How To Deep Clean Your Dishwasher

When’s the last time you cleaned the inside of your dishwasher? If the answer is “never”, or “I didn’t know I had to clean my dishwasher”, or “I ran some vinegar through it… once”, then this tutorial on how to deep clean your dishwasher is for you!

And as always, we’ll show you how to do it using completely human-safe cleaning products.

Why Deep Clean Your Dishwasher (And How Often)?

Given how easy it is to buy a new home appliance with the click of a mouse, most of us never learn about what we should do to care for our appliances. One simple thing you can do to enhance the function and extend the life of your dishwasher is to deep clean it a few times a year.

Without regular cleanings, things like lime, minerals, scale, food particles, grease, grime, and residues from dishwashing cleaners will build up in the dishwasher’s parts, hindering its function and (eventually) leading to costly repairs that could have been avoided.

Some signs you need to deep clean your dishwasher include:

• Dishes that just won’t come clean or have greasy residue
• Cloudy glasses/wine glasses
• A musty or unpleasant odor
• Buildup on the rubber gasket around the door
• Food buildup in the trap
• Food buildup in the spraying arm
• Rusting inside the machine
• Poor function overall - it doesn’t clean like it used to

The good news is, you can take care of all these issues with regular deep cleaning!

How often should you clean your dishwasher? Many manufacturers recommend deep cleaning once a month for optimal performance, or even twice a month if you use your dishwasher a lot or have hard water.

If you don’t have the time to do this monthly, then we recommend doing a weekly vinegar rinse (which we’ll cover in this article), an interior wipe down, and committing to a quarterly cleaning. You can also check with your manufacturer for their recommendations.

How To Deep Clean Your Dishwasher

What you’ll need:

• Gloves (for sensitive hands and/or squeamish people!)
• Branch Basics All-Purpose (or other natural all-purpose cleaner)
• Microfiber cloths
• Small cleaning brushes or old toothbrushes
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Your phone - To take pictures, or video, of how you disassemble the dishwasher, so you can put it back together!
• A screwdriver - Note: Not all dishwasher models will require tools, as many have twist and pull parts.
• A dishwasher safe mug or measuring cup

Step 1: Clean The Removable Parts

• Take out the utensil holder and dish racks.
• Spray everything with Branch Basics All-Purpose, clean with a sponge or microfiber cloth, and rinse.
• If there’s stubborn, stuck-on food or other grime, soak in a sink full of warm water, 1 tsp. Branch Basics Concentrate and 1-2 cups distilled white vinegar for 10-20 minutes. Wipe clean.

Step 2: Clean And Unclog The Spraying Arm

• Start by taking off the spraying arm on the bottom and/or top (which will probably come out just by screwing it off with your hands).
• Look for any clogs in the spray holes, which you can remove using a toothpick, sewing needle or quilt pin. Spray down with All-Purpose and wipe with a microfiber cloth. Set aside.

Step 3: Clean The Filter(s)

• Next, remove the filter(s) - Some dishwashers have an upper and lower filter and some have just one. Manually unlock and gently pull it out.
• Check the filter base inside the dishwasher for trapped food and remove. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth.
• Next, spray down the filters with Branch Basics All-Purpose. If the filter is really dirty, let the spray dwell for 5-10 minutes. Next, use your small cleaning brush or toothbrush to scrub away any grease or stuck-on food.
• For extra tough built up scum, soak filters in hot water to cover, 1 tsp. Branch Basics Concentrate and a scoop of Oxygen Boost.
• Rinse and scrub the filter(s) under warm running water.
• Put the filter(s) back and make sure they’re locked in (if applicable).

Step 4: Clean The Drain Using One Of These Two Methods

The drain is the circular piece underneath the bottom sprayer where the water drains out.

• To clean it, you can remove it with a screwdriver or it may have pieces you can twist and pop out with your hands. Spray it and the basin below with All-Purpose, scrub, and screw or pop it back in.

Now, if removing this is too intimidating and/or you’d like another option, try using this hot water, vinegar and Oxygen Boost method:

• Mix one cup of slightly warm distilled white vinegar with a scoop of Oxygen Boost and pour into the drain. Let sit for 10-20 minutes then rinse with a kettle-full of hot water to dislodge any clogs or debris and flush it down the drain. If this method doesn’t work well enough, then we do recommend taking it apart for further inspection and cleaning.

You can do this! Use your phone’s camera to help and check out our video resources at the end of this article.

Step 5: Spray And Wipe Down The Entire Inside Of The Dishwasher

• With all the parts out, it’s time to spray down everything inside the dishwasher with All-Purpose including the inside of the door, the basin on the bottom, and dishwasher walls.
• Spray, clean with a microfiber cloth, and wipe clean.

Step 6: Scrub Off The Gasket Around The Door

At this point, you’ll probably notice some build-up around the rubber gasket on the inside of the dishwasher door.

• Spray All-Purpose all around the gasket and use your small cleaning brush or toothbrush to scrub off all that gunk.
• If there’s hard-water build up, spray on some distilled white vinegar, let sit for 10-20 minutes, then scrub.

If you suspect you have stubborn mold, check out this tutorial on how to remove mold from your shower, which you can apply to your dishwasher.

Step 7: Run A Full Cycle With Vinegar

• Fill a dishwasher safe mug or measuring cup with about 1 cup distilled white vinegar and place in the center of your dishwasher with no other dishes.
• Run a full cycle with hot water to complete the cleaning/deodorizing process.

You’re done!

If, after going through all these steps, your dishwasher still has an unpleasant odor, refill your vinegar cup with an additional 1 cup of vinegar OR sprinkle 2 cups of baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher and run on the hottest cycle.

That should do it!

Note: Choose either vinegar or baking soda for deodorizing. Don’t use them both together as they cancel each other out.

Can I Buy A Dishwasher Cleaning Detergent Instead?

Some dish detergent companies sell dishwasher cleaning detergents to make this task more convenient and hands-off. Although these can work, they won’t be as effective in removing food, build up and blockages in dishwasher parts, which is why dishwasher manufacturers recommend the regular deep cleaning processes outlined above. Plus, these products are made of very harsh chemicals which are best avoided for your health and the health of your septic system and our shared waterways.

Again, if you don’t have the time to do the deep clean as suggested, at least spray down and wipe the inside of your dishwasher a few times a month, clean out the fiter(s), and run a cup of vinegar through a hot wash cycle once a week until you can take the time to do a deep clean.

More Of A Visual Learner? Check Out These How-To Videos

Want step-by-step instructions? We've got you covered! Watch our YouTube video:

We also found the following videos helpful as they cover more of a range of dishwasher types while providing a visual aid. Just be sure to replace Branch Basics All-Purpose with any of the chemical or synthetic cleaner suggested, and use distilled white vinegar as directed.

• How To Clean Your Dirty Dishwasher with Dailyn Matthews
• How to Clean a Dishwasher from Housewife Glam Life
• Dishes Not Clean? How to Clean A Dishwasher

Last but not least, spots on dishes and scale on dishwashers can also be an indication of hard water, which can damage your appliance over time. You can learn all about hard water and water filter fixes in The Impact of Soft and Hard Water on Laundry.

Toss the Toxins with Branch Basics

Now that you know how to deep clean your dishwasher, consider switching your dishwasher detergent over to Branch Basics Dishwasher Tablets.

Our human-safe Dishwasher Tabs are pure, powerful and plastic-free. Our tabs are biodegradable and made to remove even the toughest grease and sticky messes. Each tablet is PVA-free and designed to fit all dishwashers.

And while we're on the topic of upgrading your household cleaning products, check out our Branch Basics Premium Starter Kits (available in refillable plastic or glass). Our signature Concentrate is designed as an all-in-one, multi-purpose safe, natural, and effective cleaning products you can dilute to replace all cleaning and laundry products in your home.

Our Starter Kits come with refillable spray bottles, a bag of Oxygen Boost, and a bottle of Concentrate to make All-Purpose, Bathroom, Streak Free, Laundry, and Foaming Wash.

We also offer:

• Oxygen Boost - a powerful mineral-based laundry booster and bleach alternative.
• Gel Hand Soap - a safe and nourishing hand soap free from fragrance, dyes, antibacterial chemicals, petroleum products, and more.
• And other accessories and tools to help you live a healthy and natural lifestyle.

Curious to learn more tips on creating a healthier home? Check out our Toss the Toxins Online Course and follow us on Instagram.