How to Deep Clean Your Dishwasher

A few years ago our dishwasher wasn't working properly so we hired a plumber to come take a look at it. Turns out that the drain was clogged because we weren't maintaining our dishwasher properly. He explained how we should maintain our dishwasher and since then, we haven't had any issues. In today's post, I'll be explaining the steps that I follow when deep cleaning our dishwasher. However, I recommend that you consult your manual and follow the maintenance instructions included.

I deep clean our dishwasher once a month. If you want to know my entire cleaning and home maintenance schedule and also learn how I keep track of everything that needs to be done around the house, sign up for my Clear the Clutter Membership. Not only will I give you my home maintenance and cleaning schedule, but we'll also create one that's customized for your home since it isn't one size fits all when it comes to cleaning schedules. In this membership, I'll also help you declutter and organize your entire home, step-by-step, room by room.

As I mentioned earlier, the best way to maintain your dishwasher is to follow the owner's manual. If for some reason you can't locate your manual at home or online, these are the steps that I follow:

Step 1 - Check and clean the spray arms

The spray arms have holes that can get clogged with food particles. I like to take a toothpick and remove anything that may be stuck in the holes.

Step 2 - Clean the drainage strainer and filter

When you remove the bottom rack, you will see the drainage strainer and filter. In my dishwasher both of these are removable, so I take them out and scrub them with some dish soap in the sink. I'll then rinse them and make sure there aren't any food particles, labels, glass or gunk stuck in them. I'll also check the bottom of the dishwasher and make sure it's clean. I often show this process in my Instagram stories, so follow me there if you want a visual.

Step 3 - Clean utensil holder and detergent dispenser

Using a sponge and a little bit of dish soap, I'll scrub and rinse the utensil holder. I'll also clean the detergent dispenser.

Step 4 - Clean the rubber seals and walls of dishwasher

Using some bleach and a cloth, I'll wipe down the rubber seals that are located around the door and the inside of the dishwasher.

Step 5 - Run the dishwasher with bleach and a dishwasher tab

I then add about 1/2 a cup of bleach to the bottom of the dishwasher and place a dishwasher tab in the compartment and run a regular cycle. Doing this will help strip away any grease that may have built up in your dishwasher. It will also disinfect the machine, eliminate odours and freshen your dishwasher.

Step 7 - Clean the outside of the dishwasher

I have a stainless steel dishwasher and wipe it down every day using an e-cloth and water. Because I do this regularly, there isn't any buildup on the exterior of my dishwasher or on the buttons. However, once a week I wipe down all of my stainless steel appliances with cleaner and a microfibre cloth.

One of my best tips of all time is storing your dish sponge and j-cloth in your dishwasher. Find out exactly what I mean by this and some of my other top kitchen-related tips in this video: