Acetone OK for scaled-up dishwasher cleaning?

[reezekeys]

Hi guys and gals, about nine months ago I posted here with a Q about my leaking dishwasher and got some great advice. I replaced a grommet for the diverter motor and it's been working great. Now it's leaking again - this time it's the door gasket. I've ordered a new one and it looks like a pretty easy job. My Q regards cleaning up the channel in the door before putting the new one in. There is a lot of crud there, from hard water and probably detergent deposits (my wife tends to load more soap than needed, also she does not like to use rinse-aid. I tried to convince her otherwise but can't!).

Anyway I've tried scrubbing hard with white vinegar but it hasn't done much. I have a bottle of acetone lying around and was wondering if that might be a good choice to bring a little more game to this endeavor. From what I read, it shouldn't damage stainless steel – and of course I'm gonna pull the old gasket out and apply to only the steel, then rinse or clean thoroughly before installing the new gasket. Is this a good plan or is there a better way? I don't think I want to use a tool to scrape the stainless steel so as not to roughen its surface, but maybe a plastic scraper can help? How do the pros handle something like this? BTW I have been using Glisten Machine Cleaner since the grommet fix back in January and it really does a good job on the interior of the dishwasher. TIA for any advice!

[ECtoFix]

NO!

Acetone turns plastic into MUCK! 

SO...you provided absolutely NO make/model of your machine, but I'm sure some of your residential dishwasher's components (that you can't see) are likely made of  plastic (the pump impeller, fill valve, etc.).

I've delimed MANY commercial appliances.  Dish machines, steamer ovens, coffee brewers, etc...which DON'T have plastic components in them. Yet, I've been instructed to use products that were citric acid-based, to vinegar...and up to the highest level - hydrochloride-acid based (all BASED on manufacturer's recommendations).  I have NEVER, EVER heard ANY of them prescribe the use of ACETONE. 

I suggest you call your dishwasher's manufacturer for the proper descaling chemicals to use and their prescribed procedures. 

I'm sure some will suggest Lime-a way at the most, which a good product.  AND...if that doesn't do it the first time around, then cycling it through the machine as many times as necessary to rid of the the scale buildup.

DO.NOT.USE.ACETONE!

[reezekeys]

Thanks for the quick reply! My dishwasher is a Kenmore model 665.13543N411. I was going to be very specific about where to apply the acetone - using a dampened rag and only on the area the new gasket would be pressed into – i.e., only the stainless steel. The dishwasher is running right now so I can't check to see if there's any plastic in that vicinity but I defer to your experience and knowledge. I only asked about using acetone because I happen to have a bottle! Maybe a plastic scraper, along with repeated application of white vinegar, will work. I'll give that a shot. Thanks again. The Glisten I mentioned in my original post did a great job descaling the inside of the dishwasher but I assume it's not as effective reaching the area of the gasket, which after all is designed to keep the water out. I was also under the impression that repeated descalings can be harmful to the seals.

[ECtoFix]

Acid WILL etch stainless steel if left in contact with it for too long.  It just depends on the grade of SS and the type of acid used.  Most acids on the market used for deliming do nearly all of their work within their first hour of their application and are considered safe for that purpose.

Anyway, I still suggest consulting with the manufacturer.

From MY experience, running a machine through a standard wash cycle with an acid designed to merely delime a machine won't harm the stainless steel, since that acid will get flushed down the drain within that hour and rinsed with fresh water.  Those acids will only do harm if in contact for a much longer period of time (many hours or days).  Over such time spans, acid can break down the corrosion resistant barrier of the SS and, at worst, cause the SS to become brittle.

[reezekeys]

Gotcha, yes it makes sense that acids that are flushed away after a short time won't hurt the steel. I do remember hearing that repeated descaling wasn't good for the seals though. Not sure if that's true (I could be remembering wrong), or if so, to what extent. We've been in our house for 18 years and have always had hard water. Our last dishwasher was a Bosch. We got it new in 2005 and it was trouble free for 9 years - then proceeded to catch fire and almost burn our house down! We got back in our house in October 2015, so the Kenmore is now about 5 years old. Every so often the idea of installing a water softening system crosses my mind. Maybe I should let it stay in my mind! At least my grommet fix is holding!

[reezekeys]

I wound up using steel wool to clean the crud, but have a bigger issue that the title of this thread doesn't communicate. So I started another thread!