Vinegar for a Dishwasher Clog

What are Dishwasher Clogs?

• Dishwasher clogs have a variety of causes. Leftover bits of food and grease rinsed off the dishes may leave behind residue in the drain. Detergent have the occasional particle that may never fully dissolve, creating residual clogs in dishwasher drains. Finally, some types of water are higher in calcium and magnesium, known as hard water minerals. These minerals leave deposits in the drain and water pipes of your dishwasher, clogging them up.

Safe Chemical Reactions

• Vinegar is a solution of acetic acid and water, with acid chemical properties. When mixed with a substance with basic chemical properties, such as baking soda, the mixture creates an acid-base chemical reaction. During the reaction, ions in the vinegar react with ions in the baking soda and form a new chemical called carbonic acid. The carbonic acid works to dislodge, dissolve and remove clogs in dishwasher plumbing without the use of harmful and expensive chemicals. The acid only lasts for a short time before decomposing into carbon dioxide and water.

Making Vinegar Cleaner

• The vinegar cleaner used to unclog dishwashers is quickly and simply made. Measure 1/2 cup baking soda, then pour it down the dishwasher drain. Follow that up by pouring 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar down the drain. Cover the drain, allowing the mixture to stand in the covered drain for up to five minutes. While the vinegar mixture stands in the drain, boil a pot of water. Pour the boiling water down the drain after the waiting period is up to flush out any remaining parts of the clog.

Additional Clogged Areas

• The drain isn't the only area that gets clogged in a dishwasher. Each dishwasher has at least one cleaning arm, the propeller-like device that sprays water throughout the closed dishwasher to clean dishes. Removing clogs from the cleaning arm is simply done using vinegar. Remove the cleaning arm from the dishwasher and place it in a pan of warm vinegar. Allow the cleaning arm to soak overnight. Rinse the arm clean, then gently clean out each hole in the arm with a pipe cleaner or cotton swab to remove clogs.