You may think that your dishwasher cleans itself while cleaning your plate, but trust us, it doesn’t. And while we still recommend skipping the dishwasher to save water and energy, over time, food residue, grease, undissolved detergent, and water minerals can build up on the dishwasher’s filter and inner walls — and even clog the spray arm. That’s why running regular cleaning cycles and keeping your dishwasher clean is so important. As well as an unpleasant odor and an unsightly appearance, this dirt can also leave stains and films on your glassware, cutlery and cutlery, no matter how carefully and correctly you load the dishwasher. In addition, residue buildup can damage dishwasher filters and pumps, ultimately resulting in expensive repairs.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, we have a wealth of experience in keeping dishwashers clean. Along one wall in our Lab, we have a station to accommodate six full-size dishwashers for testing, and new models are constantly coming in and out. And our GH test kitchen also has several dishwashers. After testing hundreds of dishwashers, dishwasher detergents and dishwasher cleaners, we found the best method to clean a dishwasher and help keep it clean and odor free.
How often to clean your dishwasher
How often your dishwasher needs to be cleaned depends on how many cycles you run daily or weekly. Assuming you run the load every day, here are things to do daily, weekly, and monthly to help keep your dishwasher clean:
- Every day or after every load: Remove any visible bits of food from inside the filter well and bottom of the dishwasher.
- Weekly: Wipe the door edges and gasket to remove dirt, then remove and clean the filter.
- Monthly: Clean the inside with the cleaning cycle.
- According to the needs: Wipe the outside, edges, and inside of drips, smudges, and films.
How to clean your dishwasher
Follow these steps to keep your dishwasher running well, whether it needs a quick refresh or a thorough cleaning.
