How to Clean a Dishwasher: The Filter, Vinegar and What Each Maker Actually Says

Written by Sara Ibrahim. Sara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy. · Published October 2026 · Last reviewed October 9, 2026

A dishwasher spends its life in hot water and food scraps, so now and then it needs cleaning itself. Doing it is easy. Knowing whose advice to follow is harder, because Whirlpool, GE, Bosch, KitchenAid and Samsung disagree on vinegar, bleach and the filter. Here are their own instructions, side by side.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

How we put this together: we read the makers' cleaning pages and manuals, three cleaner labels and EPA's Safer Choice list, and checked every quote twice, word for word. We have not tested these cleaners; the photos show everyday kitchen scenes, not test results.

How often should you clean your dishwasher?

For the whole machine, most makers say once a month. Whirlpool: “Monthly: Deep clean using the baking soda and vinegar method or use a dishwasher cleaner.” The filter is where they split.

Spray arms

GE: “If you find the spray arm's jets are clogged, a gentle poke with a paper clip or tweezers can clear them out.” Gentle matters; GE warns, “Be careful not to damage the jets in any way as that will affect wash performance.” Bosch's manual says to flush the nozzles “under running water,” and Samsung uses a small brush. Check your manual before pulling an arm off.

Door gasket and edges

KitchenAid: “Gently clean the gasket with a soft toothbrush to help remove grime from tough-to-reach crevices without putting too much pressure on the seal.” Bosch's manual: “Regularly clean the door gasket with a damp cloth to remove food particles and other debris.”

How to clean the dishwasher filter

The filter catches the food that comes off your dishes. Whirlpool says regular cleaning helps stop that food from going round again in the next cycle. Whirlpool says it sits “in either a back corner of the dishwasher tub or around the base of the bottom spray arm.”

1. Take out the lower rack.
2. Unlock it. KitchenAid: “Turn the upper filter assembly ¼ turn counterclockwise and lift out.”
3. Rinse under warm water; use a soft brush and dish soap on stuck bits.
4. Nothing rough. Whirlpool: “Don't use a wire brush, scouring pad or anything rough to scrub the filter as these materials could damage the filter.”
5. Lock it back in. Whirlpool: “do not operate your dishwasher without the filters properly installed.”

Some filters need no cleaning. Whirlpool says its “maintenance-free filter system does not require any regular cleaning or maintenance,” and Bosch's manual says “During normal use, the filter system is self-cleaning.” GE says to “Check your owner's manual to determine if your model has a removable filter.”

Buying a new machine? Our dishwasher buying guide covers the filter types.

Dishwasher cleaner tablets and pouches: what the labels say

A dishwasher cleaner is made for the machine: the grease and mineral scale you can't reach. Our three work differently. affresh runs with or without dishes; Whirlpool says: “If you're cleaning without dishes, place 1 tablet in the detergent tray.” Lemi Shine needs an empty machine. Finish In-Wash rides along with a normal load.

On EPA's Safer Choice list (checked October 9, 2026) we found affresh Dishwasher Cleaner and Lemi Shine Dishwasher Cleaner, but not Finish's.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you clean a dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda?

Most makers allow vinegar, each in its own way. KitchenAid warns: “not every dishwasher interior should be cleaned with vinegar, so be sure to review your dishwasher's Use and Care guide”. Whirlpool and KitchenAid both say vinegar is an acid that can damage the machine if used too often.

Swipe the table sideways on a phone.

Vinegar and baking soda together?

Not at the same time. Whirlpool says to run “separate cycles with vinegar, followed by baking soda (never both at the same time)”, then “sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a hot water cycle.” If a video pours both in at once, that is not Whirlpool's method.

Smells and mold

Most smells start with food left in the machine. GE's first checks are the tub floor, the pump inlet and the spray arm jets. Three other causes:

• Dirty water sitting in the tub. GE calls it an installation problem: “The Installation Instructions require either an air gap or a high drain loop.” Our troubleshooting guide covers drains.
• A new machine. KitchenAid says “Odors like petroleum, varnish or plastic often accompany a new dishwasher, and should dissipate within a few weeks.”
• Half-loads waiting for days. KitchenAid suggests a daily rinse-only cycle.

Bleach for mildew? The makers disagree

For mildew, GE says to “Mix one gallon of water with 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach OR mix one gallon of water with 1/2 cup of ammonia,” wipe the interior, then run a rinse cycle. GE says these solutions “will not harm the interior, gasket or outside surface”. Samsung disagrees: “Avoid using bleach in dishwashers with a stainless steel interior, as it can damage or discolor them.” Bosch's manual warns that “Some chloride-containing products can damage your dishwasher and may present health hazards!”

So use bleach only if your manual allows it, and never mixed. GE: “Mixing chlorine bleach and ammonia together will cause toxic fumes.” Lemi Shine's label: “Do not mix with liquid bleach.”

Hard-water buildup inside the machine

White crust on the tub, racks or filter is hard-water scale, and acids dissolve it. Lemi Shine's dishwasher cleaner is citric acid, Café says “Citric acid can also be used to clean your dishwasher's interior,” and Bosch's manual says “Concentrated lemon juice can reduce the build up of hard water stains.”

To keep it away, KitchenAid says to “keep the rinse aid dispenser filled at all times” and that “a water softener is strongly recommended if your water hardness is 15 grains or more.” For the detergent side, see the hard-water section of our non-toxic dishwasher detergent guide; for the water, our water softener guide.

The outside and the stainless door

Start gentle. KitchenAid: “A soft, damp cloth and mild detergent should do the trick.” Whirlpool says to “wipe in the direction of the grain”, and KitchenAid and Bosch both rule out abrasives. Polish splits them: KitchenAid says stainless exteriors “may benefit from specially formulated stainless steel cleaners,” while Café says: “Don't use appliance wax or any type of polish on the stainless-steel door finish.” Check your manual before buying a polish.

Dishes still dirty? See our guide to a dishwasher not cleaning dishes. Choosing a detergent? Our dishwasher detergent guide compares the options.

Dishwasher cleaners compared

All three were in stock for a US address on October 9, 2026.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Swipe the table sideways on a phone.

Questions people ask

Keep reading

• Dishwasher not cleaning dishes? 10 causes and fixes
• Non-toxic dishwasher detergent: what the labels actually say
• Things you should never put in the dishwasher
• Dishwasher buying guide: 10 things to look for