Considering that your dishwasher’s only job is to clean things, you’d think it’d be clean all the time, right? Well, wrong. Bits of food, grease, and limescale can all build up inside your machine over time. At the very least, it’ll lead to a weird smell – but if left unchecked, your dishwasher won’t work as well and could get damaged.
Thankfully, cleaning your dishwasher is easy and inexpensive to do. Here’s how!
By Alex- 4th Feb 2025
- 3min read
Step one: remove & clean the filters
Your filter is where stuck-on bits of food will be caught so as not to clog up your machine. If left for too long, it can start to go bad and kick up a stink, and can also cause issues with drainage if it gets blocked.
Most dishwashers have a 2-part filter in the middle, and a metal mesh that surrounds it. Simply twist the filter to remove, and lift off the mesh. Give these a good scrub in hot, soapy water using a toothbrush to get into all the crevices.
Step two: remove the arms
Remove the top and bottom spray arms from your dishwasher and give them a good clean. Rinse some water through them to check for blockages.
Step three: clean the machine
With the filters drying and the arms clean, use a cleaning spray and a non-abrasive cloth to clean the inside surfaces of your dishwasher. You’ll find this easier if you remove the trays as well.
Pay particular attention to the rubber seal that runs along the outside edge, as well as the door hinge. Use your toothbrush to get stuck in with these bits, as you’ll be amazed at how much gunk they hang onto!
Give the outside of your dishwasher a wipe down too.
Top tip: You can use a vinegar solution for this: combine one part distilled white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. This can be used as a wonderfully cheap multi-purpose cleaner all over the home!
Step four: run a cleaning cycle
Put the cleaning arms and filters back into your dishwasher. Next, you can either grab a purpose-made dishwasher cleaner which you can pop in the machine, or simply pour around 250ml of distilled white vinegar into a container and pop it on the top shelf. Both methods will effectively break down any grease that’s hiding in your machine and leave it sparkling!
Run the hottest and longest cycle your dishwasher has, and go have a cuppa.
Step five: use bicarb for the perfect finish
Once the cycle has finished, you can sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on the bottom and run another cycle. Bicarb acts as an odour neutraliser and can remove any funky smells in your dishwasher – this can be very useful if you can’t remember the last time you cleaned it!
Our top dishwasher tips
You should clean your dishwasher every month or two, depending on how often it’s used. Keep yours in good nick by following our top tips!
Don’t overload it: if you’re piling things on top of each other, chances are they won’t clean properly
No need to rinse: or even worse, wash dishes first before putting them in the machine. That’s what a dishwasher is for. Scrape off any excess food from anything you’re putting in, and the dishwasher will do the rest. This will save you time and water
Keep your salt & rinse aid topped up: otherwise you can end up with watermarks and a faster buildup of limescale
Put lightweight items on the top shelf: things like plastic containers are less likely to flip over on the top shelf
Only put dishwasher-safe items in the machine: wooden utensils and chopping boards, non-stick or cast iron pans, and sharp knives generally don’t do too well in the dishwasher
Keeping your dishwasher clean is the straightforward way of making your machine last longer and work more effectively!
Next up? How to clean your washing machine!
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