Sodium bicarbonate is a mild and safe alkaline substance that goes a long way to eliminating persistent residues left by food residues. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and rinse with a hot water cycle. Repeat this process when you have particularly persistent stains or odors. When the first cycle is over, remove the bowl and sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher.
Run it in a short cycle. Baking soda will remove stains and refresh the dishwasher. The result? A bright, shiny dishwasher that smells like a cigar. While baking soda may not be the best option for cleaning dishes, according to Ad It Yourself it can be used to clean the inside of the dishwasher.
We spoke to Bree Lemmen, Whirpool Kitchen's brand manager, and we also got some advice from home maintenance expert Bob Vila, to learn how to clean the washing machine. Everyone has heard of the multiple uses of baking soda and vinegar as home cleaning solutions, but this combination should never be used to clean a dishwasher.