How to Clean a Dishwasher Naturally: Simple Steps

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Susanna Zuyeva

Your dishwasher cleans your dishes every day. But who cleans the dishwasher?

Most people never think about it. But over time, your dishwasher collects grease, food bits, soap scum, and mold. That buildup makes the machine work harder. It also causes bad smells and leaves residue on your dishes.

The good news? You do not need store-bought chemicals to fix it. A few natural ingredients are all you need to deep clean your dishwasher from top to bottom.

This guide walks you through every step. It covers the filter, the drain, the interior walls, and the door seals. You will also find the best natural cleaning recipes that actually work.

Why You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher Regularly

The dishwasher machine runs hot water and dishwasher detergent through every cycle. But it does not clean itself.

Here is what builds up inside over time:

• Grease and food residue from plates and pots
• Soap scum from dishwasher detergent
• Hard water mineral deposits on the interior walls and spray arms
• Mold and mildew around the door seal and in damp corners
• Blocked debris in the dishwasher drain and filter

When these things build up, your dishes come out cloudy, spotted, or smelling stale. The machine also uses more energy trying to do its job through all that buildup.

Cleaning your dishwasher once a month keeps it running well. It also extends the life of the machine.

What You Need

You only need a few things. Most are already in your kitchen.

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Citric acid (optional but very effective)
• Apple cider vinegar (as an alternative to white vinegar)
• A soft toothbrush or small cleaning brush
• A microfiber cloth
• Warm water

That is it. No harsh chemicals. No expensive products. Just simple, natural ingredients that get the job done.

Step 1: Clean the Dishwasher Filter

The dishwasher filter is the first place to start. It catches food particles during every wash cycle. If you never clean it, it gets clogged. A clogged filter causes bad smells and poor cleaning results.

How to clean it:

1. Open your dishwasher and remove the bottom dish rack. Set it aside.
2. Locate the dishwasher filter. It sits at the bottom of the machine, usually in the back corner. It looks like a round cylinder or a flat mesh screen.
3. Twist it counterclockwise and lift it out.
4. Rinse it under warm running water.
5. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub away any stuck food or grease.
6. Rinse again until the water runs clear.
7. Snap it back into place firmly.

Clean the dishwasher filter at least once a month. If you run your dishwasher daily, clean it every two weeks. A clean filter makes a huge difference to how well your machine performs.

Step 2: Clear the Dishwasher Drain

The dishwasher drain sits at the very bottom of the machine. It removes dirty water after each cycle. Food scraps and debris collect here over time.

How to check and clear it:

1. With the dish rack removed, look at the base of the machine.
2. Check around the drain opening for food debris, broken glass, or trapped items.
3. Remove anything you can see with your fingers or a paper towel.
4. Pour one cup of white vinegar directly into the drain area.
5. Let it sit for five minutes.
6. Run a short hot water cycle to flush it through.

This keeps the dishwasher drain flowing freely. A blocked drain causes standing water at the bottom of your machine after cycles finish.

Step 3: Wipe Down the Door Seal

The rubber door seal is where mold and mildew love to grow. It stays damp after every cycle. Grime builds up in the folds.

How to clean it:

1. Dip a microfiber cloth or toothbrush in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water.
2. Work your way around the entire seal. Get into every fold and crevice.
3. Wipe away all visible mold, grime, and residue.
4. Dry the seal with a clean dry cloth.

Do this every two weeks. It prevents mold from taking hold and keeps your machine smelling fresh.

Step 4: Run a White Vinegar Wash

This is the core of the natural deep clean method. White vinegar cuts through grease, dissolves mineral deposits, and kills bacteria inside the machine.

How to do it:

1. Place one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl or mug.
2. Set it upright on the top rack of your empty dishwasher.
3. Do not add any dishwasher detergent.
4. Run the dishwasher on the hottest wash cycle available.
5. The vinegar releases during the cycle and washes through the entire interior.

This method reaches every part of the machine the spray arms, the interior walls, and the dishwasher drain. It removes grease buildup and hard water deposits very effectively.

Apple cider vinegar works just as well if you do not have white vinegar on hand. Both contain acetic acid, which breaks down mineral scale and grease naturally.

Step 5: Sprinkle Baking Soda and Run a Short Cycle

After the vinegar cycle, follow up with baking soda. This is a method popular among natural cleaning communities. It deodorizes the machine and gently scrubs away remaining stains.

How to do it:

1. Once the vinegar cycle finishes, sprinkle one cup of baking soda across the bottom of the empty dishwasher.
2. Close the door and let it sit for 15 minutes.
3. Run a short hot cycle.

The baking soda lifts any leftover residue and leaves the interior smelling completely fresh. It also brightens the inside walls and removes light staining.

Do not mix the vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. They neutralize each other when combined too early. Run them as two separate steps for the best result.

Step 6: Use Citric Acid for Heavy Mineral Buildup

If your water is hard, white spots and chalky film may build up inside your dishwasher machine. This is limescale a mineral deposit left by hard water. White vinegar helps, but citric acid works even better for heavy buildup.

How to use it:

1. Add two tablespoons of citric acid powder to the bottom of your empty dishwasher.
2. Run a hot cycle with no detergent.
3. The citric acid dissolves limescale from the spray arms, interior walls, and heating element.

Citric acid is completely natural. It comes from citrus fruits. You can find it in most grocery stores or online. Many homemade dishwasher cleaning tablets are made with citric acid and baking soda combined.

Use this method once every two to three months if you live in a hard water area.

How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Cleaning Tablets

If you want a ready-to-use natural cleaner, make your own homemade dishwasher cleaning tablets. They store well and make monthly cleaning even easier.

What you need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• ¼ cup citric acid
• ¼ cup salt
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar (added slowly)
• 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

How to make them:

1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Add the white vinegar very slowly, a few drops at a time. It will fizz. Stir as you go.
3. Add the essential oil if using.
4. Press the mixture firmly into an ice cube tray.
5. Let them dry for 24 hours.
6. Pop them out and store in a sealed jar.

To use, place one tablet in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run a hot cycle. This gives you a full natural deep clean every time.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dishwasher?

Following this schedule keeps your machine running well all year long. It also means you never have to deal with a badly neglected machine that takes hours to restore.

Extra Tips for a Cleaner Dishwasher Every Day

Small habits between deep cleans make a big difference.

• Scrape plates before loading. Do not rinse them fully modern dishwashers need some food residue to work properly — but remove large chunks.
• Leave the door open after a cycle. This lets moisture escape and prevents mold growth.
• Pull out and rinse the dish rack monthly. Grime builds up on rack surfaces too.
• Check spray arms regularly. If the small holes in the spray arms are blocked, use a toothpick to clear them. Blocked holes mean poor water distribution.
• Use less dishwasher detergent. Too much detergent leaves soap residue on your dishes and inside the machine. Most cycles need far less than the maximum fill line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it safe to use white vinegar in my dishwasher? Yes. White vinegar is safe for most dishwashers. It cuts through grease and mineral deposits naturally. However, avoid using it in dishwashers with rubber seals that are already cracked or damaged, as repeated acid exposure may worsen the condition.

Q: Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar? Yes. Apple cider vinegar works in the same way as white vinegar for cleaning your dishwasher. It contains the same active acid. The main difference is the smell, which disappears once the cycle finishes.

Q: How do I know if my dishwasher filter needs cleaning? Your dishes will start coming out with food residue on them. The machine may also smell bad after cycles. These are clear signs the dishwasher filter is clogged and needs cleaning right away.

Final Thoughts

A clean dishwasher works better. It cleans your dishes more thoroughly. It lasts longer. And it does not leave that stale smell every time you open the door.

You do not need expensive products. White vinegar, baking soda, and citric acid handle everything. Clean the dishwasher filter and drain first. Wipe the door seal. Run the vinegar cycle. Follow with baking soda. Done.

Make it a monthly habit. Your dishwasher will thank you and so will your dishes.