How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher (Filter, Spray Arms and All)

If your dishes are coming out with a gritty film, your glasses look cloudy, or the kitchen smells a little off every time you open the dishwasher, you're not alone. Most people assume a dishwasher cleans itself. It doesn't.

Every load leaves behind food particles, grease and minerals. Over a few months they build up in the filter, clog the spray arm nozzles and coat the door seal. The good news: the hands-on part of a deep clean takes about 15 minutes, and the machine does the rest.

Why It Matters (Especially in San Diego)

San Diego has some of the hardest tap water in the country. Calcium and magnesium deposits build up faster here than in most places, leaving white film on glassware and slowly narrowing the tiny nozzles in the spray arms. A dishwasher that can't spray properly can't clean properly, so you end up re-washing by hand or running loads twice.

A clean dishwasher also drains better and lasts longer. Many "broken" dishwashers are really just clogged ones.

What You'll Need

An old toothbrush, a toothpick or thin wire, a couple of microfiber cloths, an all-purpose cleaner, and one or two Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner tablets (about $1.50 each at Home Depot or on Amazon).

How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher: Step by Step

Empty it and pull the bottom rack. Start with a completely empty machine so you have full access to the floor and filter area.
Remove the filter assembly. Most filters twist counterclockwise to unlock. Take out both parts: the cylindrical filter and the flat mesh screen underneath it.
Scrub the filter and screen. Clean both under hot running water with the toothbrush until every mesh pore is clear of grease and fine debris. Don't use a wire brush, which can tear the mesh. If yours is clogged enough to leave standing water, see our guide to a dishwasher not draining.
Clear the sump. Look into the drain area where the filter sits. Remove anything solid, like glass shards, seeds or fruit labels, then wipe it clean.
Clear the spray arm nozzles. Check the nozzles on the upper and lower spray arms. Use a toothpick to poke out mineral deposits or debris blocking the water flow.
Detail the door seal. Wipe the rubber gasket and the bottom hinge area of the door. This spot collects sludge that no cleaning cycle reaches.
Reassemble. Reinstall the filter and make sure it locks back into its original position, then put the bottom rack back.
Add a cleaner tablet. Place one Affresh tablet in the main detergent dispenser. If the machine is heavily soiled, put a second tablet on the floor of the tub.
Run a hot, heavy cycle. Choose the Heavy or Sanitize cycle with the hottest water setting so the tablet fully dissolves and does its job.
Polish the outside. While it runs, wipe down the door, handle and control panel with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.

How Often Should You Do This?

Every 90 days keeps most households in good shape. If you run the dishwasher daily or have a big family, give the filter a quick rinse monthly in between. Using rinse aid also helps a lot with hard-water spots.

While You're at It

Check under the sink for any dampness where the dishwasher drain hose connects to the sink drain or disposal. A slow drip there can go unnoticed for months. The dishwasher usually drains through the disposal, so it's also a good time to clean the garbage disposal.

Let Our Team Handle It

Dishwasher cleaning is one of those small jobs that keeps sliding to next weekend. For Livd members, your dedicated handyman deep cleans the dishwasher every 90 days as part of your proactive maintenance plan, checks the connections underneath and flags anything that looks like it's starting to fail.

Already a Livd member? Add "deep clean dishwasher" to your task list in the Livd app and we'll take care of it on your next scheduled visit.

Not a Livd member yet? Schedule your free home walkthrough at livdhomes.com. We'll look at what your home needs and build a proactive maintenance plan to keep the little things from becoming big ones.