To clean a dishwasher, use the owner’s manual for that model. Filter shape, how far it twists, whether spray arms unclip, and which cleaners are allowed all vary. Some manufacturers warn against vinegar. Do not treat a vinegar-then-baking-soda sequence, a quarter-turn filter, or a hardness number as universal.

Skip bleach unless the manual allows it for visible mold, and never mix bleach with vinegar. That combination releases chlorine gas.

Why a dishwasher still needs cleaning

A dishwasher sprays wash water; it does not fully clean its own filter, spray holes, or door gasket. Food, grease, and detergent residue collect there. In San Diego, hard water can add mineral scale. That can mean odor, film on glasses, and weaker spray. Cleaning is maintenance, not proof the machine is broken.

What you need before you start

Gather only products the manufacturer lists as safe for that tub and seals. Common owner supplies, when the book allows them, include:

  • The cleaner named in the manual (vinegar, citric acid, or a branded dishwasher cleaner)
  • Baking soda only if the manufacturer says to use it on a later empty cycle
  • A soft brush and microfiber cloth
  • A toothpick or thin wire if the manual shows clearing spray holes

How to clean a dishwasher using the model steps

Clear visible debris

Pull the bottom rack if the manual allows it. Remove glass, stickers, or food sitting on the tub floor by hand.

Clean the filter

The filter is often at the bottom center, but access is not always a quarter turn plus a flat screen. Twist, lift, or unscrew only as the diagram shows. Rinse under hot water and scrub the mesh. Reinstall in the same orientation and lock it.

How often to rinse it is in the care section of the manual, not a two-week network rule.

Clean the spray arms

If the manual shows arms that lift or unclip, take them off, rinse them, and clear holes as instructed. Spin them by hand after reinstalling.

Wipe the door, edges, and seal

Wipe the inner door, the bottom lip, and the gasket folds. Use the cleaner the book allows. Dry the seal.

Empty cleaning cycles

Run empty cycles only with chemistry the manufacturer approves. If vinegar is forbidden for that brand, skip it. If a baking soda rinse is not in the book, skip it. Do not leave vinegar sitting in the tub for hours.

Hard water in San Diego

County water is often hard, which can speed scale on heating elements and spray holes. This page does not publish a hardness ppm figure. Inland versus coastal differences are observations, not a diagnosis. Citric-acid descalers and rinse aid are useful when the manufacturer lists them.

When cleaning is not the repair

If dishes stay dirty after a full clean that followed the manual, the fault may be a spray-arm bearing, wash pump, or inlet issue. See dishwasher not cleaning. If water sits in the bottom after every cycle, see dishwasher not draining.

Technicians in our network handle dishwasher repair across San Diego County. If the dishwasher leaks, will not drain, or still leaves dishes dirty after a manual-based clean, leave a voicemail at (858) 988-7787. We match you with a local technician. The line is voicemail, not dispatch.

See also how to clean stainless steel appliances, how to clean a washing machine, the seasonal appliance maintenance checklist, and appliance repair in San Diego.

Frequently asked questions

How do you deep clean a dishwasher?

Follow the deep-clean section of the owner’s manual: filter, arms, gasket, then any empty cycle the manufacturer specifies. Plan around the cycle time the book lists.

Can you clean a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda together?

Use them only if the manual allows each one, and never in the same load if the book says to run them separately. Combining them can neutralize both. Never mix vinegar with bleach.

Why does my dishwasher smell even after cleaning?

A filter that still holds food, standing water in a restricted drain, or mildew in gasket folds can bring odor back. If water pools after a cycle, that is a drain issue.

How often should you clean a dishwasher?

Use the interval in the care guide for that model. San Diego hard water may mean more frequent descaling when the manufacturer allows a descaler.

Will cleaning my dishwasher get rid of the white film on glasses?

Sometimes, if the film is mineral scale and spray holes were clogged. Permanent etching from heat and detergent is not reversed by cleaning.