- 1). Turn on the overhead stove exhaust fan and a nearby window. Turn off the circuit breaker to the dishwasher.
- 2). Open the dishwasher door and pull out the lower dish rack. Remove the dishes from the rack and remove the rack completely from the dishwasher. Most lower dish racks simply roll out of the unit. Allow the heating element to cool completely.
- 3). Get under larger portions of the melted plastic with a plastic spatula. The large portions usually pop off the bottom of the dishwasher and around the heating element once it is completely cool.
- 4). Scrape away any remaining plastic from the heating element with a sharp utility knife. Angle the blade as flat as possible against the heating element to avoid gouging the element. Wipe the element clean with a wet cloth.
- 5). Fill two dishwasher-safe measuring cups with white vinegar. Insert the lower dish rack into the dishwasher and place the two measuring cups in the lower dish rack. Close the dishwasher door and turn on the circuit breaker. Run the dishwasher through a regular cycle.