How to clean a dishwasher, filter first
To clean a dishwasher, start with the filter: twist it out, rinse it, and scrub it with warm soapy water. Then clear the spray arm holes, wipe the door seal and the bottom edge of the door, and run a hot cycle with the racks empty and a dishwasher cleaner, or white vinegar if your manual allows it. Finish by wiping the outside and the control panel.
If the dishes come out gritty or the kitchen smells, the filter is the first place to look.
What do you need?
- Your dishwasher manual (or the maker's website)
- Dish soap and warm water
- A soft brush or old toothbrush
- A toothpick or wooden skewer
- Microfiber cloths
- A dishwasher cleaner, or white vinegar if your manual allows it
- Rubber gloves
How do you clean a dishwasher, step by step?
- Empty it. Pull out the bottom rack.
- Clean the filter. Find it with the manual, often under the lower spray arm. Twist it out as the manual shows, rinse it under warm water, and scrub the mesh with a soft brush and dish soap. Never use a wire brush, which can tear it. Put it back until it locks.
- Clear the bottom. Pick out any food, glass or labels around the drain area.
- Check the spray arms. Spin them by hand; they should turn freely. Poke food out of the small holes with a toothpick. Some arms lift off for rinsing; your manual shows how.
- Wipe the door seal. Run a damp soapy cloth along the rubber gasket and the bottom edge of the door, where drips and grime collect. The toothbrush gets into the folds.
- Run a cleaning cycle. With the racks empty, use a dishwasher cleaner as the label directs, or set a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack, if your manual allows vinegar. Run the hottest cycle.
- Wipe the outside. Warm soapy water on the door and handle, then dry. Wipe stainless with the grain. Use a barely damp cloth on the control panel.
Should you use vinegar and baking soda?
Some makers allow vinegar and baking soda; some say not to, because acids can wear on rubber seals over time. Your manual decides. If it says no, use a cleaner made for dishwashers. Never mix vinegar with a bleach-based cleaner, and never run them in the same cycle.
How do you get rid of white film and spots?
A chalky white film on glasses and the inside walls usually comes from hard water or too much detergent. Clean the filter, run a cleaning cycle as above, and use a rinse aid if your machine has a dispenser. If the film stays, try a little less detergent.
How do you keep it running clean?
- Scrape plates into the trash; you don't need to rinse them spotless, but big scraps clog the filter.
- Run the kitchen tap until the water is hot before starting a cycle.
- Don't block the spray arms with tall pans or overloaded racks.
- Leave the door cracked after a cycle so it dries out.
- Run it often. Water that sits for days starts to smell.
A dishwasher that drains into the disposal needs that disposal clean too; our drain and disposal guide covers it, and the kitchen sink guide covers the basin next door.
When do you need a repair?
If water stays in the bottom after the filter is clean, the door leaks, or the machine won't drain, that's a repair call, not a cleaning job.
Want help with the kitchen?
Book House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online. If the dishwasher is a priority, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
FAQ
Why does my dishwasher smell? Usually food trapped in the filter, standing water in the bottom, or grime in the door seal. Clean the filter, wipe the seal and the bottom edge of the door, and run a hot empty cycle.
How often should you clean the dishwasher filter? Check it about once a month, more often if you skip rinsing plates or run it every day. Your manual gives the maker's schedule.
Can you clean a dishwasher with vinegar? Many manuals allow a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack for a hot empty cycle, but some makers say not to use it because it can wear on seals. Check your manual first, or use a dishwasher cleaner made for your machine.
Why are my dishes still dirty after the dishwasher runs? A clogged filter, blocked spray arm holes, an overloaded rack or water that isn't hot yet are the usual causes. Clean the filter and spray arms, run the kitchen tap until it's hot before you start a cycle, and leave room between dishes.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
