My Bosch dishwasher has this gross buildup of dried detergent and food particles around the rubber seal. I've tried wiping it with a damp cloth but there's still gunk trapped in the crevices. What's actually effective for getting inside those tight spots without damaging the seal?
Have you tried soaking the seal with white vinegar first? That stuff dissolves buildup like crazy - just let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then use an old toothbrush to gently scrub out the crevices. The vinegar breaks down the dried detergent and food gunk way better than water alone, and it won't hurt the rubber at all!
Use an old toothbrush with white vinegar to really get into those crevices - the bristles are stiff enough to dislodge gunk but won't damage the rubber like a wire brush would! For stubborn buildup, soak the bristles in vinegar for a few minutes first, then scrub gently along the seal's grooves. If there's still residue after that, try a plastic scraper or even a wooden toothpick to carefully pry out particles trapped deep in the folds, but take your time and don't force anything or you'll tear the seal. Once it's clean, run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar in the bottom to flush out any remaining debris and keep things fresh going forward.
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