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 also use a good cleaning. I first noticed it when a musty smell came from my machine, a kind of wet-dog smell mixed with old food residues (yuck!). That was the sign: time to thoroughly clean the dishwasher. Don’t worry, with my step-by-step plan and some sustainable tricks, this task is quickly done – 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 serious refresh, without immediately reaching for bleach or other harsh chemicals. Your kitchen appliance can get clean just fine 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, even that one stray spoon that might be at the bottom. This seems obvious, but I’m mentioning it anyway. 😉 Then remove the loose parts that can come out, like the cutlery basket and any racks or holders. It’s best to soak these loose parts right away in 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 space to reach everywhere – and prevents a coffee cup from getting an unexpected vinegar shower.
Step 2: Remove the filter
Now a very important step that is often overlooked: cleaning the filter. At the bottom of your dishwasher is a filter (usually a round sieve) that catches food residues so they don’t get into the pump. Twist or click this filter loose (check your manual if you don’t see it right away). Warning: this can be a bit gross 🤢, because all kinds of food debris accumulate here. I once fished out a stray piece of macaroni and lemon peels from our filter… Brace yourself and get that gunk out. Then rinse the filter under hot running water. Use a dish brush or an old toothbrush to scrub off grease and buildup. A drop of dish soap won’t hurt. Tip: wear kitchen gloves if you find this an unpleasant task. But trust me, a clean filter is half the battle for a fresh dishwasher!
Step 3: Clean the spray arms
The rotating spray arms at the top and bottom of your dishwasher create the water jets that clean your dishes. If those holes are clogged with limescale or food residues, nothing gets properly clean. Often you can easily unclip or unscrew the spray arms. Take them out and check the holes. See blockages? Poke them through with a toothpick or cocktail stick. Hold the arm under the tap and rinse while turning to flush out any debris. You can also soak the spray arm in a bath of warm water with vinegar if there’s a lot of limescale. Vinegar dissolves it without scrubbing. Then rinse well. Don’t forget to do both the upper spray arm (under the top rack) and the lower one. Once they’re completely clean, click them back into place. Now the water can spray through your machine like a rain shower again – goodbye dirt!
Step 4: Clean the door seals and corners
The door edge and rubber seals are notorious spots for grime buildup. Open the door fully and look along the edges: you often see a ring of residue or even mold there. Yuck! Grab a damp cloth (soaked in warm water with a bit of vinegar or mild cleaner) and wipe those rubbers thoroughly. Use your fingers to lift the rubber flaps slightly so you can clean underneath. You can also use a biodegradable cleaning wipe for this – it tackles bacteria right away and you can throw it away afterward. Don’t forget the bottom of the door: dirt and grease often hide there just out of sight. Also clean the edges of the machine, the hinges, and the front panel. Removing grime from the seals prevents bad odors and mold growth. Plus, a clean rubber seal lasts longer (staying flexible and watertight). On to step 5, you’re doing great!
Step 5: Use an eco-friendly cleaner for the inside
Now comes one of my favorite sustainable cleaning tricks for the dishwasher: vinegar and baking soda. Do you have limescale buildup or a 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 on the bottom of the machine. Close the dishwasher. Choose a hot program (preferably 60°C or higher) and let it run (empty!). What happens here: the vinegar and baking soda work together. Vinegar descales and degreases, baking soda neutralizes odors and helps loosen deposits. During the rinse cycle, the vinegar spreads through the machine and cleans all the nooks and crannies. Result: a clean and odor-free dishwasher in a completely natural way. And no, your kitchen won’t smell like vinegar forever – the smell disappears quickly and takes the bad odors with it. This trick is cheap, effective, and environmentally friendly.
Step 6: Try a special cleaner for an extra boost
If you feel your dishwasher could use an extra refresher (or if you don’t want to try the vinegar trick), you can of course use a special dishwasher cleaner. Try to choose an eco-friendly option. For example, there are cleaning tablets without chlorine. Don’t have those at home? You can get creative: some people drip a bit of concentrated all-purpose cleaner into the dishwasher for a nice scent. I once put a capful of Fabulosa concentrated disinfectant (in a pleasant scent) at the bottom of the empty machine and ran a short, hot program. The result was a fresh scent and a clean dishwasher. **Note:** use only a small amount if you do this and skip the pre-wash cycle, otherwise the cleaner rinses away immediately. Even better, choose a product specifically made for dishwashers and biodegradable. The goal is for your machine to shine inside and smell fresh, without leaving a chemical haze behind.
Step 7: Don’t forget the outside
While you’re at it, the outside of the dishwasher deserves some love too. The door can have greasy fingerprints and stains, especially if you have a stainless steel front. Take a soft cloth and a mild cleaner (a drop of dish soap in warm water usually suffices) and clean the front. For stainless steel, you can also use a special stainless steel cleaner, but a bit of vinegar on a cloth works just as well to remove streaks. Use circular motions and not too much moisture (you don’t want it leaking into the control panel). Dry afterward with a dry microfiber cloth to prevent streaks. Now not only the inside shines, but the outside looks like new again. Small effort, big effect – your kitchen instantly looks fresher.
Step 8: Put everything back and run a test cycle
You’ve now cleaned the inside (filter clean, spray arms clean, inside rinsed with vinegar/soda or cleaner) and the seals and outside. Time to put everything back together. Place the clean filter back in its spot (don’t forget, or the food residues will spread again!), click the spray arms back in place, and slide the racks and cutlery basket back into the machine. Do a quick check that you haven’t left anything inside (speaking from experience: that one time I accidentally left the cleaning sponge in the cutlery basket 😅). Now you can, as a final test, run a short cycle empty or just continue with your next load of dirty dishes. I often do a wash right away with some cups or kitchen utensils so the last traces of vinegar or soda disappear too. Bet you’ll immediately notice your machine runs smoother and smells fresher?
Step 9: Keep that fresh dishwasher going
Congratulations, your dishwasher is now 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 residues: Rinse plates briefly or scrape food well into the trash before putting them in the dishwasher. The less floating around, the less the filter clogs.
- Use regeneration salt and rinse aid: Make sure your dishwasher always has enough salt and rinse aid (if your model requires it). This prevents limescale inside the machine and on your dishes.
- Leave the door slightly open after use: After a wash: turn off the machine, and don’t close the door completely but leave it ajar. This lets steam out and dries the inside well. This prevents musty smells and mold growth.
- Monthly mini-maintenance: Plan a mini-clean once a month. Remove and rinse the filter (takes 2 minutes), quickly wipe the seals, and optionally run an empty hot wash with vinegar as a refresher. This keeps your dishwasher in top condition continuously.
- Dosage of detergent: Don’t use too many dishwasher tablets or powder. Overdosing can build up inside the machine. Follow the recommended amount – your dishes won’t get cleaner with extra soap, it just leaves a residue.
With these habits, you 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. That’s sustainable too!
Step 10: Enjoy your clean, fresh dishes!
Yes, we’ve reached the last step: enjoy. 😄 Sounds funny for a cleaning task, but trust me, the next time you open the dishwasher and there’s no funky smell but just a neutral (or even fresh) scent, you’ll be glad you cleaned it. Plus, you’ll probably notice your dishes come out cleaner now that the machine itself is clean. Maybe you surprised yourself how easy and cheap this was with home 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 just came out sparkling clean from that freshly cleaned dishwasher. Perfect timing, right?
Cleaning a dishwasher is really easy if you take it step by step. Just clean the filter, check the spray arms, let eco-friendly agents like 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 like The Pink Stuff Power Drops and a splash of vinegar, you’ll get very far. And your dishwasher will be happy with you: clean dishes, no bad odors, and a longer lifespan. So next time you smell a musty odor or notice your glasses don’t shine as much, you 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! 🍽✨