Page 7 | To never have cleaned my dishwasher

Pavementworrier · 2026-01-09T21:22:43+00:00

Is it true you're supposed to do it monthly???

HopSpringsEternal · 09/01/2026 23:38

user38 · 09/01/2026 22:03

Oh Blimey. You've never cleaned your dishwasher? I do mine about every 3-4 weeks and they are always absolutely minging with clogged arms and the large filter is disgusting. If you don't clean your dishwasher you are basically cleaning with greasy mouldy water.

It takes 15 minutes. Just add it into your cleaning schedule.

Edited

What is a cleaning schedule 😂

ThatAgileRosePanda · 09/01/2026 23:37

I put a cleaning bottle thingy in and run it on a hot cycle every couple of months. Cleans out the gunk. Try it, you’ll have cleaner dishes and your dishwasher will live longer.

user38 · 09/01/2026 23:36

AnneLovesGilbert · 09/01/2026 23:35

I buy 5 litre bottles off eBay.

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Or you can just get it in tesco. In ours its in both the condiments section and the cleaning section.

AnneLovesGilbert · 09/01/2026 23:35

Inwhitelights · 09/01/2026 23:32

Slight derail.. where do you buy your white vinegar from? I can only find those spray bottles and it’s gone in no time. Thanks 😃

I buy 5 litre bottles off eBay.

Cocomelon67 · 09/01/2026 23:34

ImmortalJillyCooper · 09/01/2026 21:31

You buy a special cleaning thing, shove it in, then do an empty load on high heat. Same as what you are supposed to do with your washing machine. I do both of these regularly. About every 10 years

Your last line had me spitting out my tea 😁 I also ‘regularly’ clean both… for me possibly as often as every 5years - look at me showing off!

Inwhitelights · 09/01/2026 23:32

Slight derail.. where do you buy your white vinegar from? I can only find those spray bottles and it’s gone in no time. Thanks 😃

LittleArithmetics · 09/01/2026 23:30

Changename12 · 09/01/2026 23:17

Your spray arms may need rinsing out.

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I tried this, although they didn't seem visibly dirty and nothing came out. It didn't seem to make any difference. Cleaning the filter definitely does solve the problem, it just doesn't last long at all.

Zov · 09/01/2026 23:23

🤮

WhatFlavourIsIt · 09/01/2026 23:21

Kingscallops · 09/01/2026 22:53

Anybody else fed up with the tablets falling out during mid wash? Those compartments are useless.

Omg I'm on a roll. Don't put the tablets in the compartment just chuck em in the bottom of the dishwasher.

pastabest · 09/01/2026 23:21

Kingscallops · 09/01/2026 22:53

Anybody else fed up with the tablets falling out during mid wash? Those compartments are useless.

That's what it's supposed to do.

Rinse plates. Release tablet. Wash in soapy water. Rinse again. Dry.

Inwhitelights · 09/01/2026 23:20

Ffs… here IS the pic…

Patch1234 · 09/01/2026 23:19

pastabest · 09/01/2026 22:13

I'm not being funny but have you seriously not noticed the big spinny thing the water comes out of in your dishwasher. Looks like a tiny helicopter blade and attached to the bottom of the top drawer in the dishwasher?

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And people are removing and cleaning these though?!?!!!! Are you?!?!! All of you?! I can’t be the only one not?!?!

Inwhitelights · 09/01/2026 23:19

Arghh here’s the pic..

Inwhitelights · 09/01/2026 23:18

Omg! I cleaned mine for the first time in 8 years. Also didn’t know it needed cleaning. Well the filter was absolutely horrific.. look at this vileness.. 🤢🤢🤢🤢 I mean what even is that gunk? Needless to say, this WILL most definitely being cleaned monthly from now on..

Changename12 · 09/01/2026 23:17

LittleArithmetics · 09/01/2026 23:09

God, I knew my dishwasher was shit, but this thread has really highlighted how shit it is. I literally have to clean the filter twice a week, otherwise it leaves gritty deposits all over the dishes. Meanwhile other people are going for weeks or months without cleaning theirs

Your spray arms may need rinsing out.

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 09/01/2026 23:11

LittleArithmetics · 09/01/2026 23:09

God, I knew my dishwasher was shit, but this thread has really highlighted how shit it is. I literally have to clean the filter twice a week, otherwise it leaves gritty deposits all over the dishes. Meanwhile other people are going for weeks or months without cleaning theirs

Years, years!

OP posts:

ClareBlue · 09/01/2026 23:10

Have you tried white vinegar into a empty cycle?

LittleArithmetics · 09/01/2026 23:09

God, I knew my dishwasher was shit, but this thread has really highlighted how shit it is. I literally have to clean the filter twice a week, otherwise it leaves gritty deposits all over the dishes. Meanwhile other people are going for weeks or months without cleaning theirs

Cadenza12 · 09/01/2026 23:07

Replaced the dishwasher and somehow the filter slipped off the radar..Till it stopped draining. Omg it was truly disgusting. Never owned up IRL.

VoodooQualities · 09/01/2026 23:04

2026isgoingtobemyyear · 09/01/2026 22:58

I clean the seals and under the door, filter and spray arms regularly. I also take the shelves out and clean them in the bath with the shower because they accumulate all sorts of gunk in the slider bits you can’t otherwise get to. Also the rinse aid door and the salt compartment lid get gunky. Mine has a heating element I think at the back that doesn’t come out but I poke around that too and pull out all sorts. Disgusting job but I always feel very virtuous when it’s done.

There's such a thing as taking things too far though.

First person to identify this quote wins the thread:

In this house, we wage a constant battle against the microbe

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 09/01/2026 23:01

KeenGreen · 09/01/2026 22:42

I had no idea! Just told DH about the filter thingy and he said yeah I do clean that all the time! Phew and thank goodness for DH!

🤣 you lucky duck

OP posts:

user38 · 09/01/2026 23:00

Re the washing machine. If you don't clean the drawer and the seals then you are likely to find there is mould in your machine. Its easily remedied with white vinegar or a washing machine cleaner.

2026isgoingtobemyyear · 09/01/2026 22:58

I clean the seals and under the door, filter and spray arms regularly. I also take the shelves out and clean them in the bath with the shower because they accumulate all sorts of gunk in the slider bits you can’t otherwise get to. Also the rinse aid door and the salt compartment lid get gunky. Mine has a heating element I think at the back that doesn’t come out but I poke around that too and pull out all sorts. Disgusting job but I always feel very virtuous when it’s done.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/01/2026 22:56

I bought new sheets ( heavy brushed cotton) so decided to clean the WM filter , luckily just some hair caught in it ,
In the 1990s I'd bought a bale of new navy blue towels and the filter got so clogged it started throwing water out of the detergent drawer !

Fluff filter in the door emptied every other cycle and the one in the base ( condenser dryer ) needs sluiced under the tap every couple of weeks .

ClareBlue · 09/01/2026 22:56

Warning lights are on tumble dryers not dishwashers. Dishwashers you just end up with greasy residue. Tumble dryer have very dry and hot fabric residue that can catch fire. Terry Wogan was saved by his smoke detectors when his caught fire overnight in 2008.