The dishwasher hands us back gleaming plates, but it needs a clean of its own too. With use, food debris, limescale and grease build up and end up causing bad smells and crockery that doesn't come out entirely clean. Knowing how to clean a dishwasher inside is straightforward, costs very little and extends the life of the appliance. In this guide we explain how to do it with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, how to clean the filter and how to stop it smelling.
Why a dishwasher gets dirty
Contradictory as it sounds, an appliance that washes also gets dirty. Every cycle leaves food debris trapped in the filter, grease sticking to the walls and limescale from the water settling on the spray arms and the heating element. Over time all of that reduces washing performance and produces that characteristic damp smell.
The good news is that a minimal routine prevents almost all of it. Emptying the filter often and doing a thorough clean once a month is enough.
How to clean the dishwasher filter
The filter is the part that gets dirtiest and the one that most affects bad smells. To clean the dishwasher filter, follow these steps:
- Take out the lower basket and locate the filter at the base, usually cylinder-shaped.
- Twist it and pull it out. Throw the food debris in the bin, never down the drain.
- Wash it under the tap with hot water and an old brush. For grease, use a little washing-up liquid.
- Rinse it, dry it and put it back in place until it clicks in properly.
Do this once a week if you use the appliance daily. A good set of kitchen cleaning accessories makes it easier to reach the trickiest corners.
How to clean a dishwasher with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
The most effective and natural method for cleaning a dishwasher with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda involves two cycles:
- Vinegar cycle. With the dishwasher empty, put a heatproof glass full of white vinegar in the top basket. Run a long, hot programme. The vinegar dissolves limescale and grease and neutralises odours.
- Bicarbonate cycle. When that finishes, sprinkle a cup of bicarbonate of soda over the bottom and run a short hot cycle. It will leave the inside fresh and gleaming white.
Do it once a month and you will notice the difference from the very first wash. Don't mix vinegar and bicarbonate of soda at the same time: they lose their effect and cancel each other out.
Why a dishwasher smells and how to prevent it
If you are wondering why your dishwasher smells, the answer is almost always a dirty filter, debris stuck in the drain or moisture left inside. To keep it fresh:
- Clean the filter every week and scrape food off before loading the plates.
- Wipe the door seal with a damp cloth, because dirt collects there.
- Leave the door ajar when the cycle ends so it airs out and no moisture lingers.
- Clean the spray arms: clear any blocked holes with a cocktail stick if necessary.
How often to clean a dishwasher
As a simple benchmark: empty the filter once a week, wipe the seal and the spray arms every fortnight and do the deep clean with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda once a month. If the water where you live is very hard, add a descaler now and then to hold back the limescale.
Conclusion
Now you know how to clean a dishwasher and keep it in shape: clean the filter, run the vinegar and bicarbonate cycles and air the inside out to avoid bad smells. With these simple steps, your crockery will come out cleaner and the appliance will last many more years. At Velia Select you will find homeware that helps you keep the kitchen ready for anything.