Then use a little bit of dish soap and rub it in with your finger. Rinse again with hot water until all the soap is removed.
Clean the Dishwasher Drain
The underside of the drain cover will likely look something like this {gross!}.
Rinse off as much as you can using hot water, and then use an old toothbrush and a little dish soap to remove the remainder of the gunk and get all the crevasses clean.
In less than five minutes, both my dishwasher filter and drain cover were sparkling clean.
Clean Water Spray Arm
Clean the Dishwasher with Vinegar
But after reading pros and cons of different vinegar methods, I opted to instead start a regular wash cycle with a completely empty dishwasher (and no dish soap). Once the bottom of the machine has filled with hot water, paused the cycle, open the door, pour 2 cups of vinegar into the bottom, close the door and let it sit for 30 minutes, and then finish running the cycle. This vinegar method removes any built up grease and grime, and leaves the dishwasher smelling fresh.
Finally, sprinkle about a cup of baking soda across the bottom the empty dishwasher. Run a short, hot-water cycle (again with no detergent). The baking soda method will help to remove any stains and will leave the inside of the dishwasher sparkling clean.
Erin Cassidy-Cernanec says
I followed your instructions and I love the results! Thank you for teaching me how to clean my dishwasher!!
Tanya Peres says
Thanks for this post! I can't believe the amount of gunk I pulled out from the filters. Gross! THANK YOU!
Carol says
Thank you for the step by step instructions. I did not know I could take the filter out of the washer. Looking Good now.
Unknown says
I soaked the filters in vinegar over night. Now I know how to clean my dishwasher and how often. How wonderful! Thank you!
Roberta Gates says
Thx for the instructions. I clean my dishwasher about once a month, but I never go as deeply about it as you did. I will start doing this the next time I clean it. Thx again.
Bonnie says
Wow, I thought I was going to have to buy a new dishwasher.
This was so awesome and easy that I had to share this on fb.
Thank You so much. š„°
Rebecca Wesley says
This is very good information you have shared, I had no idea you could take out the filter and clean it, or even clean out the wands. This will not only keep the dishes cleaner but I’m sure this will also keep the dishwasher running longer. My dishwasher is brand new as of May 1st when we bought our new home. Ty again for this valuable information
Leigh Manlove says
O M Gosh! I canāt thank you enough. I was considering buying a new machine. You saved me LOTS of money. I paid a couple of hours & a couple of āgagsā.