# Washing dishes /  dishwashers

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-dishes-dishwashers/436546>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 6, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-dishes-dishwashers/436546 "2008-02-06T17:35:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Ethan\_Complex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Ethan\_Complex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethan_Complex)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-dishes-dishwashers/436546/21 "2008-02-07T22:54:40Z")

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[QUOTE=ivylass]  
Do you recommend running the dishwasher while empty to “clean it?” If so, how often?  
[/QUOTE]  
Yes, only if you have a soap buildup.  
For hard water (lime), run empty and put vinegar in the soap cup.

For hard to remove stains (I made a mess once running by Weber grill grid through, leaving black marks everywhere) use “Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Cleaning Pads” These are non-chemical pads that work like Brillo but without scratching the surface.

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