How to Clean a Dishwasher, According to Experts

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You probably clean your kitchen counters, stovetop and floors regularly — but you might not be able to say the same for your dishwasher. Dishwashers are great at clearing away remnants of dinners past from your dishes, but they may not be as clean as they appear.

The dishwasher’s filter is a hotbed for food residue and soap s***, according to Kadi Dulude, owner of cleaning company Wizards of Homes. “When not removed in time, [debris] will clog the filter, food particles will start smelling bad and the machine won’t operate properly because it’s not draining anymore,” she says. The good news is cleaning a dishwasher doesn’t require expensive tools or special skills — just a little guidance.

We consulted cleaning experts for their insight about the best way to clean a dishwasher, and for their recommendations of products to use to do it

The best products for cleaning a dishwasher and more

Before we get to the actual steps of how to clean a dishwasher, we’re sharing some products you may want to have on hand prior to starting the process. We rounded up products based on our experts’ recommendations and guidance. All of the products have at least a four-star average rating from 10,000 or more shoppers on Amazon. (with the exception of one that’s highly-rated but from fewer customers).

This dishwasher detergent is meant to clean the inside of the dishwasher rather than the dishes themselves. I’ve previously used the Finish Quantum Powerball Dishwasher Pods, and they work better than any dishwasher pod I’ve ever used — on my dishes of course. In my experience, Finish’s products always do a great job of preventing residual water droplets from staying on surfaces.

This liquid detergent comes in a square-shaped container that you place upside down in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. As you run a cycle with the container in it (and no dishes), let the detergent drain into the bottom of the dishwasher. It helps break down limescale and grease, and gets rid of odors, according to the brand.

What we like

• Good for handwashing
• Fresh scent

While you shouldn’t use regular liquid dish soap for cleaning dishes in a dishwasher, you can still use this multipurpose dish soap spray to handwash compartments within the dishwasher, such as the filter and spray arms. In fact, our experts commonly recommend using the dish spray for various projects, such as cleaning the refrigerator, and it’s one of our favorite soaps for hand washing dishes.

This spray is thorough enough to get rid of grease and grime, according to the brand, but gentle enough to use on other surfaces without damaging them, like countertops. Plus, it doesn’t leave a strong chemical scent after you use it. Remove the filter from the dishwasher and, if possible, the spray arms. Spray with the soap and use a sponge or brush to scrub away grime. Then rinse and let them dry before putting the parts back in the dishwasher.

What we like

• Good for water stains
• Large size
• Cap has a dispenser

Something to note

• Nothing to note at this time

A rinse aid, like this one from Cascade, will help your dishes dry faster after being cleaned in the dishwasher. It will also help get rid of hard water stains, which are very visible on things made out of glblock.

What we like

• Doesn’t require pouring
• Can be used for many things

Something to note

• Soap compartment is small

This dishwand is a great two-in-one gadget that combines the power of a dishwashing brush and a bottle of soap. The handle contains the dish soap, which dispenses from the end of the brush, underneath the bristles. This eliminates the need to constantly pour dish soap onto a sponge. You can fill the brush with your preferred dish soap and use the button on the top of the handle to control how much comes out.

It’s typically meant to be used on dishes, but you can use it to hand wash the filter and spray arms of the dishwasher — simply rinse them off when you’re done and let them dry before putting them back into the dishwasher.

What we like

• Good for limescale
• Good for grease and rust

Similar to Finish’s dishwasher cleaner, this bottle of detergent goes into the dishwasher upside down. All you have to do is let it dispense as the dishwasher runs. It removes limescale and mineral buildup, bacteria, grease and rust on the dishwasher filter, pipes and spray arms, according to the brand. For the best results, place it directly into the flatware basket in the bottom rack and run it on the hottest cycle once a month, according to the brand.

The pack has three 12-ounce bottles with a lemon-scented formula inside. You can use one bottle to clean the dishwasher once a month, so one pack lasts three months.

Something to note

• Have to be washed regularly

These cleaning brushes are great for cleaning reusable water bottles and straws, but they’re also good for cleaning the holes on the spray arms of a dishwasher. This set has brushes of varying sizes and thicknesses, so you can use the smaller ones to clean the sprinkler holes. The brushes are also dishwasher safe, so you can add them with a load of dishes after each use.

What is the best way to clean a dishwasher?

The best way to deep clean a dishwasher involves hand washing the different components of the machine, including the racks, filter and spray arms. I spoke with Ryan Knoll, the owner of cleaning company TidyCasa, for the best step-by-step way to clean a dishwasher. Here’s what he recommends:

1. Remove the racks, spray arms and filter from the dishwasher. Use mild dish soap, a scrub brush and warm, soapy water to scrub them. If needed, use a toothbrush to scrub parts of the filter. Rinse the racks, spray arms and filter with water and set those aside.

2. Wipe away any debris from the bottom of the dishwasher. With mild dish soap and a scrub brush, scrub the interior of the dishwasher with warm soapy water. Add the racks, spray arms and filter back into the dishwasher.

3. Fill a dishwasher-safe measuring cup with one cup of distilled white vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher, making sure it’s sitting upright. Close the dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle. Remove the vinegar after the cycle is complete and then run the dishwasher again. 

4. As an alternative to step three, use a dishwasher cleaner. Follow the instructions on the label. If you use the Finish Dishwasher Deep Cleaner or Glisten Dishwasher Cleaner, remove the top of the container, place the bottle upside down on the bottom rack or wherever it says in the directions and run the dishwasher on the hot water cycle. If you’re using a dishwasher cleaning tablet, then simply place it in the compartment before running the appliance. 

5. If it’s a stainless steel dishwasher, use a stainless steel cleaning spray and microfiber cloth or stainless steel cleaning wipe to clean the outside of the dishwasher door. Otherwise, use mild dish soap and a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the outside. Wipe away the residue with a dry microfiber cloth.

How we picked the best products for cleaning a dishwasher

Your dishwasher may appear clean on the outside, but many of its parts — such as the filter and spray arms — collect debris and minerals over time. Our experts recommend keeping the following tips in mind when looking for products to clean a dishwasher:

• Find specialized detergent: Dulude recommends against filling the detergent compartment of the dishwasher with regular liquid dish soap in general because it produces too much foam and suds. Instead use dishwasher detergents and/or tablets from brands like Finish, Affresh, Cascade and Glisten. These cleaners get rid of soap s***, food debris and limescale (residual minerals leftover from hard water), all of which are common causes of a smelly dishwasher. In fact, hard water residue buildup can decrease water pressure and affect the function of appliances, according to the United States Geological Survey.
• Go with acidic cleaning agents: You should also use acidic ingredients like distilled white vinegar to clean the inside of your dishwasher and its parts. That’s because the acidic nature of vinegar helps to lift and remove the stuck-on debris.
• Look for abrasive cleaning products: Abrasive ingredients and products, such as baking soda or a scrubbing brush, are ideal for cleaning parts of your dishwasher because they lift grime. Use a scratch-free sponge, dish brush or a Scrub Daddy.

How to keep a dishwasher clean

Once your dishwasher is clean, it’s important to maintain that cleanliness. Incorporating the simple steps below into your kitchen routine can help you stretch out the time between cleanings, which also saves you money on cleaners or ingredients in the long run.

• Pre-rinse dishes: Even though some brands may say that rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher isn’t necessary to get them clean, it’s still a good idea to rinse them to prevent small particles of food from getting stuck in the filter. This also helps prevent rotting food smells from forming in your appliance.
• Unload dishes immediately: You should remove the dishes from the machine as soon as the cycle finishes. That’s because, even though the dishes are technically clean, they can develop water stains. Using a rinse aid can also prevent this.
• Use a rinse aid: Speaking of rinse aids, picks like Finish Jet-Dry Rinse Aid, help your dishes dry faster, which ultimately prevents them from developing hard water stains.

Meet our cleaning experts

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Kadi Dulude is the owner of cleaning services company Wizard of Homes, where she sees over 100 employees.
• Ryan Knoll is the owner of home cleaning company TidyCasa.

Why trust NBC Selected?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, where I cover kitchen, cleaning and wellness. I’ve written guides on how to clean stainless steel appliances, how often you should change and wash your towels and how to clean glblockes the right way. For this story, I talked to cleaning experts about how to clean a dishwasher in just a few simple steps, and also which products to use on the interior of the machine and its removable parts.