Y’all, I had no intention of writing this post. I was planning to write a post about how nice it is to be able to run an extra load when I need to. Y’know, as long as I’m rocking the run-the-dishwasher-every-night-and-empty-it-every-morning thing.
I wasn’t planning to review a dishwasher cleaning product. But I am, because it works.
I’ve heard that sometimes dishwashers need to be cleaned. That made no sense to me. It’s a cleaning-thing.
But I suppose that could be the same philosophy that helps me justify procrastinating on tasks like cleaning the bathtub . . .
Anyway, I had noticed that the inside of my dishwasher looked not-so-great. It was still cleaning my dishes awesomely, but some of my white plates were getting discolored in the places where they are chipped. And the inside was looking brownish. And just recently, even though the insides of my glasses were still perfectly clean and sparkly, there were dirt deposits in the indentions on their upturned bottoms.
I decided to try some (affiliate link alert!) Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner that Maytag sent me a while back. I thought it would be good for the dishwasher.
Oh my word, it worked. I know the lighting is different, but can you tell how the middle bottom section was quite brown but now it’s not? And best of all, the three loads I’ve washed since using the Affresh haven’t left ANY dirt deposits in the indentions on my glasses! I don’t have a before picture because it never occurred to me it would help that problem.
Have you ever used a dishwasher cleaner?
I’m a Maytag Mom, so Maytag sent me the Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner a while back, but not for a product review. I decided to review it because I was truly astonished by what a positive difference the cleaner made. Oh, and I’m also using my Amazon affiliate link to the Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner.
--Nony
Kelekona says
I had complained to the housing department, their maintenance person sent a box of cleaner through the dishwasher before they decided to replace it without a further complaint from me.
Now that I am on the deed and the dishwasher not doing its job is my problem alone… I have a modern dishwasher where pulling out the filter and using the cheapo tweezers on the bits seems to solve the whole problem.
Melanie says
I have used a Finish Dishwasher Cleaner before (not in my current dishwasher) and it worked fine, but it was $10 and the recommended cleaning is once a month. I said NO WAY was I spending $10/month to clean a dishwasher. I found this link http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/how-to-clean-your-dishwasher.html and pinned it so that I can go back to it. It works really well for me! And SOOOO much cheaper!
Shoe-a-holic No More says
I moved into my house in October 2012. It had a BRAND NEW dishwasher, which has NEVER worked properly. I am fed up with dealing with the maintenance people, taking off from work so they can come and “fix” it etc. I just want the damn thing replaced, but now it’s been over a year so it’s too late (even though I have complained and complained numerous times since day 1). I will NEVER buy another dishwasher like this one again… I almost wish I just had more cabinets instead of the stupid dishwasher since it doesn’t work well anyhow.
messee mami says
Oh my word, what a difference! I get ridiculously happy with dramatic before and after pix, excuse my silliness.
Jennifer says
my kids ask me once in awhile if we are going to get a dishwasher and I say we already have 6. they groan and I laugh and we all move on with our day. And yes, they do need to be cleaned once in awhile.
Dana White says
Haha! Love it!
Julia says
You can use a package of lemonade flavored Kool-Aid – but it must be plain lemonade flavor – pour contents into where detergent go and run. POOF – all clean – and LOTS LOTS cheaper than the products “made” to clean dishwashers!!
Simone Wolfe says
We recently cleaned our 5+ year old dishwasher that has never cleaned dishes well. My husband cleaned out the filters and I ran baking soda and vinegar through the dishwasher twice, including the cup that holds the Rinse aid. It does work a lot better than it did but I’m still holding out for a new one.
Baking Soda and Vinegar are the best household cleaning solutions around and cost pennies.
Heather says
Dana, how was the “aftersmell”? I know you’ve mentioned cleaning products bother you, so I’d love to hear what you thought. I think the only thing worse than a cleaning product sticking up the house is a cleaning product that keeps stinking up the house.
Heather says
*stinking up the house….not sticking 🙂
Dana White says
I haven’t noticed any smell at all from the Affresh.
mollyjade says
We clean out the filter/food trap and run the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar every few months.
True confession: I once had mold growing in my dishwasher. I have no idea how I accomplished that.
Jeanine says
Yesterday I cleaned my dishwasher. I searched the web for hints and suggestions. It had been a couple of months since I’d cleaned my filter but I rinse my dishes pretty well before loading them and some sites suggest doing it only twice a year. The filter was totally caked with this gunky whitish stuff. Everywhere I looked on the web just said to rinse it off. This stuff wouldn’t rinse off and it was in hard to reach places. I found NO suggestions on how to clean it. I finally used an old toothbrush that was skinny enough to fit into the nooks and crannies with a bit of dish soap on it and got it clean that way.
I also ran a cup of vinegar through it, and then some baking soda but I still have some white streaks on the stainless steal interior.
Colleen P says
They definitely do need it! Affresh is awesome stuff, too!
Sydney says
I just started using straight citric acid after using an Affresh tablet! It worked so well that I looked at what the actively ingredient was, saw that it was citric acid, and got myself a big ol baggie. Now I put a half teaspoon (or so) in both the soap dispenser and the bottom of the dishwasher (or the door if I’m lazy, which I am) and run as normal. My dishes are way cleaner as is my dishwasher! I love it!!