The One Simple Trick That Works Magic Inside My Dishwasher (It's Already in My Pantry)

I was surprised to learn that the hardworking appliance that cleans my silverware, dishes, and glassware, needs a spruce-up of its own from time to time. I'd thought a machine that is regularly assaulted with soap and scalding hot water would be clean as a whistle, but the inside of my dishwasher can get pretty gnarly.

"Built-up grease, soap scum, and hard water can cause your dishwasher to work poorly, look dirty, and most of all smell awful," says Leslie Reichert, eco-friendly cleaning expert and creator of Green Cleaning Coach.

If your glassware, like mine, is emerging from a cycle looking cloudy or your dishes aren't as spotless as they once were, it's a sign that it's time to clean your machine. The good news is you can clean your dishwasher with zero elbow grease—no scrubbing!  And you probably already have the required cleaning product in your pantry.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher With a Bowl of Vinegar

Before we get to the vinegar part, let's ensure we get any ick out by doing a quick sweep of the dishwasher filter. To locate it, remove the bottom rack of your dishwasher and look in one of the back corners of the tub or around the base of the bottom spray arm (most are located in one of these areas, according to Whirlpool). Remove the filter, rinse it in the sink, and replace it. Now onto the magic vinegar trick!

Place a bowl filled with two cups of white vinegar (also called distilled vinegar or white distilled vinegar) on the bottom rack of your empty dishwasher and run a hot cycle, without dishwashing detergent. After the cycle, open your dishwasher and admire your newly clean appliance. That's it!

Here's How the Vinegar Trick Works

"Vinegar is a natural acid and works to break down grease and food particles that are on the sides and shelves of the dishwasher," Reichert says. Reichert recommends running a vinegar cycle every three months or so.

So let us go forth and shower our dishwashers with love, hot water, and vinegar.

A version of this article originally appeared on MyRecipes.com.