevent it from returning. Tea tree oil has a strong smell but will go away from the surfaces it is on after some time.
Rinse before you use
If it has been a few days since you last used your dishwasher and you forgot to let it dry out, give your dishwasher a quick rinse with a vinegar or tea tree oil solution before you wash your dishes.
For info about your dishwasher go to www.dishwashingexpert.com
Study: Dishwashers can have fungi; PartSelect offers 5 ways to keep your dishwasher clean!. 2014. 31 March http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/5_ways_to_keep_your_dishwasher_clean.aspx
Why is There White Film on Glassware, Dishes and the Dishwasher Interior?
Are your dishes not as clean as they used to be? It’s likely that the cause is not due to a faulty dishwasher, but because of changes in your dishwasher detergent. In 2010, phosphates were removed from dishwashing detergents, leading to more and more homeowners being left with dishes that were covered in a white film (or mineral build-up) – especially in areas with particularly hard water.
What are Phosphates and Why Were They Banned?
Phosphates are chemical additives that were added to many detergents and soaps, including dishwashing detergents. They acted as a cleaning agent and helped to remove stains, grease and spots. They also suspended food particles and kept them from sticking to dishes during the wash cycle, and softened the water allowing for the formation of soap suds. While phosphates helped to give you cleaner dishes and clothes, they were nearly impossible to remove from waste water. As a result, many streams and lakes were beginning to be filled with phosphates. The issue was that water with high concentrations of phosphates has lower oxygen content and more algae growth, which threatens the health of our fresh water ecosystems and water supply. Ultimately, states began banning phosphates in dishwasher detergents, which followed previous phosphate bans in laundry detergents and hand soaps. And because it wasn’t cost effective for detergent companies to make separate batches of detergent for the states with phosphate bans, they removed phosphates from all dishwasher detergents.
How Can You Still Get Clean Dishes?
It’s important to not let food dry on your dishes; i.e. scrape or rinse your glasses and plates before placing in the dishwasher when you don’t plan on running it right away. The easiest way to remove the white film is to run your glassware and dishware through a dishwasher cycle using citric acid. You can use the GE Citric Acid cleaning kit or purchase citric acid or Lemi Shine at the local supermarket.
GE Citric Acid Cleaning Kit GE Citric Acid Cleaning Kit
How to Use Citric Acid
– Pour the citric acid in the detergent cup and close the cover.
– Place the filmed, but otherwise clean, glassware and dishware in the dishwasher.
– Leave silverware and other metal items out of the dishwasher.
– Turn the dishwasher on and let it run through a complete cycle without detergent.
– The glassware, dishware and dishwasher should come out film free and sparkly.
Alternatively, a vinegar rinse may be used.
-Pour 1 cup of vinegar into the dishwasher just after the detergent cup opens.
-Let the dishwasher complete its cycle.
-This may be repeated several times a year if needed.
The use of a rinse agent may also help minimize the buildup of film.
Appliances, GE: Dishwashers buying Guide. 2014. 31 March http://www.geappliances.com/appliances/dishwashers/why-is-there-white-film-on-glassware-dishes-dishwasher-interior.htm?omni_key=enews_silo_dish-film_3-14_products
Renah Appliance Repair
