How to Clean Caked Detergent in Dishwashers

Powdered dishwasher detergent is convenient, affordable and does a good job of cleaning your dishes. You pour the detergent in the dispenser and the dishwasher does the rest. However, if moisture leaks around the dispenser door, or if you add detergent to an already wet dispenser, the powdered detergent will absorb the water and you can end up with a rock-hard, caked mess that doesn't clean your dishes and doesn't leave room for new detergent. Clean the caked detergent out of your dishwasher and things will run smoothly once again.

Things You'll Need

• Butter knife
• Hot water
• Old toothbrush

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Open the dishwasher. Open the cover on the detergent dispenser.

   • 2

     Run the blade of a butter knife all the way around the inner edge of the detergent dispenser to loosen the caked detergent. If necessary, gently scrape the bottom of the dispenser with the knife blade to remove additional caked detergent.

   • 3

     Pour hot tap water into the dispenser. Scrub an old toothbrush around the dispenser to scrub away any remaining detergent. Rinse with more hot water.

   • 4

     Dry the dispenser with a soft cloth. Make sure the dispenser is completely dry before you add more detergent.