Is your Bosch dishwasher overdue for a good ol’ cleaning session, but you’re nervous that you might break it while cleaning its components?
It may be a daunting task at first because of how delicate some of your dishwasher’s parts can be, but in reality, it’s simple and easy to do on your own.
You don’t need to worry because this article will provide you with everything you need to know about cleaning your dishwasher.
You’ll learn how to thoroughly clean the dishwasher’s exterior and interior so that your appliance will be spotless and germ-free inside and out.
Why is it important to have regular dishwasher maintenance?
Regularly cleaning your Bosch dishwasher is important to maintain your health and the dishwasher’s integrity.
Bacteria can accumulate inside the dishwasher and may contaminate your dishes if not cleaned regularly. Moreover, leftover debris can hinder and damage the appliance if neglected over time.
You’re doing both you and your Bosch dishwasher a favor whenever you thoroughly clean it.
A neglected dishwasher will become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. This poses many health risks since bacteria can create odors inside the appliance, which will eventually find their way to your dishes and cause you to become sick.
Moreover, cleaning your dishwasher is considered maintenance and is a way to extend its lifespan. Removing residue, debris, and dust buildup inside the dishwasher will prevent its parts from being damaged and will ensure that the appliance runs smoothly.
H2. How often should I clean my Bosch dishwasher?
You should clean your Bosch dishwasher’s exterior every week and its interior at least once a month. This can change depending on how often you use the dishwasher.
It’s also good practice to clean the dishwasher once you notice foul odors from it and/or the appliance’s surface feels grimy.
What tools and materials do I need to clean my Bosch dishwasher?
Cleaning your Bosch dishwasher’s exterior requires a few pieces of cloth and a soap-water solution. Meanwhile, the interior needs a box of dishwasher cleaner and a descaler.
You will also need a screwdriver set to access the compartments of the dishwasher and a vacuum cleaner to clean them.
| Quick Note: You can easily purchase a Bosch dishwasher cleaner and descaler from stores that sell Bosch appliances. It’s recommended to use these branded cleaners and descalers to ensure maximum efficiency and ease of use. |
How to Clean a Bosch Dishwasher
To clean your Bosch dishwasher, begin by wiping the appliance’s exterior with a cloth and soap-water solution.
Next, apply the cleaner and descaler inside the appliance and then start the longest wash cycle. Finally, access the interior compartments and use a vacuum cleaner to suck any dust present.
Cleaning the dishwasher seems very tedious but it’s surprisingly easy once you’re familiar with it. Start with the exterior and then proceed to the interior after.
Cleaning the Exterior
The Bosch dishwasher’s exterior is more straightforward to clean compared to its interior (which we will get to in the next section). All you need is to get your cloth and soap-water solution to begin the process.
- Step 1: Power off and unplug the dishwasher.
- Step 2: Open the dishwasher door and wipe the door seals clean with a dampened cloth.
- Step 3: Start cleaning the stainless steel parts of the dishwasher’s exterior.
Make sure to use a soft cloth with a mild soap-water solution and wipe in the direction of the stainless steel grain.
If you happen to have the Bosch stainless steel conditioner, apply it after wiping the stainless steel parts (but do not apply it to the logo, markings, and black steel). This is not required but it should increase the longevity of the dishwasher.
- Step 4: Finally, the logo, markings, and black steel parts of the dishwasher only need to be cleaned using cloth and soap-water solution.
Cleaning the Interior
The interior of your Bosch dishwasher has multiple parts that need to be cleaned such as its spray arms, dishwasher filter, inner compartments, and main interior.
Spray Arms
The spray arms are responsible for spraying water inside the appliance while a wash cycle is ongoing.
They can clog from time to time because of residue and other dirt that blocks off their tiny holes.
Here are the steps to clean the Bosch dishwasher’s spray arm:
- Step 1: Power off the dishwasher and disconnect it from its power supply.
- Step 2: Open the dishwasher’s door and remove its lower rack.
- Step 3: There are two spray arms – one is located on the bottom of the dishwasher and the other is on the ceiling. Gently twist the knobs of the spray arms and pull them out to remove them from the appliance.
- Step 4: Wash the spray arms by running them under water to see if any of their holes are blocked.
If you find any holes blocked off, carefully use a toothpick to loosen any debris stuck in the holes to remove them, and then run them through water again to rinse.
- Step 5: Reattach the spray arms.
- Step 6: Return the lower rack back into place.
Dishwasher Filter
Your Bosch’s dishwasher filter is responsible for filtering debris to prevent any sort of clogging in the appliance. A dirty dishwasher filter can pose health risks due to stuck debris and foul odors.
Here are the steps to clean the dishwasher filter:
- Step 1: Power off the dishwasher and disconnect it from its power supply.
- Step 2: Open the dishwasher’s door and remove its lower rack.
- Step 3: The dishwasher filter is located on the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove the bottom spray arm to fully access the filter.
- Step 4: Twist the dishwasher filter’s cap open and then pull it out along with the mesh screen attached to it.
- Step 5: Wash the dishwasher filter using warm soapy water and make sure to get rid of any debris stuck inside it. Don’t forget to do the same with the mesh screen.
- Step 6: If you have nothing else to clean, reattach the dishwasher filter back into its place (along with its mesh screen).
- Step 7: Place the spray arm and the lower rack back into their respective places.
- Step 8: Return the lower rack back into place to finish.
Inner Compartments
The inner compartments of your Bosch dishwasher will eventually accumulate dust and dirt too. Neglecting these compartments may eventually cause the appliance to malfunction or even break down.
Here are the steps to access and clean the Bosch dishwasher’s inner compartments:
- Step 1: Power off the dishwasher and unplug it.
- Step 2: Turn off the dishwasher’s water valve to prevent water from flowing into the appliance while cleaning.
- Step 3: The dishwasher has a panel located at the very bottom of the appliance. Remove the panel’s screws with a screwdriver set to have partial access to the bottom housing.
- Step 4: Open the dishwasher’s door and remove the screws securing the outer door panel. Close the door and then gently pull the panel downwards to remove it and expose the compartment behind it.
- Step 5: Tilt the dishwasher diagonally and rest it on a wall to easily access the bottom compartments of the appliance.
- Step 6: There should be two more panels located at the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove the decorative panel (this should be the plastic panel).
- Step 7: Behind the decorative panel is the access panel. Remove this panel to fully access the bottom compartment.
- Step 8: Set your vacuum cleaner (equipped with a crevice nozzle) to medium suction and clean the accumulated dust and dirt inside the compartments. Be careful as to not damage any wiring and electronics lying around.
If you find any accumulated dust around the other parts of your dishwasher (e.g. in its backside or small crevices), carefully clean those areas as well.
- Step 9: Once you’re finished cleaning, start closing the bottom compartment by reinstalling the access panel and then the decorative panel.
- Step 10: Reattach the outer door panel and secure it back in its place.
- Step 11: Return the dishwasher’s bottom panel to finish.
Main Interior
Finally, we can begin cleaning the main interior of the dishwasher. Doing this comes in two parts – using the dishwasher cleaner for the first part and descaling the appliance in the second.
Here are the steps to clean the main interior of the dishwasher:
- Step 1: Plug in and power on your dishwasher by pressing the Power button on the control panel.
- Step 2: Open the dishwasher door and completely empty the dishwasher – remove any racks, trays, plates, dishes, and utensils lying around inside.
- Step 3: Be sure to clear any visible food debris to avoid disrupting the cleaning process.
- Step 4: Add a whole box of dishwasher cleaner to the bottom of the empty dishwasher and then close the door.
- Step 5: On the dishwasher’s control panel, select the longest and hottest settings for a wash cycle and then run it.
- Step 6: Wait until the wash cycle ends and make sure that the interior is fully rinsed.
We can now move on to descaling the main interior of the dishwasher. The process of descaling is to remove any limescale and other mineral buildup which would be difficult to remove using any other normal dishwasher cleaners or soap-water solutions.
Here are the steps to descale the main interior of the dishwasher:
- Step 1: Open the dishwasher door and empty the dishwasher.
- Step 2: On the dishwasher’s control panel, select the longest and hottest settings for a wash cycle.
- Step 3: After 30 minutes, pause the cycle and then carefully open the dishwasher door. Pour a whole container of Bosch descaler into the bottom of the empty dishwasher.
- Step 4: Close the door and resume the cycle to allow the dishwasher to clean the interior.
- Step 5: Open the dishwasher door and check if everything inside is properly rinsed and then let the appliance dry.
Cleaning your Bosch dishwasher is an easier task than it sounds. It only takes some tools and effort and you’ll find yourself done with it in no time.
Always remember our tips and clean your dishwasher regularly. As long as you do, you won’t need to worry about problems coming from your appliance in the foreseeable future.
