How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher (It's Easier Than You Think)

You trust your dishwasher to get everything sparkling clean, but here's an uncomfortable truth: the machine doing all that cleaning is probably pretty gross itself. If you've never learned how to deep clean a dishwasher, you're not alone — most people don't realize it's something that even needs to happen.

But think about it. All that food residue, grease, soap scum, and hard water buildup has to go somewhere. Over time, it collects in every nook and cranny of your dishwasher, leading to funky smells, cloudy glasses, and dishes that come out looking worse than when they went in.

The good news? A thorough deep clean takes less than an hour of actual hands-on work, uses supplies you almost certainly already have under your sink, and makes a dramatic difference you'll notice on the very next cycle. In this guide, I'll walk you through the entire process from start to finish — no special tools or expensive cleaners required.

Signs Your Dishwasher Desperately Needs a Deep Clean

Before we get into the how-to, let's talk about the why. Your dishwasher is practically begging for attention if you've noticed any of these telltale signs.

A lingering smell when you open the door. This is the number one red flag. That musty, slightly sour odor is caused by trapped food particles decomposing in areas you can't easily see — the filter, the drain, the rubber gasket around the door.

A grimy film on your dishes. If your glasses come out looking cloudy or your plates have a weird residue, your dishwasher is redistributing grime rather than removing it. It's essentially washing your dishes in dirty water.

Visible gunk around the door edges. Pull back the rubber gasket along the bottom of your dishwasher door. If you see black or brown buildup, that's mold and mildew thriving in the warm, moist environment. Not exactly what you want touching your dinner plates.

White, chalky deposits on the interior walls. That's hard water mineral buildup, and it doesn't just look bad — it can clog spray arms and reduce your machine's cleaning power over time.

Food particles sitting in the bottom after a cycle. Your filter is likely clogged or the drain is partially blocked. This is a sign things have gone past the "I should probably clean this" stage and into urgent territory.

If any of that sounds familiar, don't worry. We're about to fix all of it.

What You'll Need to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher

One of the best things about this project is that you don't need to buy any fancy dishwasher cleaning products. Everything you need is cheap, common, and probably already in your pantry. Here's the full supply list:

• White distilled vinegar — A full cup. This is your heavy hitter for cutting through grease, dissolving mineral deposits, and killing bacteria.
• Baking soda — About one cup. Works as a gentle abrasive and deodorizer that tackles stains and lingering odors.
• An old toothbrush — Perfect for scrubbing tight crevices, spray arm holes, and gasket folds where grime loves to hide.
• Dish soap — Just a few drops. You'll use this for hand-scrubbing removable parts.
• Toothpicks — For poking out stubborn debris from the tiny holes in your spray arms.
• A microfiber cloth or sponge — For wiping down surfaces.
• A small bowl or container — To hold the vinegar during the wash cycle.

That's it. No need for bleach (which can actually damage stainless steel interiors), no pricey commercial tablets, and no special equipment. If you're on an organizing kick, this is also a great time to tidy up the area under your kitchen sink so all your cleaning supplies are easy to grab next time.

Step-by-Step: How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher

Alright, let's get into it. Follow these steps in order for the best results. The whole process takes about 45 minutes of hands-on time, plus two wash cycles.

Step 1: Remove and Clean the Filter

This is where the magic (and the horror) happens. The filter is the single dirtiest part of your dishwasher, and cleaning it makes the biggest immediate difference.

Start by pulling out the bottom rack to access the filter, which is usually located at the base of the dishwasher beneath the bottom spray arm. Most modern dishwashers have a cylindrical filter that twists and lifts out. Check your owner's manual if you're not sure how yours works, but it's typically a quarter-turn counterclockwise and then a straight pull upward.

Fair warning: the first time you do this, you might be genuinely horrified by what you find. Soggy food particles, grease buildup, and sometimes even small bones or fruit stickers that slipped through. It's not pretty, but it's completely normal.

Take the filter to your kitchen sink and rinse it under hot running water. Use your old toothbrush with a few drops of dish soap to gently scrub away any stubborn residue. Pay attention to the mesh screen — that's where the finest grime tends to embed itself. Hold it up to the light when you think you're done. If you can't see through the mesh clearly, keep scrubbing.

While the filter is out, take a look down into the drain area at the bottom of the dishwasher. You'll likely see more trapped food debris down there. Wipe it out with a damp cloth or paper towel. If there's standing water, soak it up with a towel — that can indicate a minor drainage issue worth keeping an eye on.

Step 2: Clean the Spray Arms

The spray arms are those spinning paddles with tiny holes that shoot water onto your dishes during a cycle. Over time, those holes get clogged with mineral deposits and food particles, which means less water pressure and worse cleaning performance.

Most dishwashers have two spray arms — one under the top rack and one under the bottom rack. Some models have a third one at the very top of the interior. They usually snap or twist off without tools.

Once you've removed them, hold each arm under running water and use a toothpick to carefully poke out any debris clogging the spray holes. You'd be amazed at what comes out of these things — tiny seeds, bits of label, calcium chunks. Take your time and clear every single hole.

If the spray arms have significant mineral buildup, soak them in a basin of warm water mixed with a cup of white vinegar for 15 to 20 minutes. That will dissolve the calcium and make it much easier to clear the holes. Give them a final rinse, snap them back into place, and you're good to go.

Step 3: Wipe Down the Door Edges and Gasket

Here's a spot that almost everyone forgets: the edges of the dishwasher door, the rubber gasket seal, and the area around the hinges at the bottom. These zones never actually get hit by the wash cycle's water spray, so they just accumulate grime indefinitely.

Fold a damp microfiber cloth and run it along the entire perimeter of the door opening. Peel back the rubber gasket gently and wipe underneath it — this is where mold and mildew love to set up camp. If you see black spots, that's mold. Don't panic. A paste of baking soda and a little water on your toothbrush will scrub it right off.

Pay special attention to the bottom of the door, near the hinges. This area tends to collect a disgusting sludge of old food particles and soap residue. It takes a bit of elbow grease, but once you see what comes off on your cloth, you'll understand why your dishwasher smelled the way it did.

Don't forget the exterior edges of the door, the handle, and the control panel. A damp cloth with a drop of dish soap works perfectly here. If you have a stainless steel front panel, wipe in the direction of the grain to avoid streaks.

Step 4: Run a Vinegar Wash Cycle

Now that you've handled all the manual scrubbing, it's time to let chemistry do the rest. Place a dishwasher-safe bowl or measuring cup filled with one cup of white distilled vinegar on the top rack of your empty dishwasher.

Run a complete wash cycle on the hottest water setting available. The vinegar will circulate throughout the entire machine, breaking down grease deposits, dissolving mineral buildup, and killing bacteria and mold lurking in the plumbing and hard-to-reach internal areas.

The hot water is key here — it activates the vinegar's cleaning power and helps melt away greasy residue that cold water would just push around. Don't add any detergent for this cycle. You want the vinegar working on its own without interference from soap.

When the cycle finishes, open the door and take a deep breath. The difference in smell alone is usually pretty remarkable. You might also notice that the interior walls look noticeably cleaner and brighter.

Step 5: Run a Baking Soda Cycle

We're almost there. For this final step, sprinkle one cup of baking soda across the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Run a short hot water cycle — you don't need the full wash this time.

The baking soda serves as a gentle scouring agent and a powerful deodorizer. It tackles any remaining stains on the interior walls, brightens up the stainless steel, and neutralizes any lingering odors that the vinegar cycle didn't completely eliminate.

When this cycle finishes, open the door and let the dishwasher air dry. Take a moment to admire your work. The interior should look significantly cleaner, smell fresh, and be ready to actually clean your dishes properly again.

Pro tip: Never combine vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. They neutralize each other and you end up with slightly salty water that does essentially nothing. Running them separately lets each ingredient do its job at full strength.

Monthly Dishwasher Maintenance Schedule

A deep clean is great, but you don't want to be doing this whole routine every week. The good news is that a few simple habits will keep your dishwasher running clean between deep cleans, so you only need to do the full process every three to four months.

Weekly (takes 2 minutes):

• Wipe down the door edges and gasket with a damp cloth after your last load of the day.
• Check the bottom of the dishwasher for any trapped food debris and remove it.

Monthly (takes 10 minutes):

• Remove and rinse the filter under hot water. A quick scrub with a toothbrush keeps it from getting to the horror-show stage.
• Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of vinegar on the top rack to prevent mineral buildup.

Every 3-4 months (takes 45 minutes):

• Do the full deep clean process outlined in this guide — filter, spray arms, gasket, vinegar cycle, baking soda cycle.

Every 6 months:

• Inspect the spray arms for clogged holes and soak them in vinegar if needed.
• Check the door gasket for any signs of mold or wear. Replace it if it's cracked or no longer sealing properly.

Sticking to this schedule means your dishwasher will always perform at its best, your dishes will actually come out clean, and you'll avoid the expensive repair bills that come from years of neglected buildup. A clean dishwasher also makes your entire kitchen feel more maintained—similar to how a clean stainless steel sink brightens up the whole space. Speaking of maintenance, if you've been putting off other household fixes, now might be a good time to tackle that running toilet too — it's another one of those tasks that's way easier than you'd expect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Your Dishwasher

Even with the best intentions, there are a few pitfalls that can make your cleaning efforts less effective — or even cause damage. Here's what to watch out for.

Using bleach in a stainless steel dishwasher. Bleach can corrode and permanently discolor stainless steel interiors. If you have a plastic-tub dishwasher, bleach is fine in small amounts. But for stainless steel, stick with vinegar.

Mixing vinegar and baking soda together. I mentioned this already, but it's worth repeating because it's the most common mistake I see. When you combine them, they fizz impressively but neutralize each other's cleaning power. Always use them in separate cycles.

Forgetting to clean the filter regularly. A clogged filter is the number one reason dishwashers start to smell and underperform. If you only do one maintenance task, make it this one.

Running the cleaning cycle with dishes inside. The vinegar and baking soda cycles need to run in a completely empty dishwasher. The point is to clean the machine itself, not your dishes.

Using too much detergent in regular washes. Excess detergent doesn't get fully rinsed away and contributes to the soapy residue buildup inside your machine. Use the amount recommended by your detergent manufacturer and resist the urge to add extra.

Ignoring the door edges and gasket. The wash cycle doesn't reach these areas, so they need manual attention. Skipping them means you'll still have mold and odor issues even after running cleaning cycles. Speaking of proper dishwasher care, it's equally important to know what you should never put in your dishwasher to avoid damaging both your dishes and the machine itself.

Skipping the pre-rinse of the filter. When you pull the filter out, always rinse off the loose debris before scrubbing. Otherwise, you're just pushing food particles deeper into the mesh.

Deep Clean Dishwasher FAQ

How often should you deep clean a dishwasher?

For most households, a full deep clean every three to four months is the sweet spot. If you run your dishwasher daily, cook frequently with greasy or heavy foods, or have hard water in your area, you might benefit from doing it every two months. Between deep cleans, a monthly vinegar rinse cycle and weekly gasket wipe-down will keep things fresh.

Can you use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar?

Technically yes, but white distilled vinegar is the better choice. Apple cider vinegar contains natural sugars and organic compounds that can leave behind a slight residue and a lingering smell. White vinegar is pure acetic acid and water — it cleans just as effectively without any potential residue. It's also significantly cheaper, which matters when you're pouring a full cup of it into your dishwasher.

Why does my dishwasher smell bad even after cleaning?

If the odor persists after a full deep clean, there are a few possible culprits. First, check the drain hose connection where it meets your garbage disposal or sink drain — food can accumulate in that connection point. Second, your garbage disposal itself might need cleaning, since the dishwasher drains through it. Third, there could be a kink or low spot in the drain hose that's trapping water. If none of those solve the problem, the issue might be a failing drain pump, which is a job for a professional. Persistent moisture issues in the kitchen can also cause problems elsewhere — if you've noticed water stains on wood furniture, that's another sign your kitchen humidity might be running high.

Are commercial dishwasher cleaning tablets worth it?

They work, but they're honestly not necessary. The active ingredients in most commercial dishwasher cleaners are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate — which is essentially what you're getting from the vinegar and baking soda method, but at a fraction of the cost. A bottle of white vinegar costs a couple of dollars and lasts for multiple cleanings. That said, if you prefer the convenience of just tossing a tablet in and hitting start, they're a fine alternative. Just don't expect dramatically different results.

Is it safe to clean a dishwasher with baking soda and vinegar?

Absolutely. Both white vinegar and baking soda are food-safe, non-toxic, and gentle enough that they won't damage any dishwasher component — whether your interior is stainless steel or plastic. They're also safe for septic systems, which is a concern with some commercial cleaning products. The only precaution is to never use them in the same cycle, since they cancel each other out chemically.

Wrapping Up

Learning how to deep clean your dishwasher is one of those home maintenance tasks that pays off immediately. The moment you open that door after the final baking soda cycle, you'll wonder how you went so long without doing it.

The whole process — from pulling out the filter to running the final rinse — takes under an hour of real effort. The supplies cost practically nothing. And the results speak for themselves: no more weird smells, no more filmy residue on your glasses, and a machine that actually does what it's supposed to do.

Stick to the monthly maintenance schedule and you'll rarely need to do the full deep clean more than a few times a year. Your dishes will be cleaner, your kitchen will smell better, and your dishwasher will last longer. That's a win all the way around.

Now go check that filter. I promise you won't regret it — even if what you find in there is a little unsettling.