Cleaning a Bosch Dishwasher

Dishwashers always perfectly remove grease, food residue, and other debris from dishes, but the appliance itself also needs to be cleaned from time to time. Cleaning a Bosch dishwasher is easy if you have detailed instructions at hand, so it's definitely not worth neglecting. Regular cleaning can increase not only the cleaning efficiency but also the lifespan of your appliance, which is why it's so important to take care of it.

Let's get ready to remove dirt from the dishwasher

Users often believe that any stains in a dishwasher can be removed using specialized household cleaning products. All they have to do is add detergent, run an empty cycle, and wait for it to complete.

While this type of cleaning may yield some results, it will be far from ideal, as no household chemical can completely remove debris from the drain filter or remove dirt from the machine's blades. Therefore, the equipment must be cleaned regularly by hand, remembering to take the following preliminary steps:

• disconnect the equipment from all communications;
• Remove all dish baskets so they don't get in the way while you clean;
• remove the sprinklers.

The frequency of washing the dishwasher directly depends on how actively it is used, so on average, cleaning should be done at least once every 1-2 weeks.

Before you begin washing, you should also prepare the necessary equipment: dry cloths, soft-bristled brushes, an old toothbrush, household cleaning products, a bowl for mixing detergents, etc. Once you have everything ready, wipe the walls of the machine chamber with a damp sponge to remove food particles and other large dirt stuck to the appliance.

Let's wash the door sealing rubber

First, let's look at the sealing rubber that is located between the door and the body of the household appliance. This rubber element must be washed at least once every 6 months to prevent it from becoming too dirty. If it is relatively clean and has not yet become covered in ingrained dirt, then you can wash it with a damp sponge with a drop of detergent, followed by treatment with clean water.

Avoid using household cleaning products containing alkali or acids to clean the rubber seal. These will cause the rubber seal to lose its elasticity and the machine to leak through the door during operation. If the element has become dirty over time, it's best to use an old toothbrush for cleaning at home. Apply a special cleaning solution to it and gently remove all dirt.

Taking care of rocker arms

The next step is to care for the arms, which do not come into contact with the dishes during washing, but still become clogged. The problem is that small pieces of food and fat actively get into the holes that supply water to the chamber, plus the parts become clogged with scale. To clean them, follow our instructions:

• add detergent to the previously prepared container, dilute it with hot water;
• add dirty dishwasher parts to the container;
• wait about 10 minutes;
• wipe the rocker arms with a soft sponge;
• Additionally, you can clean the holes with a toothpick;
• Remove scale, grease and any other contaminants from the shafts on which the blades are mounted.

Once the procedure is complete, you can check whether the rocker arms rotate freely by rotating them manually. Remove any dirt from the moving parts and install the parts in their seats.

We wash the filter element

Now it's time to pay attention to the cleaning filter, located at the very bottom of the dishwasher's wash chamber. Nearby is the spray arm. Finding the components is easy if you first remove the lower basket and look inside the chamber. The dust filter cover is located directly under the basket.

It is very important to clean the filter element at least once a week to prevent an unpleasant moldy odor from appearing inside your "home helper." In addition, a clogged filter prevents the waste liquid from draining quickly after the work cycle. The procedure for cleaning.

• Wipe away all water in the wash chamber.
• Remove any debris that may remain near the filter element.
• Unscrew the cap counterclockwise and remove it.
• Wash the filter and its parts using a solution of water and detergent.
• Wait until the cleaning filter dries.

If the dirt persists, use a citric acid solution: dilute 2 teaspoons of acid in 200 milliliters of water and leave the filter there for an hour. Then remove the part, wipe it with a sponge, and rinse with tap water.

We clean the filter installation area

Now we move on to the drain hole with its mesh filter, which also needs to be cleaned. To do this:

• remove all dirt from the surface of the drain;
• remove all parts from the drain and seal the hole with tape to prevent debris from getting into it;
• Use the same sponge to clean all the components.

Wash the unit very carefully so as not to displace the sealing rubber.

As in the previous point, if the stains are stubborn, the parts should be soaked in a citric acid solution or in a solution of table vinegar.

Filling valve

All dishwashers have a fill valve installed. It is used to shut off the water supply to the filler hose upon a signal from the device's control board, or to begin filling the dishwasher with water for washing. Regular tap water is rarely of good quality and clean, so the filter installed in front of the valve occasionally becomes clogged with rust and other small debris. Therefore, the element also needs to be cleaned sometimes.

• Turn off the water supply and remove the hose from the dishwasher.
• Remove the filter element, which looks like a small mesh with tiny holes. If it's stubborn, you can remove it with pliers.
• Clean the mesh under a strong stream of hot tap water.
• Install the filter into its seat.
• Conduct a small test - restore the water supply and check how the inlet valve now works.

To reduce the need to clean the inlet valve from dirt, you can install a water filter that will purify hard tap water.

If the mesh is covered in rust, scale, or other contaminants, you can soak it for an hour in a citric acid solution. Afterward, simply wipe the part with a sponge and rinse with clean water.

We wash the baskets from grease and dirt

One of the last elements to pay attention to is the dish baskets. What should you do with the baskets?

• Remove large debris that is stuck in the basket mesh elements.
• Place all the baskets in a large basin or in the bathtub.
• Lather the detergent well and apply it to the sponge.
• Wash all the baskets with a sponge and foam, apply the product to them and leave for 30 minutes.
• Wash all baskets to remove any soaked dirt.
• Remove all foam, rinse the elements in clean water and leave to dry.

At this point, cleaning the recycle bins is complete, you can move on to the last item.

The pump also needs to be flushed.

The drain pump may do its job properly and remove waste liquid after each cycle, but even it can become partially clogged. A powerful stream of water after each wash may act as a kind of self-cleaning element, but hair, food debris, and other debris may still end up on the impeller. If there's too much dirt, the impeller may either rotate with difficulty or stop turning altogether. In this case, you'll need to clean this component as well.

• Unplug the dishwasher.
• Remove the dish baskets, drain filter, and drain pump flap.
• For convenience, move the machine away from the wall to ensure easy access and place the appliance on its back.
• Disconnect the clips to remove the bottom.

If there is a float sensor on the bottom, be sure to remove it and disconnect the wiring, first taking a photo of the correct wiring connection so that you have an example at hand later.

• There is a pump attached to the side of the circulation unit, from which you need to remove the screw and also disconnect all the connectors with wires.
• Turn the pump and remove it from its seat.
• Clear any blockages from the pump holes, if any, and remove any debris from the hoses and fittings.

At this point, home cleaning is complete; all that remains is to install all the components in their places and conduct a test run.

Home remedies for dishwasher cleaning

The self-cleaning function isn't capable of thoroughly removing dirt from household appliances, so manual cleaning is necessary, which is impossible without specialized household products. A standard solution of vinegar and baking soda is considered one of the best for cleaning the machine.

• Add about 200 milliliters of vinegar to the PMM dispenser.
• Apply an even layer of regular baking soda to the bottom of the washing chamber.
• Start any continuous mode of operation.
• When the water in your "home assistant" heats up, stop the operation using the pause button.
• Leave the machine like this for 30 minutes if it is not very dirty, or overnight if it has not been cleaned for a long time.
• Reactivate the work after the specified time has passed.

This self-cleaning method cannot be used with dirty dishes inside the washing chamber.

Additionally, you can use a citric acid solution instead of a vinegar solution. However, it should not be added to the unit in large quantities, as the acid can damage the rubber seals inside the washing chamber and also ruin the ion exchanger. Therefore, it should be used exclusively for cleaning individual dishwasher components.

Professional dishwasher care products

Finally, let's list some of the most effective detergents for cleaning dishwashers. All of these household chemicals can be found on the shelves of regular supermarkets.

• Finish Machine Cleaner is a liquid product in a plastic bottle consisting of two layers. The blue layer helps remove grease, while the white layer removes limescale. Even a child can use it – simply place the bottle upside down in the bottom compartment of the machine, removing the lid but leaving the protective seal intact. Then run the machine at a temperature above 65 degrees Celsius.
• Filtero – helps remove limescale and ingrained grease stuck to the internal components of your dishwasher. Pour the liquid into the detergent dispenser and run the dishwasher for 45-90 minutes at high temperatures.
• Finish Rinse is an effective Japanese product with a concentrated formula that helps remove limescale from the heating element and other key dishwasher components. It also clears minor clogs, eliminates unpleasant odors, and extends the life of your appliances.

Be sure to run an idle cycle after the self-cleaning procedure is complete - this will allow you to completely get rid of the harmful household chemicals that helped clean the appliance.

This way, you can clean your "home helper" yourself, without spending much time. Follow safety precautions and wash your machine regularly to ensure its longevity.

   

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