Home Cleaning

How To Clean A Dishwasher

Well, you see, the dishwasher for me is the last kitchen gadget anyone would remember to clean. Maybe because It’s self-cleaning or because it constantly has dishes stuck therein. Well, I am bringing to your doorstep an in-depth guide on how to clean a dishwasher.

So, if you would give me some time to guide you on how to get rid of that foul smell, gunk on crevices and drops of food all hanging around within your dishwasher. If you read this content to the end.

Additionally, you can get on well with the steps on how to clean the dishwasher and the importance of cleaning a dishwasher when you also use a suitable dishwasher detergent or you could as well use a DIY dishwasher cleaner. Remember not to use bleach in cleaning the dishwasher.

What You Need To Clean Dishwasher

  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Dishwasher
  • Warm water
  • Toothbrush
  • Microfibre cloth
  • Hand gloves


Irrespective of how often you use the dishwasher whether daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or even annually, there are parts to clean often. It could be a daily checking and removal of bits of food droplets, cleaning its exterior weekly or even a deep cleaning monthly.

This act would also help ascertain wear and tear or faulty parts. Regardless, let’s see the steps on how to clean the dishwasher.

Steps On To How To Clean A Dishwasher

Daily Removal Of Left Over Food

getting rid of left over food

First of all, imagine leaving leftover food in your sink. That bit of food droplet can turn your sink into a temporary garbage dump. What about the dishwasher that is enclosed? To avoid such an occurrence, you should get in the habit of cleaning dishwasher. Clean using either a toothpick or brush to pick out droplets of food daily within your dishwasher. A microfiber cloth can be used to wipe out the dishwasher to avoid this build-up.

Well, it’s advisable that you clear leftover food into the trash can before loading plates into the dishwasher. But, if you aren’t washing up immediately, just wash up plates using the sink.

Clean Up Door Grime

How to clean a dishwasher

To clean up, dip the microfiber cloth into warm water mixed with dishwasher detergent. Wrung the cloth and use it to clean the residues and clogs that formed within. These clogs might have been formed due to splashes on the door, door gasket or interior.

To clean, scrub dirt and gunk off in the affected part using a soft toothbrush, especially within the soot of the rubber seal. After scrubbing, use a damp cloth to wipe clean. However, if you must use some sort of chemical, like hydrogen peroxide to remove mould. Do check out the manufacturer’s manual.

Read Up More Contents On Home Cleaning. Check Below

Clean Up The Dishwasher Filter

cleaning the the filter of  dishwasher

On weekly basis, you should check out the state of the dishwasher filter. If the filter is stuck with dirt and soot, then the entire dishwasher is dirty. Well, the filter is seen just below the bottom spray arm. So, you have to remove the bottom rack to get to it. If not, get the manual for directions.

  • To remove the gunk stuck in the filter, remove the filter and run hot water into it.
  • Scrub the crevices and inner part of the filter using a soft toothbrush
  • Wash off using the damp cloth and finally rinse to clean.
  • Get the filter back in place and lock it properly to avoid faults

Deep Clean The Dishwasher

Lady deep cleaning a dishwasher
Photo credit. Housewife How-Tos

Despite cleaning parts of the dishwasher, on monthly basis, you should give your kitchen gadget a deep cleaning. To get this done, disengage the parts of the dishwasher carefully and if you can’t check out the manual or professional aid. When done, get to soak these parts in hot water mixed with detergent and allow them to sit for 20 minutes.

  • After which you have to pick out hidden particles using the toothbrush.
  • Again, get to soak these parts in warm water and one up of vinegar. This is to help remove every hidden bacteria. Then wash up using detergent and warm water before rinsing and wiping to dry.
  • Next, clean up the empty interior of the dishwasher. Use a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda respectively, in the multipurpose home cleaner to increase freshness. In turn, run a short hot cycle of vinegar and then that of baking soda before rinsing and wiping out to dry.


Finally, you should have a microfiber cloth close by. This would help achieve an easy clean of the exterior of the dishwasher to leave it shiny always. However, well-paid attention to your kitchen gadget on cleaning would save you unnecessary costs to sort faults and also boost hygiene. I hope these steps on how to wash the dishwater were helpful. If you did try it, do drop your comments in the section below.

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