The dishwasher—our trusty kitchen helper that cleans mountains of dirty plates and cups for us every day. But who cleans the cleaner? 😉 Over time, your dishwasher itself can use a good cleaning too. I first noticed it when a musty smell started coming from my machine, a sort of wet-dog smell mixed with old food scraps (yuck!). That was the sign: time to thoroughly clean the dishwasher. Don’t worry—with my step-by-step plan and a few sustainable tricks, this chore will be done in no time, and your dishwasher will thank you with clean, fresh dishes as a result!
So, roll up those sleeves and let’s get started. Here are 10 steps to give your dishwasher a thorough refresh, without immediately reaching for bleach or other harsh products. Your kitchen appliance can get perfectly clean without a chemical circus. Let’s go!
Step 1: Empty the dishwasher completely
Start at the beginning: make sure the dishwasher is empty. Take out all the dishes, including that one stray spoon that might be lying at the bottom. This may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ll mention it anyway. 😉 Then remove any detachable parts, such as the cutlery basket and any racks or holders. It’s best to put these loose parts straight into a bowl of warm, soapy water with a splash of mild dish soap (for example, in the sink or a basin). Let them soak while you tackle the rest of the machine. An empty dishwasher gives you room to reach everywhere properly—and prevents a forgotten coffee cup from getting an unexpected vinegar shower.
Step 2: Remove the filter
Next comes an important step that is often overlooked: cleaning the filter. At the bottom of your dishwasher there is a filter (usually a round mesh strainer) that catches food scraps so they don’t end up in the pump. Twist or click the filter loose (check the manual if you can’t find it right away). Warning: this can be a little gross 🤢, because all kinds of food scraps build up here. I’ve fished a stray piece of macaroni and lemon peels out of our filter before… Brace yourself and remove all that grime. Then rinse the filter under a hot tap. Use a dish brush or old toothbrush to scrub away grease and buildup. A drop of dish soap can help. Tip: Wear rubber gloves if you find this chore unpleasant. But believe me, a clean filter is half the work when it comes to a fresh dishwasher!
Step 3: Clean the spray arms
The rotating spray arms at the top and bottom of your dishwasher create the jets of water that spray your dishes clean. If the holes are clogged with limescale or food scraps, nothing will get properly clean. You can often simply click or unscrew the spray arms. Remove them and inspect the holes. See any blockages? Clear them with a skewer or cocktail stick. Hold the arm under the tap and rinse out any remaining debris while rotating it. You can also soak the spray arm in warm water with vinegar if it contains a lot of limescale. The limescale will dissolve without scrubbing. Rinse thoroughly afterward. Don’t forget to clean both the upper spray arm (under the top rack) and the lower one. Once they are completely clean, click them back into place. Now the water can spray through your machine like a rain shower again—goodbye, grime!
Step 4: Clean the door seals and corners
The edge of the door and the rubber seals are notorious gathering places for dirt. Open the door fully and look along the edges: you’ll often see a layer of buildup or even mold. Yuck! Take a damp cloth (soaked in warm water with a little vinegar or mild cleaning product) and wipe the seals thoroughly. Use your fingers to lift the rubber flaps slightly so you can clean underneath them. You can also use a biodegradable cleaning wipe for this—it tackles bacteria right away, and you can throw it out afterward. Don’t forget the underside of the door: dirt and grease often collect there too, just out of sight. Clean the edges of the machine, the hinges, and the front panel while you’re at it. Removing dirt from around the seals helps prevent unpleasant odors and mold. A clean rubber seal also lasts longer (and stays flexible and watertight). On to step 5—you’re doing great!
Step 5: Use an eco-friendly cleaner for the interior
Now comes one of my favorite sustainable dishwasher-cleaning tricks: vinegar and baking soda. Dealing with limescale or an unpleasant smell? Place a heatproof bowl or cup filled with regular cleaning vinegar on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Then sprinkle a handful of baking soda over the bottom of the machine. Close the dishwasher. Select a hot program (preferably 60°C or higher) and run the machine (with no dishes inside!). What happens: the vinegar and baking soda get to work together. Vinegar removes limescale and grease, while baking soda neutralizes odors and helps loosen baked-on residue. During the rinse cycle, the vinegar spreads throughout the machine and cleans all the nooks and crannies. The result: a clean, odor-free dishwasher in a completely natural way. And no, your kitchen won’t smell like vinegar forever—the odor disappears quickly and takes the unpleasant smells with it. This trick is cheap, effective, and better for the environment.
Step 6: Try a specialized cleaner for an extra boost
If you feel your dishwasher could use an extra refresh (or if you don’t fancy the vinegar trick), you can of course use a special dishwasher cleaner. Just try to choose an environmentally friendly option. For example, there are cleaning tablets without chlorine. Don’t have any at home? You can also get creative: some people add a little concentrated all-purpose cleaner to the dishwasher for a pleasant scent. I’ve occasionally put a capful of Fabulosa concentrated disinfectant (in a lovely scent) in the bottom of the empty machine and then run a short, hot program. The result was a fresh scent and a clean dishwasher. **Please note:** use only a small splash if you do this and skip the pre-rinse program, otherwise the product will be rinsed away immediately. Better still, choose a product specifically intended for dishwashers and that is biodegradable. The goal is for your machine to shine inside and smell fresh, without leaving behind a chemical haze.
Step 7: Clean the exterior too
While you’re at it, the outside of the dishwasher deserves some love too. The door may have greasy fingerprints and marks, especially if you have a stainless-steel front. Take a soft cloth and a mild cleaning product (a drop of dish soap in warm water is often enough) and clean the front. For stainless steel, you can also use a special stainless-steel cleaner, but a little vinegar on a cloth works just as well for removing streaks. Use circular motions and not too much moisture (you don’t want it to leak into the control panel). Dry afterward with a dry microfiber cloth to prevent streaks. Now not only the inside but also the outside will look like new again. Little effort, big effect—the kitchen instantly looks fresher.
Step 8: Put everything back and run a test cycle
You have now cleaned the interior (filter clean, spray arms clean, interior rinsed with vinegar/baking soda or cleaner) and taken care of the seals and exterior. Time to put everything back together. Replace the clean filter (don’t forget, otherwise the food scraps will spread around again!), secure the spray arms, and slide the racks and cutlery basket back into the machine. Quickly check that you haven’t left anything inside (I speak from experience: that one time I accidentally left the cleaning sponge in the cutlery basket 😅). Now, as a final test, you can run the dishwasher empty on a short program or simply continue with your next load of dirty dishes. I often immediately run a load with a few cups or kitchen utensils, so the last traces of vinegar or baking soda disappear too. Bet you’ll notice right away that your machine runs more smoothly and smells fresher?
Step 9: Keep that fresh dishwasher fresh
Congratulations, your dishwasher is clean! But how do we keep it that way? Here are some sustainable habits to prevent it from getting dirty again quickly:
- Scrape off food scraps: Briefly rinse plates or scrape food scraps into the trash before putting them in the dishwasher. The less debris floating around, the less likely the filter is to clog.
- Use dishwasher salt and rinse aid: Make sure your dishwasher always has enough salt and rinse aid (if your model requires them). This prevents limescale from building up inside the machine and on your dishes.
- Leave the door slightly ajar after a cycle: After running the dishwasher, turn it off and don’t close the door completely—leave it ajar. This allows the steam to escape and the interior to dry properly. It helps prevent musty odors and mold.
- Monthly mini-maintenance: Schedule a mini-clean once a month. Remove and rinse the filter (it takes 2 minutes), quickly wipe the seals, and, if necessary, run an empty hot cycle with vinegar as a refresher. This keeps your dishwasher in top condition.
- Dishwasher detergent dosage: Don’t use too many dishwasher tablets or too much powder. An overdose can build up inside the machine. Follow the recommended amount—extra soap really won’t make your dishes any cleaner; it will only leave a film behind.
These habits will prevent your dishwasher from becoming a breeding ground for grease and limescale again. And a well-maintained dishwasher lasts longer and works more efficiently, which saves energy too. That’s sustainable as well!
Step 10: Enjoy your clean, fresh dishes!
Yes, we’ve reached the final step: enjoy. 😄 It may sound strange when it comes to a cleaning chore, but believe me, the next time you open the dishwasher and there’s no funky smell—just a neutral or even fresh scent—you’ll be glad you cleaned it. You’ll probably also notice that your dishes come out cleaner now that the machine itself is clean. Maybe you’ll be surprised by how easily and affordably you could do this with household remedies and a few targeted cleaning helpers. So give yourself a pat on the back: well done! Treat yourself to a cup of coffee or tea—and oh, look, your favorite mug has just come out sparkling clean from that freshly scrubbed dishwasher. Perfect timing, right?
Cleaning a dishwasher is really quick when you tackle it step by step. Clean the filter, check the spray arms, let eco-friendly solutions such as vinegar and baking soda do their work, and you’re done. You don’t need harsh chemicals to get a fresh machine—in fact, with natural and refillable solutions such as The Pink Stuff Power Drops and a splash of vinegar, you can go a long way. And your dishwasher will be happy: clean dishes, no unpleasant odors, and a longer lifespan. So the next time you notice a musty smell or see that your glasses aren’t sparkling as much as they used to, you’ll know what to do. Put on your favorite music, follow these 10 tips, and before you know it, your kitchen helper will be as good as new! Happy dishwashing! 🍽✨