The Cleaning Trick People Use for a Spotless Dishwasher (And Does It Really Work?)

When it comes to cleaning, we all rely on our supplies and appliances to keep our everyday necessities – like dishes and laundry – clean and sanitary. But what can easily be overlooked is cleaning the machines that also clean the other items in our lives. Think about how often you wash dishes in your dishwasher. And then think about how often you clean your dishwasher. For many, the answer may even be: never.

Advertising

If you’ve never cleaned a dishwasher before, there’s no need to panic or try risky cleaning tricks just because you’re wondering if they really work. We wonder that too, especially with tricks as outlandish as cleaning the dishwasher with Tang drink powder. So we asked experts Katie Dills, brand president of The Cleaning Authority, and Katie Berry, owner of Housewives How-Tos, for their opinion on whether Tang can clean a dishwasher in exclusive interviews with House Digest. Surprisingly, one expert agrees that it can (with caveats, of course).

The claims that Tang can remove the built-up food particles and mineral deposits in your dishwasher are based on the fact that it contains citric acid. Citric acid is known as a mild organic acid used for descaling and other deep cleaning tasks. Cleaning a dishwasher is actually the perfect job for citric acid and its naturally acidic nature. “Citric acid is an inexpensive, natural way to deodorize and clean mineral deposits in a dishwasher,” Katie Berry confirmed in an exclusive interview with House Digest.

Advertising

“You can put it in the detergent dispenser and run your machine on the normal cycle with no dishes, or dissolve ⅓ cup in hot water and use it to wipe down the inside of the empty machine before running it without detergent,” she explained. When asked specifically about cleaning a dishwasher with Tang, Berry agreed that it might work for those who don’t have the option to clean with just citric acid. However, she explained that additional steps would be needed to mitigate the risks. “Because it contains dyes and sugar, you should run another load immediately afterward to flush the hoses and filters of your machine,” she warned.

While tang isn’t the worst remedy on the market, it’s also not the cheapest or easiest way to clean your dishwasher. Speaking exclusively to House Digest, Katie Dills recommended using plain white vinegar and baking soda (separately—cleaning with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda isn’t as effective as you think) to clean your dishwasher. She also stressed the importance of manually removing any food particles or debris from the dishwasher drain before beginning the cleaning process. “First, take out the bottom rack and check the drain for food particles, glass, debris, or anything that might be clogging the drain,” she instructed.

Advertising

Then she recommended putting a cup of white vinegar in the top rack of your dishwasher and running a normal cycle without hot air drying. The secret? Follow up with another cycle with baking soda. “To really get your dishwasher smelling and looking spotless, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run a quick cycle with hot water,” she revealed. After that second cycle, she advised readers to gently wipe down the inside walls of the dishwasher with warm water and dish soap to get them sparkling clean.