When did you last really clean your dishwasher?

[Mayzoo]

To start off with, I rinse and scrub all my dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher. I hand wash pot and pans. It has been a good while since I last really looked at my dishwasher. I keep the outside and visible inside clean. My dishwasher is probably 7 years old.

 

Now to the ugghhhh. I decided since I found a small amount of mildew just inside the door of my dishwasher to give it a really good cleaning. I got down on my hands and knees with a flashlight and checked every crevice visible without taking it apart. It was shockingly dirty considering food never goes in it. Most of what I found was soap build up, but it is seems everywhere inside the machine. I used powdered soap for a few months twice in the last few years, never again...... The spinning arm crevices where they attach at the seams had soap build up. The door gasket, in all the moldings, inside the drainage areas all had soap build up. Looking into all the grates covering the motor area had some build up. I would have never seen all this gunk had I not been on my hands and knees with a flashlight.

 

This may not be a place harboring bacteria since it is just soap build up, but it cannot be helping any of us either.

[qannie47]

My big AHA moment last winter, when I could not get rid of the stomach flu in my house was when I saw one of my twins turn and wipe his mouth on a "decorative" towel hanging in his bathroom....never realized they were both using it....It had been hanging there for a year...when I washed it, the stomach bug went away, and stayed away.

[PowPow]

the drainage pipe from our dishwasher once was COMPLETELY clogged from powdered soap buildup. My husband actually had to cut the seemingly- cement filled pipe (it was all undissolved powder) to remove it and replace it. Not to mention all that soap buildup inside. nice place for all kinds of unhealthy junk to buildup. We dumped that dishwasher and now only use liquid detergent. It was shocking.

I think dishwasher, especially if it does not have a really hot water flow/cycle can be a fabulous place for bacteria/viruses to flourish.

 

I have heard the kitchens are dirtier than toilets.

[LNN]

If you don't rinse food off before loading ( I don't), you need to clean the ridge below the door and around the door seal at least every month. There are also "how to's" on the internet on ways to sanitize your dishwasher periodically.

 

Likewise, you need to periodically clean your washing machine. It's a great incubator for mold. The outer drum above the water line gets sprayed with water and soap but never gets fully rinsed. Mold will grow using the soap scum as a food source. If you have a top loader, you can go to youtube for instructions on how to take your machine apart to expose the outer drum (there's an inner metal drum you can see and an outer plastic drum you can't see). Clean the outer drum with peroxide and a sponge, but run a string thru the sponge and twist it around your wrist. If you were to drop the sponge between the inner and outer drum, it's be a bear to get back out. I do mine once a year and use peroxide once a month, spraying it in the little drain holes, and borax every wash. if you don't clean it and stay on top of it, you end up washing your clothes in mold.

 

One final reminder - toothbrushes. Make sure everyone's toothbrush is stored not touching, keep them at least 6 feet away from the toilet (and flush with the lid down to reduce spray). Replace toothbrushes a few days after someone has an illness. And we use separate toothpastes for each family member. You rub your toothbrush against the tube when you're applying it to the brush. So if you share a tube, it's another way to spread germs. If everyone has their own tube, it's one less way to share a cold.

[philamom]

If you don't rinse food off before loading ( I don't), you need to clean the ridge below the door and around the door seal at least every month. There are also "how to's" on the internet on ways to sanitize your dishwasher periodically.

 

Likewise, you need to periodically clean your washing machine. It's a great incubator for mold. The outer drum above the water line gets sprayed with water and soap but never gets fully rinsed. Mold will grow using the soap scum as a food source. If you have a top loader, you can go to youtube for instructions on how to take your machine apart to expose the outer drum (there's an inner metal drum you can see and an outer plastic drum you can't see). Clean the outer drum with peroxide and a sponge, but run a string thru the sponge and twist it around your wrist. If you were to drop the sponge between the inner and outer drum, it's be a bear to get back out. I do mine once a year and use peroxide once a month, spraying it in the little drain holes, and borax every wash. if you don't clean it and stay on top of it, you end up washing your clothes in mold.

 

One final reminder - toothbrushes. Make sure everyone's toothbrush is stored not touching, keep them at least 6 feet away from the toilet (and flush with the lid down to reduce spray). Replace toothbrushes a few days after someone has an illness. And we use separate toothpastes for each family member. You rub your toothbrush against the tube when you're applying it to the brush. So if you share a tube, it's another way to spread germs. If everyone has their own tube, it's one less way to share a cold.

LLM- do you wash all your clothes with borax or just run an empty cycle with it at the end of the day? If you wash with borax - do you add laundry detergent? thx

[Dedee]

I run clorox through my dishwasher about once a week. Just makes me feel better.

 

Dedee

[airial95]

I have bought new diswahsers and washer and dryers over the last few years (post pandas). Both my dishwasher and washing machine has sanitize settings (which can be used for a cleaning cycle or to wash dishes/clothes. It's basically a superheated cycle.

 

I clean my dishwasher monthly on the superheated cycle with Lemmishine. It's actually a dishwashing detergent, but its excellent for cleaning and sanitizing your dishwasher itself. (we only use it for that purpose.)

 

For the washing machine, I have one that also has a self-cleaning cycle (superheated of course). I use that weekly after doing all of the laundry. Once a month, I run the cleaning cycle 2x, the first using vinegar to break down any buildups, the second time without anything to make sure all of the vinegar has been cleared out.

 

My dryer also has a sanitize setting. Once a month when we run the cleaning cycle, I run a timed sanitize cycle there too - just because I'm paranoid.

[philamom]

I have bought new diswahsers and washer and dryers over the last few years (post pandas). Both my dishwasher and washing machine has sanitize settings (which can be used for a cleaning cycle or to wash dishes/clothes. It's basically a superheated cycle.

 

I clean my dishwasher monthly on the superheated cycle with Lemmishine. It's actually a dishwashing detergent, but its excellent for cleaning and sanitizing your dishwasher itself. (we only use it for that purpose.)

 

For the washing machine, I have one that also has a self-cleaning cycle (superheated of course). I use that weekly after doing all of the laundry. Once a month, I run the cleaning cycle 2x, the first using vinegar to break down any buildups, the second time without anything to make sure all of the vinegar has been cleared out.

 

My dryer also has a sanitize setting. Once a month when we run the cleaning cycle, I run a timed sanitize cycle there too - just because I'm paranoid.

How much vinegar do you use in the washer machine? Is it an LG? thx

[airial95]

Its a Samsung, I don't really measure, but its not much, maybe a half cup or so? Just enough to boost the super heated cycle.

[philamom]

Its a Samsung, I don't really measure, but its not much, maybe a half cup or so? Just enough to boost the super heated cycle.

Thanks. We purchased an LG top loader, I guess about yr and half ago. It always has mold in the silver drum along the top - uggh. Prior to the top loader, we had a cheap Kenmore for 15 years, and I don't ever recall seeing mold.

 

I'll try running vinegar and borax through it, and spraying w/ peroxide. I have been running the tub cleaner cycle monthly with their recommended cleaner - but it doesn't help.

[LNN]

Philamom - I add borax (along w/ half the suggested amt of soap -since borax "boosts" the sudsiness) to either every load or at least the last load of the day. But even then, and with my peroxide squirting routine into the drain holes (esp. the hoes above the usual water line), I find I need to open up the guts of the machine and clean the outer tub by hand once a year. Granted, it's an old machine (14 yrs) but if you're finding mold, then there's more where you can't see it. It may sound intimidating, but washers and dryers are amazingly simple devices one you open them up. Yes, your model has lots of electronics, but you won't be going near the electronic box.

 

I'd go to youtube and look for videos of "LG toploader dissassembly". I know they have videos for sears brands and generic tip loaders. On mine, it's all held together by two screws. Remove those and two springs and the whole thing opens up. It's a royal pain but not hard. Just time consuming. Takes me about an hour to clean but half of that is spent doing gymnastics, as the laundry room is small and once I get it all opened, it's hard to move around. If you have more space or the willingness to move it into an open space, it's not so bad.

[airial95]

philamom, our Samsung is just about the same age, but I recall when we were researching it, there was a recall on many machines because they discovered the were hold mold, even when cleaned to manufacturers instructions. There was also a class action suit because it was determined that the manufacturers knew about the problem, but did nothing, and were still recommending their instructions to folks who would call for help, knowing they didn't work.

 

I would try to look that up and make sure your washer isn't part of that...

[Mayzoo]

I never have mold in my washer, and it is fairly old so I am probably just lucky (knock on wood). I did use home made laundry detergent for a while, and it is mainly made of borax. It is in my garage, near a window that is almost always open and I always leave the lid open when not in use. Do you guys leave your lids open when not in use?

Edited September 27, 2013 by Mayzoo

[airial95]

I think it was a manufacturing defect with the HE washers, the front loaders had most of the problems, but I think there were some toploaders that were included in the recall.

 

I usually keep the lid open for a day or two after doing laundry (I try to do it all on the weekend) to dry out.

[philamom]

My HE toploader was recalled last December, but not for mold - it had to do with the spin cycle while washing waterproof items. I finally just got around to scheduling the service appt. While the guy was out on Tuesday, I asked him about the mold (I wasn't sure if it was just dark soapscum), and he said yes and just used his hand to rub some away (gross). He said it happens all the time with the new washers.

 

I always leave the lid up with this new machine - always have.

 

Oh, and the reason I purchased this expensive model - was to be able to wash my daughter's waterproof allergy mattress cover once a week. Its a thin cover that grips onto the corners of the mattress. And it was the full size drum that sold me. Now with the recall, you can longer wash waterproof items. I wish I had my old machine back lol

Edited September 27, 2013 by philamom