Your dishwasher should clean your dishes, not leave them covered in spots and grime. When you open the door to unload and get hit with a musty smell or notice cloudy glasses and food particles still stuck on plates, the problem is not your detergent. Your dishwasher itself needs cleaning.
The good news is you can fix this yourself in about 30 minutes. You need to tackle the filter where old food collects, clear the spray arms that get clogged with mineral deposits, and eliminate odors trapped in the machine. Most of this work requires nothing more than hot water, vinegar, and a scrub brush.
This guide walks you through each part of the cleaning process. You’ll learn how to remove and clean the filter properly, unclog spray arm holes, wipe down door seals, and run deodorizing cycles that get your dishwasher smelling fresh again. We’ll cover both natural cleaning methods using vinegar and baking soda, plus how to use commercial dishwasher cleaners when you need extra cleaning power. By the end, you’ll have a dishwasher that actually does its job.
Why cleaning your dishwasher matters
A dirty dishwasher creates problems that go beyond bad smells. When food particles, grease, and mineral deposits build up inside your machine, they block water flow and prevent proper cleaning. Your dishes come out dirty, you waste water running extra cycles, and the machine works harder than it should.
Performance drops fast with buildup
The filter at the bottom of your dishwasher traps food debris from every load you run. When you ignore it for months, that debris turns into a thick sludge that restricts water drainage. The spray arms develop clogs from hard water minerals, which means water can’t reach all your dishes. You end up with spotted glasses, greasy plates, and bits of old food stuck to everything.
Regular cleaning restores your dishwasher’s cleaning power and prevents you from rewashing dishes by hand.
Bacteria and mold thrive in neglected machines
Standing water in a dirty filter creates the perfect environment for bacteria growth and mold. That musty smell you notice when you open the door is not just unpleasant. It transfers to your supposedly clean dishes. The warm, moist conditions inside a dishwasher accelerate this growth, especially around rubber seals and hidden corners where water pools. Learning how to clean dishwasher components properly eliminates these health risks and keeps your kitchen hygienic.
Step 1. Gather supplies and prep the machine
Before you start cleaning, you need to collect your supplies and get the dishwasher ready. Most items you already have in your kitchen cabinet or under the sink. The prep work takes less than five minutes and prevents you from stopping mid-clean to search for tools.
What you need to clean effectively
Cleaning a dishwasher requires basic household items rather than expensive specialty products. You need white vinegar (at least 2 cups), baking soda (1 cup), an old toothbrush or small cleaning brush for scrubbing tight spaces, and rubber gloves to protect your hands. Grab a clean microfiber cloth or sponge, paper towels, and a shallow dish that can hold liquid. If you prefer using a commercial dishwasher cleaner, you can substitute it for the vinegar step later.
For stubborn buildup, add toothpicks to your supply list. These work perfectly for clearing clogged spray arm holes. Keep a small bowl nearby for collecting debris as you clean.
Having all supplies within reach before you start saves time and keeps the cleaning process moving smoothly.
Prepare the dishwasher for cleaning
Empty all dishes, utensils, and racks from the dishwasher completely. You cannot clean properly with items in the way. Pull out the bottom dish rack first and set it aside. The top rack can stay in place initially, but you’ll need clear access to the bottom where the filter and spray arm sit. Remove any large food particles you see in the bottom basin by hand.
Turn off the dishwasher and make sure no cycle is running. Check that the machine has cooled down if you recently ran a load. Working with a cool, empty dishwasher gives you safe access to all the parts that need attention when you learn how to clean dishwasher components properly.
Step 2. Clean the filter and drain area
The filter at the bottom of your dishwasher catches all the food debris from every wash cycle. This component gets the dirtiest and causes most of the smell and performance problems people complain about. You need to remove it, scrub it thoroughly, and clean the drain basin underneath where water pools and grime collects.
Locate and remove the filter
Look at the bottom of your dishwasher where water drains. You’ll see a cylindrical filter assembly, usually near the center or back of the basin. Most filters twist counterclockwise to unlock, then lift straight up. Some models have a flat upper filter that you remove first, followed by a cylindrical lower filter underneath. Check your dishwasher manual if you cannot figure out the removal method, but most filters follow this basic twist-and-lift pattern.
Pull out the filter and inspect it. You’ll likely find accumulated food particles, grease, and slime coating the mesh. If your filter looks clean, you’re checking it regularly enough. If you see buildup, you’ve found the source of your dishwasher problems.
Scrub away trapped debris
Rinse the filter under hot running water to remove loose debris. Use your toothbrush or cleaning brush to scrub the mesh screen and cylinder walls, working the bristles into all the grooves where gunk hides. For stubborn buildup, soak the filter in hot soapy water for 15 minutes, then scrub again. Pay special attention to the fine mesh areas where grease creates a film that blocks water flow.
A clean filter restores proper drainage and eliminates most dishwasher odors immediately.
Clean the drain basin underneath
With the filter removed, you can access the drain basin where it sits. Wipe out this area with paper towels to remove standing water and debris. Use your toothbrush to scrub around the drain opening and edges where grime accumulates. Clear any visible food particles you find. This step matters because debris left in the basin creates odors even after you clean the filter. When you finish scrubbing, rinse the filter one final time and reinstall it by reversing the removal process.
Step 3. Clear spray arms, racks, and seals
After cleaning the filter, you need to address the spray arms that distribute water throughout your dishwasher and the rubber seals where grime accumulates. These components often get overlooked, but clogs in spray arms reduce cleaning power and dirty seals harbor bacteria. This step ensures water flows freely to all your dishes and eliminates hidden sources of odors.
Unclog spray arm holes
Remove the bottom spray arm by pulling up or twisting counterclockwise, depending on your dishwasher model. Hold it up to the light and look through the small holes that spray water. You’ll likely see mineral deposits or food particles blocking some holes. Use a toothpick to poke through each clogged hole and clear the debris. Run the spray arm under hot water to flush out loosened buildup.
Check the upper spray arm the same way. Some upper arms detach easily, while others require you to work in place. Clear each hole individually with your toothpick. Spin both spray arms after you clean them to verify they rotate freely without resistance. Mineral buildup sometimes causes arms to stick, preventing proper rotation during wash cycles.
Clearing spray arm holes restores even water distribution and dramatically improves cleaning results.
Wipe down racks and rubber seals
Pull out the bottom rack if you haven’t already. Inspect it for stuck-on food or rust spots. Wipe it down with a damp cloth and scrub any problem areas with your cleaning brush. The door seal around the dishwasher opening collects the most grime. Run your gloved finger along the rubber gasket and notice the slime and mold that builds up in the folds. Wipe the entire seal thoroughly with a cloth dampened in hot soapy water, getting into all the grooves where moisture traps debris. Pay attention to the bottom edge of the door where water pools after cycles end.
Step 4. Deodorize with vinegar or cleaner cycles
Now that you’ve cleaned the physical components, you need to sanitize and deodorize the entire interior. Running a hot cycle with vinegar or a commercial cleaner eliminates lingering odors, dissolves mineral deposits on surfaces you cannot reach by hand, and leaves your dishwasher fresh. This final step completes the deep clean and addresses smells that develop from bacteria buildup.
Run a vinegar cycle for natural cleaning
Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl or measuring cup. Place the bowl upright on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Close the door and run a complete hot water cycle without adding any detergent. The vinegar circulates through the machine, breaking down grease, soap scum, and mineral deposits while neutralizing odors.
After the vinegar cycle finishes, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short hot water cycle. The baking soda provides extra deodorizing power and leaves the interior smelling completely neutral. This two-step approach handles even stubborn smells that regular washing creates.
The vinegar and baking soda method costs less than commercial cleaners and works just as effectively for routine maintenance.
Use commercial dishwasher cleaner as alternative
If you prefer a single-step solution or face heavy mineral buildup, use a commercial dishwasher cleaner tablet. Place one tablet in the detergent dispenser or on the bottom of the empty dishwasher, following package directions. Run a normal hot cycle. These cleaners contain stronger acids that dissolve limescale and hard water deposits faster than vinegar. You can run cleaner tablets monthly while washing dishes normally, making maintenance easier than learning how to clean dishwasher components separately each time.
Keep your dishwasher running well
Learning how to clean dishwasher components properly solves most performance problems, but regular maintenance keeps issues from returning. Clean the filter every two to four weeks by removing trapped food debris before it turns into sludge. Run a vinegar cycle monthly to prevent mineral deposits from building up on internal surfaces. Wipe down the door seals weekly when you notice moisture or residue accumulating in the rubber folds. Check spray arm holes quarterly and clear any new clogs you find with a toothpick. These simple habits take less than 10 minutes but extend your dishwasher’s lifespan by years while ensuring every load comes out spotless.
Your kitchen deserves appliances that work efficiently without constant intervention. When you need to upgrade worn-out machines or add new electronics to your home, browse quality appliances and tech products that deliver reliable performance day after day. A well-maintained dishwasher paired with dependable kitchen equipment makes daily tasks easier and keeps your home running smoothly without unexpected repairs or replacements.
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