How to clean a dishwasher that leaves dishes dirty.
When a dishwasher stops getting dishes clean, the culprit is almost always a clogged filter or spray arms, not the detergent. Cleaning it is a ten-minute job most people never do.
Clean a dishwasher by removing and rinsing the filter at the bottom, clearing the spray-arm holes of debris, then running an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar placed upright in the top rack. Finish with a sprinkle of baking soda on the bottom and a short rinse cycle. Do this monthly.
Clean the filter first
The filter at the bottom of the tub catches food so it does not recirculate. When it clogs, dishes come out gritty.
- Pull out the bottom rack and twist out the cylindrical filter
- Rinse it under hot water and scrub gently with a soft brush
- Wipe the filter housing before replacing it
Clear the spray arms
Water reaches your dishes through small holes in the spray arms. Hard water and debris block them.
- Check each spray-arm hole and poke out debris with a toothpick
- Make sure the arms spin freely by hand
Run a vinegar cycle
With the mechanical parts clear, a vinegar cycle dissolves grease and mineral film.
- Place a cup of white vinegar upright in the top rack
- Run the hottest cycle empty
- Sprinkle baking soda across the bottom and run a short rinse