How to Clean a Dishwasher

A dishwasher cleans your dishes — but who cleans the dishwasher? Over time, food particles, grease, mineral deposits, and mold accumulate inside the dishwasher, reducing its cleaning performance and causing odors. Regular cleaning keeps it running efficiently and your dishes truly clean. Here's how.

Why Dishwashers Need Regular Cleaning

Food particles accumulate in the filter and spray arms, reducing cleaning performance
Grease and soap scum build up on the interior walls
Hard water deposits coat the interior and spray arm nozzles
Mold and mildew grow in the door seal and other damp areas
Odors develop from trapped food particles and bacterial growth

What You'll Need

White vinegar
Baking soda
Dish soap
Old toothbrush
Microfiber cloths
Rubber gloves

Recommended: white vinegar, baking soda, microfiber cloths, and rubber gloves.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean a Dishwasher

Step 1: Clean the Filter (Most Important)

The dishwasher filter traps food particles and is the most common source of odors and reduced performance.

Remove the bottom rack.
Locate the filter — usually at the bottom of the dishwasher, a cylindrical piece that twists out.
Turn counterclockwise and lift out.
Rinse under warm running water.
Scrub with an old toothbrush and dish soap to remove trapped food and grease.
Rinse thoroughly and replace.

Step 2: Clean the Spray Arms

Clogged spray arm nozzles reduce cleaning performance:

Remove the spray arms (usually unscrew or unclip from the center).
Rinse under warm water.
Use a toothpick or thin wire to clear any clogged nozzle holes.
Soak in white vinegar for 15–20 minutes to dissolve mineral deposits.
Rinse and replace.

Step 3: Clean the Door Seal

The rubber door seal accumulates food residue, mold, and mildew:

Inspect the seal for mold or food buildup.
Wipe with a cloth dampened with white vinegar.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub the folds and crevices of the seal.
Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Step 4: Wipe the Interior Walls and Door

Wipe the interior walls, door interior, and the area around the door with a cloth dampened with white vinegar.
Pay attention to the bottom of the door interior where water and food residue pool.
Wipe the detergent dispenser and rinse aid dispenser.

Step 5: Run a Vinegar Wash Cycle

Place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with 1 cup of white vinegar on the top rack.
Run the dishwasher on the hottest cycle with no dishes and no detergent.
The vinegar dissolves mineral deposits, grease, and soap scum throughout the interior.

Step 6: Run a Baking Soda Cycle

After the vinegar cycle completes, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher.
Run a short hot cycle.
The baking soda deodorizes and brightens the interior.

Step 7: Clean the Exterior

Wipe the exterior with a damp microfiber cloth and mild dish soap.
For stainless steel exteriors, wipe in the direction of the grain.
Clean the control panel with a barely damp cloth.
Dry with a clean cloth.

How Often Should You Clean a Dishwasher?

Filter: monthly (or more often if you run the dishwasher daily)
Door seal wipe: monthly
Vinegar wash cycle: monthly
Baking soda cycle: monthly (after the vinegar cycle)
Spray arms: every 3–6 months
Exterior: weekly

Signs Your Dishwasher Needs Cleaning

Dishes come out with food residue or a cloudy film
The dishwasher smells musty or like old food
Visible food particles or grease on the interior walls
White mineral deposits on the interior
Mold visible on the door seal

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bleach to clean a dishwasher?

Avoid bleach in dishwashers with stainless steel interiors — bleach can damage stainless steel. For plastic interiors, diluted bleach can be used to treat mold, but rinse thoroughly. Vinegar and baking soda are safer and effective alternatives.

Why does my dishwasher smell even after cleaning?

Persistent odor usually means the filter wasn't cleaned thoroughly, or there's mold in the door seal folds. Remove and scrub the filter with a toothbrush, and inspect the door seal carefully for mold in the folds. Run a second vinegar cycle.

How do I remove hard water deposits from a dishwasher?

Run a vinegar wash cycle monthly — the acetic acid dissolves calcium and mineral deposits. For heavy buildup, use a dishwasher cleaner tablet specifically formulated for hard water. In very hard water areas, use a rinse aid in every cycle to prevent deposits.

Final Thoughts

A clean dishwasher starts with the filter — a clogged filter is the most common cause of poor cleaning performance and odors. Monthly filter cleaning, door seal wiping, and a vinegar wash cycle keep the dishwasher running efficiently and odor-free. A clean dishwasher also cleans dishes more effectively, using less water and energy per cycle.

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