How to Clean Your Dishwasher With Kool Aid

Last Updated: December 10, 2021 Approved

Lemonade Kool Aid can be used as more than a tangy drink––it can also be put to a second use as a dishwasher cleaner. The citric acid content in it will remove iron stains and lime build-up from inside a dishwasher, leaving it nice and clean for the next round of washes.

Steps

1
Purchase unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid. It must be this flavor only because of its citric acid content and lack of color. If you like lemonade, buy enough for a drink and a clean!
2
Sprinkle the entire single package of Kool-Aid into the dishwasher powder holder.

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3
Remove any dishes in the dishwasher. The method should run using an empty machine only.
4
Run a normal cycle wash. The lemonade Kool-Aid will clean away as it runs through the cycle.
5
Use the dishwasher as usual after cleaning. It should be free of iron stains and lime deposits after the Kool-Aid clean.

Community Q&A

Question

Does it have to be unsweetened?

Community Answer

Yes, and it must be the lemon-flavored to avoid stains. Depending on the age of your dishwasher, you may have to use a light scrubbie afterwards. But the citric acid and hot water will loosen everything, so if you have to take this step, it's still an easy clean.

Warnings

Do not use a lemonade mix containing sugar. This will leave a sticky residue.

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Only the lemonade variety should be used; first because it is the only one that works and second, because a red or green streaked dishwasher doesn't look good.

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