You may not think you need to clean your dishwasher but you really should. Here are 6 cleaning tips

Your dishwasher gets a lot of use. It deals with food, heat, and moisture on a regular basis - making it an excellent breeding ground for gunk, hard water stains, and even mold and mildew. Your dishwasher will work better and last longer with regular cleanings and the occasional deep cleaning.

You don't need fancy products or expensive cleaning solutions to clean the dishwasher. You'll find the items for these dishwasher cleaning hacks right in your pantry. Cleaning your dishwasher has never been easier!

Regularly cleaning your dishwasher keeps gunk and hard water stains at a minimum. You can perform a hands-off cleaning once a month using the power of vinegar and baking soda. Start by placing a cup of white vinegar on the top rack of the dishwasher and running a hot water cycle. Next sprinkle the bottom of the dishwasher with baking soda. Run another cycle. You will be amazed how easy it is to keep your dishwasher fresh and clean using this method!

Some areas of your dishwasher are excellent at hiding mold, mildew, and gunk. These areas are usually hard to get into, such as around the bases of spinning arms and along the seals and gaskets. Use warm soapy water and a toothbrush to clean these areas. If you notice mold or mildew, spray 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill the spores.

You can quickly run a cleaning cycle with natural ingredients to freshen a musty dishwasher. Simply add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher. Sprinkle a cup of baking soda over the vinegar. Add a few drops of lemon essential oils and run a hot wash cycle. Your dishwasher will be cleaner and smell amazing.

Most dishwasher manufacturers recommend you clean the fine filter once a week. If too much debris and gunk fill your filter, it can cause your dishwasher to overflow all over your kitchen! A weekly cleaning takes just a few minutes. Remove the filter and rinse under hot water. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent and rub over the filter until it is clean. Rinse well and place back in the dishwasher.

You've cleaned the inside of your dishwasher. One place an amazing amount of dishwasher gunk hides is in the bottom underneath the course filter. If you've never looked, you may be amazed at how much buildup can happen in this one spot. To clean it, create a paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Apply to the dirty area and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Rub gently with a clean sponge. You may need to repeat the baking soda paste application a few times to thoroughly remove the buildup.

Lemi Shine dishwasher cleaner is does an amazing job at removing hard water stains and food debris from dishwashers. You can create your own DIY dishwasher cleaner at a fraction of the cost. Simply mix together 1 1/3 cup of citric acid, 2/3 cup baking soda, and 2 tsp lemon essential oil. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of this amazing cleaner in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run a hot cycle.