First, clear out any dishes or debris from the bottom of the machine—nobody wants a rogue fork to join the party. Grab a dishwasher-safe cup or a small bowl, fill it with plain white vinegar, and place it upright on the top rack. Don’t use apple cider vinegar unless you want your dishes to smell like a salad.
Now, run a hot water cycle on the heaviest setting. The vinegar will steam up inside, loosening that calcium crust like a hot yoga class melts away stress. When the cycle ends, open the door and take a sniff—it’ll smell like a pickle farm, but that’s a good sign! The acidic vapor has been up to good.
Pro tip: Don’t add any detergent. Let the vinegar be the star of the show—it works best when it’s not competing with soap bubbles.
