How to Clean a Dishwasher

As odd as it may seem, your dishwasher needs to be cleaned regularly. Although, your dishwasher may run hot, soapy water through it on an almost a daily basis, it still needs to be cleaned. Why does your dishwasher need to be cleaned? Because over a period of time, grease and soap scum will build up on the interior surfaces, and food particles will collect in the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher. This makes for an unsanitary mess. It also prevents your dishwasher from operating at its best.

Besides the grease, soap scum, and food particles, there will likely be some dirty water sitting in the bottom of the dishwasher. At my house, we went through a period of only washing dishes by hand. One evening after having some company over, we decided there were too many dishes to do by hand. We opened the dishwasher and were almost knocked over by the smell. The little bit of dirty water that sat in the bottom of the dishwasher after the last load that we ran a few weeks before was now full of bacteria that had been growing for weeks. We had to run several empty loads before we got rid of that smell.

The grease, scum, and food that collect in your dishwasher, along with the water and humidity inside it, all combine to create the perfect storm – a breeding ground for bacteria to grow and flourish. To eliminate this proverbial “science project” from your home, your dishwasher should be cleaned on a regular basis – at least every couple of months. Monthly is better, but if you are currently not cleaning it all, every couple of months is better than not at all.

Steps to Clean Your Dishwasher?

Fortunately, cleaning your dishwasher is relatively quick and easy, and the dishwasher will do most of the work for you. Here’s all you have to do.

1. Clean the filter at the bottom of you dishwasher by doing the following.
1. Remove the bottom rack from the dishwasher. 
2. Remove the lower spray arm. Most spray arms will simply lift up and out of the dishwasher, but some have a tab that must be depressed in order to remove it. Look at your owner’s manual if you have any questions about how to remove the spray arm. 
3. Remove the filter. Many filters simply lift out of place, but some may need to be turned and lifted up. If you have any questions about removing the filter, consult your owner’s manual. 
4. Once the filter is removed, clean it by dumping/scraping off any food particles and spraying it off with water. If it is really dirty, you can use a soft-bristled brush to finish removing any buildup from the screen. For really stubborn debris, soaking the filter in some dishwater for a few minutes can soften the debris and make it easier to remove. 
5. Replace the screen, the spray arm, and the bottom rack.
2. Place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the upper rack of the dishwasher. Use something heavy enough that it will stay upright when hit with the pressurized water. You also want this container to be shallow enough that the water will fill it over time and cause the vinegar to slowly overflow and be sprayed throughout the dishwasher for a period of time and not all at once. 
3. Run the dishwasher through a complete cycle using heated water, or the hottest water you can. This will remove the soap scum and grease from the dishwasher. It should also help to remove most of the bad odors.
4. Once the above cycle is complete, sprinkle about a cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher. 
5. Run the dishwasher through a short rinse cycle.

At the completion of this, your dishwasher should be clean, fresh smelling, and mostly sanitized. If you will do this on a periodic basis, your dishwasher will stay cleaner and will smell fresher. It will also do a better job of cleaning your dishes.

If you have a new dishwasher, don’t wait to start this regular cleaning routine until it gets really dirty and nasty. If you will make this a habit on a new dishwasher from the start, then the dishwasher will continue looking new and working like new for a long time. As we know, it is easier to keep something clean than to try to clean it after it gets dirty and stained.

For other maintenance ideas, see our Home Maintenance post. 

© 2020 Mike Morgan

This article was written by Mike Morgan, the owner of Morgan Inspection Services. Morgan Inspection Services has been providing home, septic and well inspection services throughout the central Texas area since 2002. He can be reached at 325-998-4663 or at mike@morganinspectionservices.com. No article, or portion thereof, may be reproduced or copied without prior written consent of Mike Morgan.