How to Clean Out Your Dishwasher (And Keep It Running Like New)

Your dishwasher is one of the most hardworking appliances in your home—quietly handling grime, grease, and endless piles of dishes with minimal intervention. Yet for many homeowners, it’s also one of the most neglected. Over time, food debris, soap scum, grease, and even hard water mineral deposits can accumulate inside your dishwasher, compromising its efficiency, shortening its life span, and occasionally causing unpleasant odors. Fortunately, learning how to clean out your dishwasher isn’t difficult, and it pays off significantly in terms of performance and long-term system integrity. Here’s what you need to know, how to get started, and why it matters for your home—and your home warranty.

Why Does Your Dishwasher Need Regular Cleaning?

It’s easy to assume that because dishwashers cycle hot water and detergent regularly, they stay clean on their own. That’s not quite the case. Over weeks and months of use, tiny bits of food, grease, soap residue, and even mold or mildew settle in components like the spray arms, drain, filters, and seals. These build-ups not only reduce washing performance but can also lead to clogs, bad smells, or even mechanical failures. Regular cleaning is key to keeping your dishwasher running efficiently and extending its usable life especially in homes with hard water or heavy usage.

Understanding How Dishwashers Work (So You Can Care For Them Better)

Modern dishwashers work through a series of well-timed, technically sophisticated steps. After you load up the racks and press “start,” the machine fills with water, heats it to the programmed temperature, sprays it forcefully through rotating spray arms, drains it out, and repeats the rinse and drain cycle for a thorough clean. Finally, it uses a heating element or condensation method to dry the dishes. Central to this process is a filter system that captures leftover food particles and keeps them from reapplying themselves on clean dishware, plus a drain system that routes all that dirty water out of the machine entirely. Any component that isn’t cleaned regularly can become a bottleneck in what is otherwise a seamless operation.

Step-by-Step: How to Clean Out Your Dishwasher Properly

Cleaning your dishwasher thoroughly requires a bit more than just running a vinegar rinse—though that’s part of it. Start by removing and cleaning the dishwasher filter, which is typically located at the bottom of the tub. Rinse it thoroughly under running water and use a soft brush to dislodge stuck-on particles. Next, remove and inspect the spray arms. These can collect mineral deposits and food debris in the holes—use a toothpick or small wire to clear them. Clean the interior using a damp cloth to wipe around the door seals and interior walls; grime can gather there too. Then, run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack. For an extra deodorizing boost, follow it with a short cycle and a sprinkle of baking soda on the bottom of the unit. Don’t forget the dishwasher drain; check it for clogs or buildup. It sounds like a lot, but the entire process should take less than 30 minutes once you’re comfortable with it. Quarterly cleaning is generally recommended for most households.

Key Advantages of Keeping Your Dishwasher Clean

There are tangible, performance-driven reasons to clean your dishwasher regularly. For one, it helps maintain high washing quality, ensuring your dishes come out sparkling rather than spotted or gritty. It also reduces mechanical strain. Clogs, buildup, and dirty filters force the system to work harder, often overheating the pump or overheating the motor. A clean dishwasher is also quieter—a benefit for open-concept homes or busy families—and it helps keep your home air pleasant by avoiding musty or sour smells. Essentially, you’re protecting your appliance investment and extending the life of the system with minimal effort. From a home warranty perspective, a well-maintained dishwasher is less likely to trigger repair claims; it may even help you avoid denied claims that involve neglect.

Common Drawbacks & Mistakes to Avoid

While cleaning your dishwasher is generally simple, skipping steps or relying on shortcuts can reduce the effectiveness. For example, forgetting to clean the dishwasher filter is one of the most common homeowner oversights. This component traps food particles from dirty water—and left unattended, it can get clogged and moldy. Another mistake is using bleach or highly corrosive cleaners in a stainless steel interior, which can damage the finish and erode rubber seals. Some households rely only on detergent pods, which can leave more residue versus powder or gel types, depending on water hardness. Consider softening your water supply if mineral buildup is heavy. Keep the temperature setting high for effective cleaning cycles, and always scrape—but don’t rinse—your dishes before loading. Rinsing can mislead the dishwasher’s soil sensors into thinking the dishes are already clean, resulting in a lighter, less effective wash cycle.

When Maintenance Isn’t Enough: Repair or Replace?

Even with regular cleaning, dishwashers—like all appliances—have limits. Components wear out from use. Internal electronics can fail. Filters eventually reach the end of their useful lives. If your dishwasher is leaving dishes consistently dirty, leaking water, making loud grinding noises, or taking longer than usual to complete cycles, those could be signs of a mechanical issue rather than a simple maintenance gap. For models over 8 to 10 years old, it may be more cost-effective to replace the unit entirely. But if your dishwasher is still under warranty or covered by a home warranty plan, repair may be the smarter choice. The key is knowing the difference and avoiding preventable damage that could complicate a home warranty claim.

Protecting Your Appliances with Armadillo Home Warranty

Your dishwasher is vital to your kitchen’s daily operation. When it fails—whether due to worn parts, internal clogs, or electrical breakdown—it doesn’t just disrupt your routine, it can lead to unexpected repair costs. With an Armadillo home warranty, you get protection and confidence. Our coverage includes critical systems and major appliances, which means we’ve got your back when things go wrong. Even more importantly, we distinguish between normal wear and tear and damage caused by neglect—a distinction that becomes especially relevant if a breakdown can be traced back to regular maintenance like cleaning. Avoid getting caught off-guard. Learn more about our plans at armadillo.one or start customizing your home warranty coverage directly at this link. A clean dishwasher is just the beginning—you deserve a clean slate for your whole home.