Can You Really Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar?

Okay, first off—let’s be honest.
The idea of cleaning the thing that’s supposed to do the cleaning? Kinda weird, right?

You throw your dirty dishes in there, shut the door, hit a button, and poof—clean dishes. Magic.
But every now and then, your dishwasher starts smelling… funky. Like, “what died in here?” funky.
And now you’re Googling stuff like “can I pour vinegar in my dishwasher?” hoping for a quick fix.

Good news?
Yes—you can use vinegar. But hold up… let’s not go dumping it everywhere just yet.

Why Vinegar Though? What’s So Special?

Great question. So, vinegar’s basically the unsung hero of household cleaning.
It’s natural, cheap, and it kicks grime, grease, and smells right where it hurts.

Imagine this:
Your dishwasher’s been catching leftover gunk from food, soap scum, and maybe even hard water deposits. Over time? That stuff builds up. Vinegar swoops in and says, “not today.”

It’s like giving your dishwasher a little spa day. 💅
A steam, a detox, and a deep cleanse—all rolled into one.

How Do You Actually Do It?

Here’s the fun part.
No scrubbing. No elbow grease. No fancy tools.

Just do this:

1. Empty the dishwasher.
   Like, completely. No dishes. No utensils. Nada.
   
2. Get a cup of white vinegar.
   Pop it in a dishwasher-safe bowl or cup and place it upright on the top rack.
   
3. Run a hot water cycle.
   Just let it do its thing. The vinegar will get to all those hidden corners and break down the build-up.
   

Boom. That’s it.

Now, if you really want to go pro…

Bonus Round: Add Baking Soda (Optional but Awesome)

Wanna take it up a notch?
After the vinegar cycle, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher.

Run a short, hot cycle.

This makes everything smell super fresh and helps scrub away any lingering stains.
It’s like the cherry on top of your cleaning sundae.

But Wait—Is It Always Safe?

Alright, let’s pump the brakes for a sec.

Vinegar is acidic. And while that’s what makes it a beast at cutting through grime, it can wear down rubber parts if you overdo it.
Like, don’t run vinegar through your dishwasher every week.

Once a month? Perfect.
Keeps things clean without causing long-term damage.

Also—don’t mix vinegar with bleach. Ever.
Unless you’re aiming to turn your kitchen into a science lab (please don’t).

So, Should You Do It?

Honestly?
Yeah. If your dishwasher’s smelling musty, leaving a weird film, or just not looking its best—vinegar’s an easy, cheap, and effective fix.

It takes literally five minutes of your time and can extend the life of your machine.
Think of it as self-care… for your dishwasher.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Clean

You don’t need a $20 bottle of cleaner with 18 unpronounceable ingredients.
Just open your pantry, grab the vinegar, and let it work its magic.

Try it once—your nose (and your dishes) will thank you.
And next time your dishwasher starts smelling funky? You’ll know exactly what to do.

Want more practical cleaning tips like this?
Bookmark us or share this with a friend who’s convinced their dishwasher is haunted. 😅