How to Clean a Dishwasher
Experts share three easy steps to eliminate funky dishwasher odors and ensure peak cleaning performance
A dishwasher is a welcome helper after a big meal, when your countertops and sink are piled high with dirty plates, cookware, serving platters, and more. But after all that hard work, it will eventually need some cleaning and caretaking itself.
Cleaning your dishwasher from time to time will keep it running smoothly, smelling clean, and looking its best. It’s also one of the ways you can help your dishwasher last longer.
The following tips from Larry Ciufo, the testing leader for dishwashers at Consumer Reports, and other experts will help you do the job right. You can tackle each as needed, or do them all at once every few months or so. For more on dishwashers, including how we test them, check our dishwasher hub, which features our informative buying guide and ratings of nearly 130 models.
Step 1: Clean the Exterior
If the front of your dishwasher has a plastic exterior, use a sponge and hot, soapy water to wipe it down. For a stainless steel dishwasher, a glass cleaner without ammonia or a cleaner specifically formulated for stainless steel appliances (including some multipurpose cleaners) can be effective at removing built-up grime, smudges, and fingerprints.
Step 2: Clear the Filter and Spray Arm
This step is important for manual-clean filters, which are common on newer machines. These filters eliminate the grinders found in self-cleaning dishwasher filters, which pulverize food scraps and send them down the drain. A manual filter is much quieter, but because its job is to trap food scraps that get washed off dishes, you have to clean it out from time to time.
Once every couple of months, pull out the dishwasher’s bottom rack and remove the filter system. It usually consists of several interlocking parts; there’s often a center cylinder that unscrews, allowing you to lift out the filter and take it apart. Rinse and clean the parts individually at the sink, using a sponge or the spray on your faucet. Our testers also keep a small brush handy to dislodge small food scraps and grime that can clog the mesh filter material.
This is also a good time to check the spray arm for trapped food scraps. It usually lifts off its base with a gentle tug. Rinse the arm under the faucet, inspecting for clogged holes, which can be cleared with a toothpick or wooden skewer. Some spray arms have an additional hole on their underside that’s meant to shoot water into the filter, keeping it clean. Check it for clogs before reinstalling the spray arm and filter system.
Step 3: Sanitize and Deodorize
Over time, discoloration and odors can build up throughout a dishwasher’s interior. Use a citric-acid-based dishwasher cleaner, such as Affresh or Finish, to remove the deposits monthly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using your dishwasher cleaner (not to be confused with standard dishwasher detergents). Typically, you put the cleaner into the detergent dispenser and run a normal wash cycle (with the machine empty) to give your dishwasher a good cleaning.
If discoloration persists due to severe mineral deposits from your home’s hard water, try using a dishwasher cleaner designed to remove stubborn hard-water stains.
If your dishwasher has a water-softening system, remember to add regeneration salt as needed. (Most have a light to indicate when the salt reservoir is running low.) Use only dishwasher salt; don’t use ordinary table salt. The salt will help prevent mineral buildup in the dishwasher, and, as a result, prevent spotting and improve cleaning.
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