How to Clean a Dishwasher and Refrigerator

Unsightly and troublesome grime and odor is intolerable in almost any household appliance...especially refrigerators and dishwashers. Fortunately, there is no need to despair because appliance-cleaning tips aren't difficult to find. With a little effort, you can have a shiny and odorless refrigerator and dishwasher.

To start with the refrigerator, remove all the drawers, shelves, and plastic storage containers from the refrigerator and the freezer. You won't be able to clean the interior of the refrigerator completely without removing these parts. Take a warm cloth and a small amount of dishwashing liquid and vigorously wipe out all of the compartments of the refrigerator.

After cleaning all the dirt and liquid drips from the surface of the refrigerator and freezer, lightly wipe down the entire surface with a water and vinegar solution. Adding a teaspoon of vinegar to a quart of water can make this solution. Be sure to completely dry the area after you have applied the vinegar.

Wash the exterior of the refrigerator and freezer with a soapy dishrag. If there is any build up grime and dirt, a small shot of a disinfectant like 409 should do the trick. If possible, slide the refrigerator away from the wall and carefully wipe down the exterior pipes.

Place a small bowl of baking soda inside the refrigerator once it has been thoroughly cleaned using the steps above. Do not put baking soda in the freezer because it will not work effectively at zero degrees. You can also use a box of baking soda and just leave the top opened. This will help with cleanliness and odor. You would think that a dishwasher would inevitably stay clean and odorless since it is a cleaning appliance. Unfortunately, a dishwasher has to be cleaned to maintain its performance and odor free state.
Dishwashers are a practical and effective way to clean dishes...often on a daily basis. However, they can become dirty and musty. It is imperative that you clean the filters on a regular basis because they tend to collect food residues. In addition, the seals of the dishwasher tend to get a bit dingy from constant use. Gently apply some dish washing liquid with a warm cloth to these problem areas.

To reduce the musty odor that often accompanies a dishwasher, place a bowl of vinegar (about half a cup) in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then, run a full cycle just as you would normally do. The small bowl of vinegar will disinfect the dishwasher, and it will remove the troublesome odors. Also, a small sprinkling of borax in the bottom of the dishwasher will reduce the odor greatly...you can also run a cycle with the borax or just wipe it clean after a couple of hours.

Clear glass tends to get a slight milky film when the dishwasher is not one of the very expensive brands or designs. This is not harmful, but it can leave a slight taste if any gets on the inside of a cup or bowl. To remove this milky film, put a small bowl of vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and run the cycle. Vinegar solves so many household cleaning issues.