Cleaning your dishwasher may not be a task that you think about often, but it’s important to keep it clean to ensure that it functions properly and lasts for many years. A clean dishwasher also helps to prevent odors, and can improve the cleanliness of your dishes. Here, we’ll cover some tips on how to clean your dishwasher effectively.

1. Remove any large debris

Before you start cleaning your dishwasher, it’s important to remove any large debris such as food particles, broken glass, or utensils that may have been left behind in the dishwasher. This will ensure that the cleaning process is more effective and prevent any damage to your dishwasher.

2. Wipe down the dishwasher interior

Using a damp cloth or sponge, wipe down the interior of your dishwasher, paying particular attention to any areas where food and debris may have accumulated, such as the dishwasher door, the racks, and the sprayer arms. Be sure to remove any debris that you find.

3. Check the dishwasher filter

Most dishwashers have a filter that traps food particles and debris. Over time, this filter can become clogged and affect the performance of your dishwasher. To clean the filter, remove it and empty out any food build up then wash gently with Dish Soap. Then simply place the filter back into its holder.

4. Clean the dishwasher spray arms

The spray arms in your dishwasher are responsible for spraying water onto your dishes to clean them. Over time, these spray arms can become clogged with food particles and debris. To clean them, remove them from the dishwasher and use a toothpick or small brush to remove any debris that may be blocking the holes.

5. Run a cycle with vinegar 

To deep clean your dishwasher, run a cycle with vinegar. Simply add 1 cup of vinegar and ½ a capful of Cleaner Concentrate to the bottom of the dishwasher and run the empty dishwasher on a regular cycle. The vinegar will help to remove any built-up grime and eliminate any odors. Do not add dishwasher detergent!

6. Finish with baking soda

To finish off the cleaning process, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher and run another hot water cycle. You may also consider adding 3 drops of lemon essential oil. This will help to deodorize your dishwasher and leave it smelling fresh!

Cleaning your dishwasher should be done regularly to keep it running smoothly and to ensure that your dishes are clean and odor-free. With these simple steps, you can clean your dishwasher effectively and efficiently, leaving it in top condition and working for years to come.

Whether you wash your dishes by hand or toss them in the dishwasher, you’ve probably wondered if those dishes are really clean enough to eat off of again. When cleaning dishes that have touched raw meat, common allergens, and other harmful ingredients and bacteria, there are a few principles to follow that will ensure sparkling clean dishes every time! 

Hand-Washing Dishes

1. Clean Your Sink. When hand washing dishes, it is important to make sure that the dishes do not continue to come into contact with bacteria commonly found in our sinks. Food, drinks, raw meat, etc. are all items that typically get washed down the sink making it a breeding ground for nasty germs. Clean People Sink & Bath Scrub is a fantastic cleaning solution made for destroying dirt and grime in your sink, and a bonus is that you’ll be left with a sparkling clean sink. 
   
2. Clean Your Dishes.
   Using your Clean People Liquid Dish Soap, fill up the sink with hot water and drizzle enough dish soap to make the water soapy. Allow the dirty dishes to soak in the sink for 5-10 minutes. Doing so allows the dish soap to begin breaking down the grime and any hardened food on your dishes to allow for easier cleaning. Once the dishes have soaked, grab a clean sponge or brush and begin cleaning each dish.  
3. Sanitize Your Dishes.
   If you have dishes that have touched raw meat or common allergens that could cause harm or cross-contamination, consider including a post-wash soak into your routine. Fill up your sink with the hottest water possible for the dishes being sanitized (common recommendations are between 165 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit)  and allow them to soak for up to one minute. To avoid severe burns, use silicone gloves to drain the sink and retrieve the dishes. 
4. Dry Your Dishes!
   Drying your hand washed dishes right away is beneficial in avoiding unnecessary bacteria build-up from the air and the water clinging to them. Be sure to store your dry dishes in a cabinet that is also clean and free from dust and other contaminants.

Using a Dishwasher

1. Begin With A Clean Machine.
   Routinely cleaning your dishwasher is important to ensure that harmful bacteria or mold is not being rinsed and washed onto your dishes. Remove the filter (commonly found in the bottom of the dishwasher) and clean it with some dish soap and an old toothbrush. Replace the filter and run an empty normal hot cycle with a cup of vinegar in the top rack. The vinegar will break down any mineral build up and will also aid in sanitizing the inside of the machine. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, wipe down the interior of the dishwasher, and you’re ready to wash your dishes. 
2. Put Your Dirty Dishes In.
   It is not necessary to pre-rinse your dishes unless the dish is heavily soiled or has hardened food on it. Most modern dishwashers have special sensors that allow them to detect the level of dirtiness on your dishes. Doing a pre-rinse could actually be making your dishwasher not clean your dishes properly if it cannot detect how dirty they are. Once the dishes are loaded, place one Clean People Dishwasher Pod into the dispenser and run your cleaning cycle.  
3. Dry Your Dishes!
   As soon as you’re able to, remove the dishes and dry any excess water to discourage mold and mildew from trying to grow! Store in a clean, dry cabinet until next time. For additional savings check out the Clean People Everything Kitchen Kit! 

What is hard water?

You have probably heard the terms “hard water” and “soft water,” but what do those terms really mean? The tap water in your home contains dissolved minerals; the level of the mineral content, specifically calcium and magnesium, is what determines the “hardness” of your water. The higher the mineral content, the harder the water is.

Do you know if you have hard water?

If you notice white buildup on your shower head, difficulty getting shampoo to lather, or find your clothes feel stiff or look dingy coming out of the wash, you may have hard water. You can find out how hard your water is by contacting the utility provider in your area; or, if your property runs on a well, you can get the water tested yourself. The map below shows average water hardness by region, measured as dissolved calcium carbonate in milligrams per liter.  The general scale for water hardness is as follows: 0 to 60 mg/L is classified as soft; 61 to 120 mg/L as moderately hard; 121 to 180 mg/L as hard; and more than 180mg/L as very hard. It is estimated that up to 85% of US residents have hard water.

Water Map Source: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/map-water-hardness-united-states

Why does it matter?

While having additional minerals in your water can be great for your health, it is not great for cleaning or for your home. Hard water can cause mineral buildup in your plumbing lines, faucets and fixtures, and in your dishwasher and washing machine.  It can also reduce the performance of soaps and detergents by binding to their cleaning ingredients, resulting in the need to use more detergent to get the desired level of performance. You may know that hard water causes water spots and residue on dishes, but did you know hard water can also damage fabrics and clothes over time? This happens when mineral deposits gradually build up on clothing, weakening and discoloring the fabric.

How to boost performance of detergents in hard water areas?

Our recommendation differs a little between the dishes and laundry, so let’s break it down based on application.

For Your Dishwasher:

First, use a high-quality detergent like our Clean People Dishwasher Detergent Packs with water-softening agents, which will minimize the effect of hard water during the wash cycle.

For extra defense against hard water, use vinegar! Because vinegar is highly acidic, it creates a charge in the mineral particles causing them to attract to the water molecules and be easily washed away. We recommend running a vinegar rinse in your dishwasher once per month and before switching to a new detergent-especially when switching from conventional detergents to an eco-responsible one! If you have tried a new detergent in your dishwasher and noticed water spots and residue on dishes, the problem is likely to be hard water; using a vinegar rinse can help! Here is how to try this simple trick:

1. Start with an empty dishwasher.  Pull out the bottom rack and remove any bits of food that may be stuck to the bottom of the washer. Replace the rack when done.
2. Find and remove your filter.  Rinse under hot water, scrub with dish soap and a soft cloth or toothbrush to remove grease and particles, then lock back into your washer.
3. Fill a dishwasher-safe mug or bowl with a cup of distilled white vinegar and place it on the top rack.  For an extra boost, add ½ a capful of Clean People Cleaner Concentrate to the vinegar. Now run your dishwasher on a normal hot water cycle without detergent. Never put vinegar in the detergent dispenser as it may damage internal components!
4. Once this is complete and the dishwasher has cooled down, wipe down the door and bottom of the washer with a soft cloth, and you are done!

For Your Washing Machine:

Hard water minerals bind to ingredients in laundry detergent, which means you may have to use up to a third more detergent than you would in soft water conditions! It’s also recommended to wash your clothing on the highest water temperature that’s acceptable for the fabric being washed. We know that neither of these options are good for your budget or the planet, so we suggest using a high-quality laundry detergent that contains non-ionic surfactants, like our Clean People Laundry Detergent Sheets and Ultra Concentrated Laundry Pods. These non-ionic surfactants, which are typically not found in powdered detergents, are less likely to bind to hard water minerals, freeing up more cleaning power to get the job done.

For most fabrics that can be washed in the washing machine, you can use vinegar during the rinse cycle periodically to soften and reduce mineral build up.  Simply add up to ½ cup of white distilled vinegar where you would normally add fabric softener. Don’t worry! Your clothes won’t come out smelling like vinegar!  Vinegar is not recommended on wool, chiffon, velvet, silk, rayon or acetate fabrics. Always check the garment’s label for specific care instructions.

Lastly, a clean washing machine runs and smells better, so remember to run a cleaning cycle on your washing machine at least once per month using our Clean People Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets. This will keep your washer components free from hard water-related soap scum build up, which can reduce water pressure and performance. Follow these easy steps to keep your washing machine looking, smelling, and running like new!

1. Open the convenient single tablet packet and place the tablet in the empty washer drum. Do not put the tablet in the dispensing tray!
2. Run a washing machine cleaning cycle if the machine has one; and if not, run a regular wash cycle with hot water.
3. Once the cycle is complete, gently pull back the rubber door seal and wipe down with a towel or sponge.
4. Continue with your normal laundry routine and enjoy clean, bright, fresh-smelling clothes each time! 

Why choose a non-conventional dishwasher detergent?

Just as with big-brand laundry detergent, most conventional dishwasher detergents can contain harmful chemicals such as bleach and phosphates. These chemicals in particular end up draining into our water sources and can cause eutrophication, resulting in large algal blooms. Over time, algal blooms deplete oxygen in the ocean and inevitably endanger marine life.

Conventional dishwasher detergents also contain other hazardous ingredients that can wreak havoc on marine ecosystems in other ways. These can include harsh dyes, Parabens, and ammonia. When these substances enter streams, they effectively kill off all forms of marine life and leave once thriving water zones barren. If an organism is exposed to the chemicals in these detergents, their life span and capacity to reproduce are generally reduced. And as predators devour prey, these compounds can work their way up the food chain.

These same chemicals can also enter the human body through two principal routes: inhalation of steam emitted when a dishwasher is opened after a cycle, or residue left on the supposedly clean dishes following washing. When inhaled, these compounds can cause health issues such contact dermatitis, allergies, eye and throat irritation, and headaches.

We know that’s a lot to consider when purchasing a dishwasher detergent. What’s worse is that so many of these harmful ingredients are hidden from the consumer. That’s why at Clean People, our eco-responsible dishwasher pods and dish soap are made with simple, effective ingredients – reducing the ecological footprint that most conventional detergents leave behind. And as always, are free-from gross stuff like phosphates, Parabens, ammonia, added dyes, and chlorine bleach – keeping you, your family, and the environment safe.

Thank you for joining us in our mission to keep these needless and hazardous chemicals out of our water supplies and our beautiful planet!

Hand washing can be tough on your skin.
A dishwasher is more water-efficient than washing by hand when you have a full load. In order to kill bacteria, most dishwashers use extremely high water temperatures. These temperatures would be intolerable for most people when hand washing, so there may be some traces of bacteria left behind. Even at lower temperatures, washing dishes by hand can wreak havoc on your hands. Using water and dish soap can dry out your skin. While wearing gloves is an option, you can also opt to simply put most of your dishes in the dishwasher instead to save water and your hands!

Today’s dishwashers use less water than hand washing.
In the past, dishwashers consumed up to 15 gallons of water per cycle! Modern dishwashers, on the other hand, are designed with water efficiency in mind. 

Of course, there are times where hand washing is necessary.
While using a dishwasher may be more time-, energy-, and water efficient, it’s not always an option. There are a number of commonly used kitchen items that aren’t dishwasher-friendly and should be washed by hand. Some examples include wooden cutting boards, sterling silver flatware, cast iron cookware, chef’s knives, and non-stick pans. Some fine china and handmade ceramics are also best washed by hand.

Why are CLEAN PEOPLE Dishwasher Detergent Pods better for you?
Ever wonder what chemicals from traditional dishwashing detergents get drained into our waterways and end up in our aquatic ecosystems? Us to. CLEAN PEOPLE Dishwasher Detergent Pods are eco-responsible and made with simple, and effective ingredients. And as always, are free-from gross stuff like Phosphates, Parabens, Ammonia, and Chlorine Bleach – keeping you, your family, and the environment safe!