How to Clean Dishwasher | Two-Hour Deep Clean

A dishwasher that smells musty or leaves grit on your glasses isn’t broken — it’s just overdue for maintenance. The good news is a thorough clean takes under two hours, uses items you likely already have, and should be done every one to three months. This guide covers the exact steps manufacturers recommend, from KitchenAid and Maytag to Bosch and GE, plus which method works best for hard water versus general grime.

What You Actually Need to Clean a Dishwasher

Before you start, gather the tools. The method you choose depends on what problem you’re solving — mineral scaling, lingering odor, or just routine upkeep.

Remove and Scrub the Filter First

Every dishwasher has a filter assembly at the bottom, below the lower spray arm. KitchenAid and Thermador both instruct you to unlock or unscrew this filter, disassemble it, and wash the mesh and plastic pieces with warm soapy water using a soft toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and lock it back into place. Skipping this step means trapped food particles keep rotting inside the machine, and no cleaning cycle will fix the smell.

Clear the Spray Arm Nozzles

The upper and lower spray arms should also come off if your model allows. Wash them under running water and use a toothpick to poke any clogged jets — food sediment or mineral scale often blocks one or two holes, which reduces spray pressure noticeably. GE Appliances recommends a paper clip or tweezers for stubborn clogs. Reinstall the arms once the jets are clear.

Wipe the Gasket and Door Seals

Rubber gaskets around the door trap moisture and develop black mold over time. The Home Depot’s method uses an old soft toothbrush dipped in a solution of 3 cups hot water mixed with ½ cup white vinegar. Scrub gently, then wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. Avoid undiluted vinegar sitting on the rubber for long periods, as it can dry out the seal.

Running the Cleaning Cycle: Four Ways to Go

With the filter, spray arms, and gasket manually cleaned, the interior surfaces still need a chemical pass. Your choice depends on what’s available and what kind of buildup you’re fighting. The table below breaks down each option so you can pick the one that fits your situation.

Smell is the most reliable signal that a cleaning is due — if the dishwasher releases a musty or sulfur-like odor on the dry cycle, bacteria have colonized the filter and sump. Manual scrub is mandatory before any chemical cycle in that case.

Dishwasher Cleaning Steps — The Exact Sequence

Do these steps in order. Running a chemical cycle on top of a dirty filter wastes the product and leaves the smell behind.

Step 1: Manual Scrub (Filter, Spray Arms, Gasket)

Follow the filter and spray arm removal instructions from the “Remove and Scrub” section above. This takes about 20 minutes. Do not skip it — KitchenAid, Finish, and Thermador all rank this as the most commonly missed step that causes poor cleaning results.

Step 2: Place Your Cleaner and Run the Cycle

For a dedicated tablet: place it in the detergent dispenser or the bottom of the tub depending on the brand instructions — affresh works in the dispenser, Finish tablets also go in the dispenser, and Finish liquid cleaner sits upside down in the bottom rack with its wax plug exposed. Do not add any regular detergent. Run a normal wash cycle with the hottest water your machine offers.

For vinegar: fill a dishwasher-safe bowl or glass with 2 cups white vinegar, set it upright on the top rack, and run a normal cycle without detergent. Make sure the heated dry cycle is turned off — heat can damage the rubber gasket if vinegar residue stays on it.

For baking soda: after a vinegar cycle, sprinkle 1 cup baking soda across the bottom of the empty tub and run a short hot water cycle. This neutralizes any remaining vinegar smell and polishes the interior.

Avoid mixing vinegar and bleach — the combination produces toxic chlorine gas. If you want to use bleach (affresh recommends it for severe mineral buildup), use 1 cup in a bleach-safe bowl on the top rack, run a full hot cycle, and skip the drying cycle. Bleach should never be used on stainless steel interiors.

Step 3: Let It Air Dry

Open the dishwasher door after the cycle finishes. Allowing the interior to air dry prevents moisture from settling and breeding new bacteria. Most manufacturers (KitchenAid, affresh, Home Depot) explicitly recommend skipping the heated drying cycle during a cleaning run.

Exterior Wipe — Matching the Material

The outside of the machine needs attention too. For stainless steel, wipe with a damp microfiber cloth and a tiny amount of mild detergent, then buff dry moving in the direction of the metal grain. Bosch, Finish, and KitchenAid all warn against abrasive pads or scrubbers — they scratch the finish permanently. Non-stainless exteriors clean fine with a damp cloth and a squeeze of liquid soap.

How Often to Clean Your Dishwasher

If you run the dishwasher daily, a full clean — manual scrub plus a chemical cycle — should happen every three months. Households with hard water may need monthly vinegar or CLR cycles to stay ahead of mineral scaling. A quick check: if a clean glass comes out with white spotting or a filmy feel, it is time to run a cleaning cycle. The best dishwasher detergents for residue-free results can help keep that spotting under control between deep cleans.

Verification Checklist — Did It Work?

A properly cleaned dishwasher should pass three tests: no musty smell when you open it after a dry cycle, water spraying evenly from all arm jets during a wash, and glasses coming out free of grit or film. If any of those fail, you likely missed a clogged spray arm nozzle or left the filter assembly dirty.