The dish rack is one of the functional units of the kitchen used daily to stack washed dishes and kitchen tools to drain water, but it is highly ignored when it comes to cleaning. It is in constant contact with water, leading to stains, rust, germs, and bacteria, causing health hazards, so it's essential to keep the dish rack clean and hygienic. But the primary concern is "How to clean a dish rack." Here in this article, we discuss the cleaning process and a few tips to help you maintain a spic and span dish rack.
Why is Cleaning the Dish Racks Important?
Cleaning is essential to avoid any bacterial growth on the racks, causing health hazards. Also, timely cleaning saves you from the hassle of deep cleaning in the later stage.
How to Clean Dish Rack?
Cleaning the dish rack is as simple as cleaning dishes. Here are the steps to clean them:
Materials Required
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Dish soap
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A toothbrush or scrub brush
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Cloth
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Hot water
Steps:
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Dismantle the dish rack, if possible.
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Make the toothbrush or scrub wet with hot water, add a drop of dish soap, and rub the rack gently, focusing more on the stain but cleaning the other parts as well.
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Rinse the rack thoroughly to ensure no stain is left.
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The last step is drying. If the dish rack is made of metal, wipe it thoroughly using a cloth to avoid rusting, and if the rack is made of other materials, keep it on a dish drying rack or open it near the sink for self-drying.
How to Clean Stubborn Stains From the Dish Rack?
If there's a stubborn stain on the dish rack, the usual cleaning method may not be effective. Vinegar is used to deal with such stains because it is milder than bleach or any other disinfectant.
Materials Required
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Cloth
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Scrub brush
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White vinegar
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A bucket or use your sink
Steps:
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Add one cup of vinegar to a bucket of hot water or in the sink. Make sure there's enough water to immerse the rack completely.
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Let the dish rack soak in the hot water and vinegar solution for 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
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By now, the stain would have left the rack's surface. Wipe away the stain using the scrub. Now, follow the usual cleaning discussed in the "How to clean dish rack".
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Now, wipe the metal dish rack gently with a cloth to prevent rusting. Leave the rack made of other material in the open for self-drying, or keep it on the drying mat.
Way to Clean Plastic Dish Rack
Inculcating regular cleaning ( for all types of dish racks) habits helps clean and clean hygiene racks. The chances of grime and bacteria accumulation are reduced, and a healthy kitchen environment is safeguarded. The steps are discussed below:
Steps:
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Vinegar cleaning - Make a solution with equal parts vinegar and warm water, and soak the plastic rack to loosen the stains. Then, rub it gently with a brush.
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Lemon juice - Lemon juice is a natural ingredient used for cleaning as it eliminates odor and keeps the rack fresh. The presence of citric acid in lemon helps remove the stain easily.
Tips to Prevent Rusting or Molding
Prevention is always better than cure. Try to avoid rusting or molding on the dish rack with regular cleaning and upkeep rather than through cleaning. Here are some of the tips:
Select the Right Rack
Choosing the dish rack that makes the task easy, maximizes the use of limited space, and makes it easy to assemble and disassemble and drain water properly.
Regular Cleaning
Clean the dish rack at regular intervals. Clean it once a week thoroughly to ensure no rust or mold is formed. However, wash it after every use as a preventive measure.
Keep the Rack Dry
The primary reason for rust and mold is moisture, so keep the rack completely dry to avoid any exposure to water.
Sanitize Regularly
The chances of food particles collecting on the rack are high as it is kept close to the sink. If you notice anything like food or drink, clean it immediately to prevent stains and mold.
Be Careful When Stacking Kitchen Tools
Make sure there are no scratches while arranging kitchen tools because these scratches absorb more water, causing rust in the rack.
Can You Wash the Dish Rack in the Dishwasher?
Metal dish racks can be easily washed in the dishwasher, but not the plastic and wooden ones. The machine will sanitize the rack and do the cleaning work without scrubbing. The concern is whether it will fit in the machine or not. Well, it depends on the size. If the rack is big, dismantle it and put it for cleaning.
