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How to Clean A Dishwasher (And your Dishwasher Filter)

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It's important to know how to clean a dishwasher as well as how to clean a dishwasher filter. All you need is vinegar and baking soda!

How to clean a dishwasher and dishwasher filtere

How to Clean a Dishwasher (and Clean your Dish Washer Filter Too!)

If you haven't cleaned your dishwasher lately, you need to do this today. 

For.

Real.

Over time, grease, soap scum, and germs can build up in your dishwasher. It's important not only from a cleanliness standpoint to clean your dishwasher (and your dishwasher filter), but it will also help keep it running efficiently when it's as clean as it can be!  You don't need to buy any commercial dishwasher cleaners – it's super easy to clean your dishwasher with vinegar, running water, and baking soda!

It's recommended to clean your dishwasher and dishwasher filter once a month – so let's learn how to clean your dishwasher filter!

How to clean dishwasher with vinegar

How to clean your dishwasher filter: 

First, you'll want to start with an empty dishwasher, so go ahead and unload any clean dishes you have and put them to the side. Then, look on the bottom of your dishwasher and see if you have a filter.

This is going to vary based on the model of your machine, but typically your filter is located underneath the bottom rack. (Note that SOME dishwashers have an upper and lower filter now, so take a look around!)

Once you've located your dishwasher filter, you're going to remove the filter and start the process to clean it.

It will be disgusting. There's likely food particles, bits of food and more. I know – it's basically a glorified garbage disposal at this point.  A little gentle scrubbing and it will be SO much better. 

How to clean a dishwasher filter

Once you've removed your filter, you're going to want to start the process to clean it. You'll let the filter soak for about five to ten minutes in soapy warm water. Go ahead and grab an old toothbrush or a wire brush and scrub the filter (this will help to get all the nooks and crannies cleaned out well).

Once the filter is clean of any debris, you're going to return the filter to dishwasher. Go ahead and put a few cups of white vinegar in a dishwasher safe container and set it on the top rack.

Next, you'll want to run your dishwasher on hottest setting that it has (don't worry about using any dish detergent at this point – just let it run). Running the dishwasher after cleaning the filter well and adding in the vinegar and hot water will get your dishwasher filter SUPER clean!

Ingredients needed for cleaning a dishwasher

After you've put your dishwasher filter back in its place, you're going to go ahead and remove the vinegar out of the dishwasher.  Next, grab some baking soda and sprinkle the bottom of the dishwasher with baking soda. It doesn't have to be very thick, just make sure it is coated well – probably about a cup of baking soda will work well.

Go ahead and run the dishwasher again on the hottest water cycle. This washing cycle will get everything stirred up much more than a manual cleaning would do. Once the cycle has finished, all of the debris will be washed away.

Congratulations, you have just successfully cleaned your dishwasher and the filter!

This will save you so much on dishwasher repair bills because you'll keep your dishwasher and dishwasher filter CLEAN and running in top-top shape. If you like using natural cleaners, you might also want to try this Homemade Window Cleaner – it's fantastic at leaving windows sparkling! 

Using Baking Soda to Clean a Dishwasher

🏠If you're looking for everything you need to tackle your day in one beautiful planner, you might be interested in our Home Planner.  It includes space for daily, weekly, monthly and annual entries along with the traditional checklists that our customers have come to love and crave! 

How to keep a home clean

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Comments

  1. Karen says

    On the vinegar cycle is the filter in place or on the top rack with the vinegar? I know you put the filter back in place for the baking soda cycle but I was kind of confused on the vinegar cycle.

    Reply

  7. Kerri says

    When washing with the vinegar cycle and before the baking soda cycle, is the filter in its place or is it on a rack?

    Reply

  31. Kara says

    What About if you do not have a filter. We have a very old dishwasher and it has a raised up plastic grate area bolted down but no filter. We tend to have particles on top of dishes after washing but can’t figure out what is happening

    Reply

    • Laurie says

      Hmm, maybe check the owner’s manual for your unit (or see if you can find a digital copy of it online, if you don’t still have the original one!). Hope you’re able to figure out what the issue is Kara! 🙂

      Reply

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