Quick Summary
- Monthly priority: Clean the filter — the #1 cause of poor dishwasher performance
- Best cleaning method: Vinegar cycle on hot, followed by a baking soda cycle
- Weekly habit: Wipe the door gasket and check for pooling water
- Time required: 20–30 minutes hands-on + 2 machine cycles
- Also check: Spray arm holes — blocked nozzles are a leading cause of dirty dishes
A dishwasher that cleans your dishes every day needs cleaning itself — but most homeowners skip this until they notice bad odours or cloudy glasses. The good news: a proper monthly cleaning routine takes about 30 minutes and costs nothing beyond the vinegar and baking soda already in your pantry.
This guide covers every part of the dishwasher that needs attention: the filter, spray arms, door gasket, interior tub, and exterior. We also include a monthly maintenance checklist, brand-specific filter locations, and the signs that mean cleaning alone is not enough and you need professional service.
Step-by-Step: How to Clean a Dishwasher
Remove and clean the filter
Pull out the bottom rack completely. The filter is located in the base of the tub — look for a cylindrical filter assembly near the centre or back of the tub floor. On most dishwashers, you twist the upper cylindrical filter counterclockwise and lift it out, then lift the flat mesh filter beneath it. Rinse both pieces under warm running water and scrub with an old toothbrush and a few drops of dish soap. Pay special attention to the mesh screen — this is where grease and food particles accumulate and cause odour. Reinstall both filter pieces and turn clockwise to lock.
Clear the spray arm nozzles
The dishwasher has two (sometimes three) spray arms — one under the bottom rack and one under the top rack. Most twist off by turning counterclockwise or unscrew with a simple bolt. Once removed, hold each spray arm up to the light and check each hole. Use a toothpick, thin wire, or pipe cleaner to poke out any food debris or mineral deposits clogging the holes. Run the arms under the faucet while covering individual holes to force water through blocked nozzles. Reinstall securely — a loose spray arm will not rotate properly during washing.
Wipe the door gasket and interior edges
The rubber gasket around the door opening collects food particles and moisture that lead to mould. Dampen a microfibre cloth with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Wipe all the way around the gasket, pulling it away from the door frame slightly to clean in the groove. An old toothbrush works well for the folded sections at the bottom corners. Also wipe the door interior surface, hinges, and the bottom lip of the tub — areas where water pools and is not reached by the spray arms.
Run a hot vinegar wash cycle
Place a dishwasher-safe cup or bowl filled with 1 cup of white distilled vinegar upright on the top rack. Make sure the dishwasher is otherwise empty. Run the longest, hottest cycle available — typically a "Heavy" or "Pots & Pans" cycle. The vinegar disperses throughout the wash cycle, dissolving grease, mineral scale from hard water, and soap scum that coats the tub walls, racks, and internal plumbing. This is especially effective in Toronto and GTA homes where moderate hard water accelerates scale buildup.
Run a baking soda deodorise cycle
Once the vinegar cycle is complete and the dishwasher has cooled slightly, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda evenly across the bottom of the empty tub. Run a short hot cycle. The baking soda neutralises acidic odours, brightens the tub interior, and removes any lingering vinegar smell. For stainless steel interiors, this also helps restore the natural shine.
Clean the detergent dispenser
Open the detergent dispenser compartment on the inside of the door. Wet a cloth with warm water and wipe out any caked detergent residue from the dispenser well and the rinse aid compartment. Hardened detergent can prevent the dispenser from opening properly during the wash cycle, leaving dishes dirty despite a full cycle.
Wipe the exterior
Use a damp microfibre cloth with a mild all-purpose cleaner to wipe the door exterior and handle. For stainless steel doors, use a dedicated stainless steel cleaner and wipe with the grain of the steel to avoid streaks and micro-scratches. Avoid abrasive scrubbers on stainless. For the control panel, spray the cloth rather than the panel directly to prevent moisture entering the electronics.
Monthly Cleaning Checklist
Monthly Dishwasher Maintenance
Brand-Specific Filter Locations
| Brand | Filter Type | Location & Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch | Manual clean (cylindrical + mesh) | Back centre of tub floor. Twist upper cylinder counterclockwise to remove, then lift flat mesh filter. |
| Miele | Manual clean (3-part filter) | Centre-back of tub floor. Twist and lift the coarse filter; the fine filter slides out separately. |
| Samsung | Manual clean | Centre-bottom of tub. Twist counterclockwise and lift. Separate upper and lower filter for cleaning. |
| LG | Manual clean | Centre of tub floor. Twist the cylindrical filter counterclockwise and pull up. |
| Whirlpool / Maytag | Manual clean (newer models) or self-cleaning grinder (older models) | Newer: twist-out at the back of the tub floor. Older models (pre-2010): self-cleaning, no manual filter access needed. |
| GE | Self-cleaning grinder (most models) | Most GE dishwashers use a hard food disposer — no manual filter to clean. If your GE has a quiet motor model, it may have a manual filter in the back-centre of the tub. |
| KitchenAid | Manual clean | Same as Whirlpool (shared platform). Twist-lock filter at the back of the tub floor. |
Hard water tip: In Toronto and the GTA, moderate hard water (around 6–8 grains per gallon) causes calcium and magnesium deposits on dishwasher interior surfaces, glassware, and heating elements over time. Use a dedicated dishwasher descaler once every 3 months in addition to your monthly vinegar cycle for the best results.
Signs Your Dishwasher Needs Professional Service
Cleaning resolves most dishwasher odour and performance issues. However, these symptoms indicate a mechanical problem that requires a certified technician:
- Water not draining after a cycle — check and clear the filter first; if still not draining, the drain pump or solenoid may be faulty
- Water not filling the tub at the start of a cycle — water inlet valve failure
- Dishwasher not starting or display shows error codes — door latch, control board, or thermal fuse issue
- Dishes still dirty after cleaning filter and spray arms — wash pump or motor issue
- Water leaking from the door or underneath — door gasket failure or pump seal leak
- Grinding or rattling noise during operation — debris in the pump impeller or damaged spray arm
Our dishwasher repair service covers all the major brands listed above across Toronto and the GTA. $89 diagnostic — waived when you proceed with repair. $40 OFF any repair right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clean the filter once a month and run a vinegar cycle monthly. If you notice odour, poor cleaning results, or visible residue sooner, clean it immediately. The door gasket should be wiped weekly, especially in hard water areas.
A bad-smelling dishwasher is almost always caused by a clogged filter with trapped food debris, or mould growing in the door gasket or in stagnant water at the bottom of the tub. Clean the filter and run a hot vinegar cycle to resolve most odour issues within one wash.
Use them in separate cycles — not together. Run the vinegar cycle first, then the baking soda cycle. Combined in the same cycle they neutralise each other and are less effective than used separately.
The filter is located at the bottom of the tub, usually directly below the bottom spray arm. On most dishwashers it twists out counterclockwise and lifts free. Rinse under warm water and scrub with a toothbrush. Bosch, Miele, and most European brands have easy-access manual clean filters. Older North American brands like GE and Whirlpool may have self-cleaning grinder filters that don't need manual removal.
Dirty dishes after a full cycle usually mean the spray arm holes are clogged, the filter is blocked, the water temperature is too low (should be 120°F/49°C), or you are using too little or low-quality detergent. Clean the filter and spray arms first. If the problem persists, the wash pump or water inlet valve may need professional service.
Only if your dishwasher has a plastic (not stainless steel) interior tub. Add half a cup of bleach to the bottom of an empty dishwasher and run a full cycle. Never use bleach in a stainless steel tub — it causes pitting and rust. Also never mix bleach with vinegar.
Call a certified technician if your dishwasher is not filling with water, not draining, leaking from the door or bottom, displaying error codes, or if dishes are not being cleaned even after a full deep clean of the filter and spray arms. These indicate mechanical or electrical faults.