How to clean a dishwasher, filter and all

To clean a dishwasher, pull out the bottom rack, remove the filter and rinse it under hot water with a soft brush, clear food out of the drain area and the spray arm holes, and wipe the door gasket and edges. Then run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner, or a cup of white vinegar standing upright on the top rack. Do it about once a month.

The hands-on part takes 15 to 20 minutes. The cycle does the rest.

What do you need?

A soft brush such as an old toothbrush, a toothpick, dish soap, two microfiber cloths, a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar, and your dishwasher's manual or model number.

How do you clean a dishwasher step by step?

1. Empty it and pull the bottom rack out. That gives you room to reach the filter and the floor of the tub.
2. Remove the filter. On many dishwashers it sits in the floor of the tub under the lower spray arm. Twist the cylinder a quarter turn and lift it out, then lift out the flat mesh screen underneath if there is one. If you can't find it, the manual will show you.
3. Rinse the filter. Hold it under hot running water and scrub gently with the soft brush and a drop of dish soap, inside and out. Don't use a wire brush or a scouring pad. Torn mesh lets food through to the pump.
4. Clear the sump. With the filter out, wipe out any food, glass or labels sitting in the opening below it. Go carefully. There can be broken glass down there.
5. Check the spray arms. Spin each one by hand. If it catches or the holes are blocked, pull out the debris with a toothpick. Many lower arms lift straight off for rinsing. Check the manual for the upper arm.
6. Wipe the door gasket and edges. The rubber seal and the bottom edge of the door, where it meets the tub, are where a lot of the grime collects. Use a damp cloth with a little dish soap and the soft brush for the folds.
7. Wipe the door interior, the detergent cup and the racks. Look for stuck food on the rack tines and the utensil basket.
8. Put the filter back and lock it in. Run your finger around it to make sure it's seated. A loose filter lets food reach the pump.
9. Run an empty hot cycle. Use a dishwasher cleaner following its directions, or stand a dishwasher-safe cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack and run the hottest cycle.
10. Wipe the outside. Door, handle and control panel with a damp cloth. On stainless steel, wipe with the grain and dry so it doesn't streak.

How do you fix the common dishwasher problems?

It smells. The filter and gasket are the usual sources. Clean both, then run an empty hot cycle. Between loads, leave the door cracked open so the tub can dry out.

Glasses come out cloudy. Wipe a cloudy glass with a little white vinegar. If it clears, it's mineral film from hard water. Keep the rinse aid dispenser full and try a detergent made for hard water. If the cloudiness doesn't wipe off, the glass is etched, which can come from too much detergent with soft water, and it's permanent.

There's a white film inside the tub. Same cause as cloudy glasses. A vinegar cycle or a dishwasher cleaner removes it, and rinse aid keeps it from coming back.

Water stays in the bottom after a cycle. Clean the filter first. If it's still there, check that the drain hose under the sink isn't kinked, and if you have a garbage disposal, run it, since the dishwasher often drains through it. Past that, call an appliance repair company.

Dishes are still dirty. Check the spray arms for blocked holes, don't load anything that blocks the arms from spinning, and run the kitchen tap until it's hot before you start the dishwasher so the first fill is hot water.

What should you not do?

• Don't mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners. The fumes are dangerous.
• Don't use bleach in a dishwasher with a stainless steel tub.
• Don't use abrasive pads on the door, the control panel or a stainless steel front.
• Don't run vinegar cycles every week. Monthly or less, and only if your manual allows it.

How often should you clean a dishwasher?

• Every day or two: pick any food out of the bottom when you unload.
• Monthly: the full clean above, for a family that runs it daily.
• Every two to three months: the full clean, for a household that runs it a few times a week.

For the rest of the room, see our guide to keeping a clean kitchen.

What a house cleaning does in the kitchen

On a Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, the outsides of the appliances in your kitchen are wiped, including the refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and small appliances, along with the countertops and backsplash, the sink and faucet, and the stovetop, range and hood exteriors. The inside of the microwave is included too.

If the sink is full on cleaning day, the Dishes add-on washes and puts away one sink load or runs one full dishwasher cycle.

See what's covered at House Cleaning.

FAQ

How often should you clean a dishwasher filter? Once a month for a family that runs it daily, and every two to three months for lighter use. If dishes come out gritty or the dishwasher smells, check the filter first.

Can I put vinegar in my dishwasher? An occasional cup of white vinegar on the top rack during an empty hot cycle is fine for many dishwashers. Some manufacturers advise against frequent vinegar because it can wear rubber seals, so check your manual and don't make it a weekly habit.

Why does my dishwasher smell? Usually trapped food in the filter, a dirty door gasket or water sitting in the bottom. Clean the filter and gasket, run an empty hot cycle, and run the kitchen tap until it's hot before you start a load.

Does a house cleaning include the dishwasher? The outside of the dishwasher is wiped on every Standard House Cleaning, along with the other appliance exteriors. Dishes are an add-on that washes and puts away one sink load or runs one full dishwasher cycle.

Book a house cleaning

Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.