Is your dishwasher starting to smell funky or leaving your dishes cloudy and gross? You’re not alone—most people don’t realize how important it is to clean it regularly. That magical machine takes care of your dirty work daily, but when was the last time you took care of it? Learning how to clean dishwasher the right way isn’t just about keeping it clean—it’s also about helping it last longer and work better. In this guide, I will show you everything you need to know—because a clean dishwasher means clean dishes. Let’s get started.

Why Cleaning Your Dishwasher Matters

You wouldn’t eat from a dirty plate. But guess what—if your dishwasher isn’t clean, you probably are.

Most people assume that dishwashers clean themselves while they clean your dishes. It makes sense. Water, detergent, high heat—sounds like a cleaning party in there. However, the truth is that food bits, grease, soap scum, hard water minerals, and even mold build up over time. That buildup doesn’t just stay hidden; it can compromise your dishwasher’s performance and the quality of your dishes.

Real Talk:

One Reddit user shared that their brand-new dishwasher started emitting a foul odor just six weeks after installation. It turns out they’d never removed or rinsed the filter. Their dishes were “clean,” but smelled like a wet sock.

Here’s why you need to clean it:

Smells like something died

All those food particles stuck in filters and spray arms? Yeah, they rot. Hence the funk.

Dishes come out dirty or greasy

A clogged filter or gunked-up spray arms mean water can’t circulate properly.

Shorter lifespan for your dishwasher

Dirt buildup stresses the pump, heating element, and drain, causing expensive breakdowns.

Wastes energy and water

If it’s not cleaning properly, you’re running it twice or pre-washing, which defeats the purpose.

According to Whirlpool and Southern Living, monthly cleaning is the minimum recommended frequency. And if you live in a complex water area or use it frequently, daily or weekly maintenance is even more beneficial.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?

Let’s be honest—cleaning your dishwasher probably isn’t even on your mental to-do list. You’re not lazy; it just doesn’t look dirty from the outside. But inside? That’s where the nasty stuff lives.

So, how often is it enough to clean your dishwasher?

The Monthly Rule

Most appliance manufacturers, including Whirlpool and KitchenAid, recommend a deep clean once a month. This means entirely scrubbing filters, wiping the walls, and running a vinegar or baking soda cycle. Just 30 minutes a month can save you from odors, grime, and costly repairs.

Reddit user tip: “Once a month, I remove the filter and soak it in hot water + vinegar. Otherwise, it starts stinking and affecting how clean my dishes are.”

Weekly Maintenance for Heavy Users

If you’re someone who runs the dishwasher daily or has hard water (hello, cloudy glassware!), weekly attention is your best bet.

Here’s a fast checklist:

• Clean the edges of the door and use a microfiber cloth to seal it. Look for clogs or dirt in the drain and the spray arms.  
• Wash the filter with hot water.  
• Leave the door ajar after each use to prevent bad smells.

Signs Your Dishwasher Is Begging for a Clean

• You smell something… funky every time you open it.
• Glasses are cloudy or streaky even after a complete wash.
• There’s standing water inside after a cycle.
• Dishes feel greasy or look “unclean”
• It’s noisier than usual.

Facebook Group Advice:

In a cleaning-focused Facebook group, a user posted:

“I thought my dishwasher was just ‘getting old’ because the dishes weren’t coming out clean. Turns out, I never cleaned the filter… three years in!”

Don’t wait for problems to show up. Add a reminder to your calendar—just like oil changes or haircuts.

Gather Your Dishwasher Cleaning Supplies

Before we start cleaning the dishwasher, let’s check to see if you have everything necessary—no frills, just innovative and affordable products that do their job. You probably already have most of this at home.  

Tip: Don’t combine all these cleaners. We will guide you on how and when to use each one, step by step.

What You’ll Need:

White vinegar

For breaking down grease, odors, and mineral deposits

Baking soda

A gentle abrasive and deodorizer for the interior

Microfiber cloth 

for wiping down the door, walls, and gasket

Dish soap (like Dawn®) 

for gentle manual cleaning of parts

Old toothbrush or soft brush 

Great for scrubbing the filter and seals

Toothpicks or skewers

To unclog the spray arm holes

Rubber gloves

Trust me, you’ll want these

Dishwasher-safe cup or bowl

For running vinegar cycles

Screwdriver (optional)

If your spray arms or filter housing need a gentle unscrew

Dishwasher salt

If you live in a hard-water area

Rinse aid

To prevent streaks and film

Natural Cleaning Alternatives (Reddit Approved!)

Lemon juice

Some Reddit users love it for deodorizing

Essential oils

A drop of lemon or tea tree in vinegar adds a fresh scent

Borax

Used by hardcore DIYers for mold and mineral buildup

How to Clean a Dishwasher: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If your dishwasher smells bad or your dishes look cloudy or greasy, this part is for you. It’s time to clean that appliance well. Don’t worry—it’s simpler than you realize. Follow these steps, and your dishwasher will shine both inside and out.

Step 1: Remove Racks and Loose Parts

• Start by opening your dishwasher and removing everything removable—both racks, the utensil basket, and any small parts that lift out easily.
• Fill your sink or a big bowl with hot water and add a squirt of dish soap (Dawn works great).
• Let the parts soak for 15 to 30 minutes to loosen up any grease or grime.
• After that, gently scrub them with a sponge or soft brush, rinse them thoroughly, and let them air dry.

Step 2: Clean the Filter and Drain

• Locate the filter at the bottom of your dishwasher. Twist or lift it out, depending on your model.
• Rinse the filter under warm running water to remove food particles.
• Use an old toothbrush to scrub off any stuck-on debris.
• Wipe the drain area beneath the filter using a cloth or sponge.

Reddit tip:

“I didn’t realize the filter needed to be cleaned until my dishwasher started smelling. After soaking it in vinegar and scrubbing the drain area, the smell disappeared.”

👉 Source

Step 3: Clear the Spray Arms

• Remove the spray arms (usually located under the bottom and upper racks). You may need to twist or pop them out.
• Use a toothpick or wooden skewer to poke out any food particles stuck in the tiny holes.
• Soak the spray arms in a mixture of warm vinegar and water (in a 1:1 ratio) for 20 minutes.
• Rinse and reattach when fully clean.

Spray arm cleaning process example:

https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher.html

Step 4: Wipe Down the Interior Walls and Door

• Mix a bowl of warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap.
• Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and gently wipe down the interior walls, ceiling, and floor of the dishwasher.
• Use a toothbrush or small brush to clean tight corners, door edges, and especially the rubber gasket (seal).

Reddit user experience:

“The rubber gasket was filthy, and that’s where the smell was coming from. I used a toothbrush and a bit of soapy water—it worked like magic.”

👉 Source

Step 5: Run a Vinegar Wash Cycle

• Fill a dishwasher-safe cup or bowl with 2 cups of white vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
• Run a hot water cycle without detergent and any dishes.
• This will break down grease, dissolve mineral deposits, and eliminate odors.

Reddit tip:

“I run vinegar on sanitize mode once a month. Makes a huge difference!”

👉 Source

Step 6: Run a Baking Soda Rinse

• Once the vinegar cycle is done, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda directly on the bottom of the dishwasher.
• Run a short, hot water cycle (no detergent or dishes).
• This helps deodorize, brighten, and remove leftover grime.

Step 7: Use Bleach Only If It’s Not Stainless Steel

• If your dishwasher interior is plastic, you can use bleach to sanitize it:
  • Fill a cup with bleach and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher.
  • Run a short hot cycle (no dishes or detergent).
• Do NOT use bleach if the interior is stainless steel—it can cause permanent damage.

Reddit warning:

“Bleach pitted my stainless steel. Never again. I stick with vinegar and baking soda.”

Source

Step 8: Refill Dishwasher Salt and Rinse Aid

• If your dishwasher has a compartment for dishwasher salt, refill it. This helps soften hard water and prevent the formation of limescale.
• Top off the rinse aid dispenser to prevent spots and speed up drying.

Real advice:

“I started using salt and rinse aid, and now my glasses don’t have that foggy film anymore.”

👉 Source

Final Step: Reassemble and Run a Rinse

• Put everything back—spray arms, racks, utensil holder, and filter.
• Run a quick rinse cycle (empty) to make sure everything is working correctly.

Your dishwasher is now sparkling clean, odor-free, and running like new!

5. Quick Maintenance Tips to Keep It Clean All Month

Now that your dishwasher is sparkling clean, the goal is to maintain its cleanliness without needing to scrub it every week. These quick habits take just a few minutes and can make a massive difference in performance and odor prevention.

Weekly 5-Minute Maintenance Routine

Use this simple checklist once a week to stop the buildup before it starts:

Rinse off large food particles before loading dishes

• (You don’t need to pre-wash—scrape the big stuff.)

Remove and rinse the filter under warm water

• (Takes 30 seconds and keeps your drain from clogging.)

Wipe the door edges and rubber gasket

• Use a damp cloth to stop mold from forming around the seal.

Check and clean spray arms

• Spin them and make sure the holes aren’t blocked.

Keep the door slightly ajar after each cycle

• This prevents trapped moisture and musty smells.

Reddit says:

“Leaving the door cracked just a bit after each run stopped that weird mildew smell for me. Game changer.”

👉 Source

Monthly Mini Deep Clean

You don’t need to scrub every corner again—do a mini refresh:

1. Run a vinegar cycle on the hottest setting
2. (Place 2 cups of vinegar in a cup on the top rack.)
3. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom and run a short hot cycle
4. (Removes odors and any leftover gunk.)
5. Top up rinse aid and salt (if needed)
6. Keeps glasses crystal clear and prevents mineral buildup.

Community advice:

“Doing vinegar and baking soda every month keeps my dishwasher smelling fresh and working better than when it was new.”

👉 Source

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even the best routines won’t help if you’re doing these:

• Never use bleach in stainless steel interiors
• Don’t mix vinegar and bleach—it’s toxic
• Avoid overloading—it blocks water flow
• Skip the cheap pods if you have hard water (use powder + rinse aid instead)

Must read: How to Clean Samsung Dishwasher Fast & Properly

FAQs About How to Clean Dishwasher

Conclusion

Keeping your dishwasher clean is not just about shiny dishes; it’s also about taking care of your machine and making your life easier every day. Knowing how to clean dishwasher well helps it work better, smell good, and last longer. By following simple steps, such as removing filters, using vinegar for cleaning, and performing quick weekly maintenance, you can eliminate odors and dirt for good. Don’t wait for messes to happen.

Make cleaning a regular part of your day, and you’ll always have clean dishes. Your dishwasher does a lot for you, so it’s time to take care of it. If you’re dealing with unpleasant odors and dirty dishes, it’s time for a thorough clean. Download our free checklist to help you save your dishwasher.