How to Clean a Dishwasher

Clear food first, then treat buildup

Crumbs on the bottom and buildup inside need different attention. We'd remove the food first because it can recirculate during the next load. Then work through the parts you can reach before running a cleaner cycle.

This order works as a starting point across dishwasher brands. The filter, spray-arm removal and cleaner cycle depend on your machine, so use the matching details below when you reach them.

1. Slide out the bottom rack and remove loose food and debris, including wet scraps of paper labels. When the bottom looks clear, check the filter.
2. If your filter needs manual cleaning, remove it as your model directs, wash away the trapped food and lock it back in place. Once it is seated, check the spray-arm holes.
3. Clear blocked spray-arm holes with water and a toothpick. Remove an arm only if your model's instructions allow it. Reinstall any arm you removed, then wipe the door.
4. Wipe residue from the inner door, its edges and controls. Gently brush grime from the rubber seal. When those surfaces look clean, choose a cleaner for the remaining buildup.
5. With the dishwasher empty, place a dishwasher cleaner where its directions specify and run the cycle those directions and your machine allow. If both permit a normal wash, use that; some cleaners call for a different cycle.
6. After the cycle, check for remaining residue or odor and make sure the filter and spray arms are secure. If the problem remains, use the matching follow-up check below before the next load.

Wipe the door edges and rubber seal

Use a damp microfiber cloth or sponge to wipe residue from the inside of the door, its edges and the control panel.

The gasket is the rubber seal lining the door. Use a soft toothbrush to gently work grime out of its crevices, keeping the pressure light on the seal.

Check which filter you can clean

Check your dishwasher's instructions before removing the filter. Some filters aren't removable, and a maintenance-free filter skips manual washing. If yours comes out, wash away visible debris and lock it back in place before running a cycle.

A filter that sits securely is ready for the next check. If removal or locking is unclear, follow the matching steps for cleaning your dishwasher filter. For a Bosch E22 error, the filter is the first place to check; you can find the removal instructions (opens in a new tab) for your model.

Clear blocked spray-arm holes

Look for food or limescale blocking the spray-arm holes. Run water through an arm you can remove as your model directs, and use a toothpick to loosen debris in a blocked opening. On some GE dishwashers, the lower arm is not owner removable unless the manual gives removal instructions.

Reinstall any arm you removed. On Samsung models with a removable nozzle, rotate it after reattaching it to check that it is fitted correctly. If the remaining problem is dishes coming out dirty on the upper rack, check loading and spray-arm clearance next.

Match the cleaner to the residue

For the main cleaning cycle, start with a dishwasher cleaner and an empty machine. Check both the dishwasher and cleaner directions for placement and cycle choice. A cycle with only water or regular detergent can leave deposits that dishwasher cleaner is designed to tackle.

Cleaner placement is product-specific. Use the arrangement for the product you have, then check the tub when the cycle finishes.

The loaded-wash option applies to the affresh treatment described here. Bosch's cleaner treatment calls for an empty machine. If you need to confirm the affresh arrangement, check the cleaning instructions (opens in a new tab).

Give hard-water deposits their own treatment

Hard water can leave mineral buildup inside the dishwasher and on dishes. For Bosch and Thermador dishwashers, cleaner targets grease, starch and protein residue, while descaler targets hard-water deposits.

For Bosch descaler, start the longest, hottest cycle with the dishwasher empty and no detergent. After 30 minutes, add one box of descaler to the bottom. Let the cycle finish, then run another wash cycle. This differs from Bosch dishwasher cleaner, which goes in before its cycle starts.

On KitchenAid dishwashers in homes with hard water, try a liquid rinse aid and keep its dispenser filled to help limit mineral buildup. If your dishwasher uses softening salt, fill its salt container as its instructions direct.

Use vinegar only if your dishwasher allows it

Check your dishwasher's instructions before using vinegar or baking soda. Some interiors aren't compatible with vinegar, and frequent vinegar use can damage a dishwasher. We'd save it for an occasional deep clean instead of making it the monthly default.

For a Whirlpool or Maytag dishwasher that allows this method, empty the machine and clean the applicable filter first. Put two cups of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container upright on the lower rack. Run a normal cycle without detergent or heated dry.

After that cycle finishes, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the bottom and run a separate hot-water cycle. Never run vinegar and baking soda together. Distilled white vinegar avoids coloring agents that could stain surfaces.

On a compatible KitchenAid dishwasher, its vinegar method uses a dishwasher-safe glass with two cups of white vinegar on the bottom. Do not use detergent. Run a complete regular wash with air-dry or energy-saving dry. Wipe remaining spots with a soft, damp cloth. Its separate baking-soda treatment uses one cup on the bottom, a short hot-water cycle and air drying.

Wipe the outside without scouring it

Wipe the exterior door panel, sides and handle with a soft, damp cloth and mild detergent. On stainless steel, move with the grain. Avoid abrasive products because they can damage the finish.

For Bosch stainless steel surfaces, use lukewarm water and mild soap on a soft cloth. Keep chlorine-based cleaners and abrasive sponges away from those surfaces. Use a stainless steel appliance cleaner only if it suits your finish, and follow its directions. For Thermador non-stainless surfaces, use a damp cloth and a small amount of liquid soap.

If the cleaning cycle leaves a problem behind

Check the result before starting another cleaning cycle. Severe white spots or detergent film on a KitchenAid dishwasher may need more than one affresh treatment. Musty or spoiled smells can come from standing water or rancid food.

If water remains, first check whether the cycle finished and follow the checks for a dishwasher that is not draining. If it still will not drain after the accessible checks, arrange service. If dishes remain dirty after clearing the filter and spray arms and using the appropriate cleaner, contact your dishwasher maker's service team. Tell them the model, any error code, what residue or water remains, and which checks you completed.

Check your warranty terms before booking repair. For LG service, have the serial number and proof of purchase ready. Out-of-warranty diagnosis, parts and labor may carry charges. For LG Direct Service, LG says its flat diagnostic fee is waived if you proceed with the repair.

Keep the parts on a practical schedule

After each load, remove leftover food and debris from the bottom so it cannot recirculate. Wipe exterior smears as needed. Clean the interior with a compatible dishwasher cleaner about monthly if your machine's instructions call for it, and use vinegar less often.

Filter timing depends on the machine: about monthly for KitchenAid filters that need manual washing, every few months for Bosch filters, and every one to four months for Thermador filters depending on use. Thermador also calls for cleaning after loads with a lot of food soil and starch. Check Bosch spray arms every few months.

Hard water may call for more frequent treatment of mineral buildup. If you wash non-dishware items, you may need to clean the dishwasher afterward to avoid cross-contamination. After each clean, put the filter and any removed spray arms back securely, then check the next load for residue.