How to Easily Clean Rust and Mineral Stains Out of the Interior of Your Dishwasher

Hard water is hard on a dishwasher. Just like untreated water leaves mineral deposits on your shower, shower door/curtain, bath tub, sink, and toilet, over time, it deposits the same whitish-gray stains on the inside of your dishwasher. If you have iron or rust in your household water, reddish stains will also appear on the walls of your dishwasher. The good news is, there's no need to rub or scrub to get these stains off. Read this instuctive article and find out how to easily clean rust and mineral stains out of the interior of your dishwasher.

Note: This cleaning process is even safe for dishwashers that have stainless steel interiors, according to GE.com. However, consult the owner's manual that came with your machine to make sure it's suitable for your use.

What You'll Need for This Cleaning Task:

1) Citric Acid Crystals (also known as Anhydrous Grandular) - This is also known as "Sour Salt" in cooking. Look for it in the spice section, or the canning section, at a grocery store. You may also find it at drug stores. Amazon.com carries citric acid crystals in their "Gourmet Food" section. Make sure you buy the crystals, and not the liquid. The liquid can leak out of the detergent dispenser.

2) Your Regular Dishwasher detergent

Instructions:

Step 1-
To easily clean rust and mineral stains out of the interior of your dishwasher, fill the dispenser that holds the detergent up with citric acid crystals.

Step 2-
Make sure your dishwasher is completely empty. Citric acid crystals can tarnish silverware, aluminum, and other types of metal, according to GE.com. It can also mar dishes or glassware that have patterns on them. Then, set your dishwasher to run a normal cycle and turn it on.

Step 3-
Once the cycle is done, fill the detergent dispenser with your regular dishwasher detergent. Run the machine through another normal cycle to rinse it clean.

Note: If there is a heavy build-up of mineral stains inside your dishwasher, you can repeat the entire process to loosen and remove any remaining stains.

Resources
http://www.geappliances.com/search/fast/infobase/10002857.htm