How to Deep Clean a Dishwasher A UK Guide
Ever opened your dishwasher expecting sparkling dishes, only to find them dull, greasy, or still covered in last night’s dinner? It’s a common frustration. The secret to a truly clean machine isn't just about the detergent; it involves manually cleaning its core components and running a specific cycle to banish grease and odours for good.
Why Your Dishwasher Isn't Cleaning Properly
We think of our dishwashers as self-cleaning, but that’s not quite the full picture. Over time, trapped food particles, grease, and limescale build up inside, clogging the very parts meant to do the cleaning. This is a bigger problem in the UK’s hard water areas, where mineral deposits can quickly cause issues.
If your dishes are consistently coming out dirty, it’s worth looking at the common culprits. For a deep dive into diagnostics, our guide on why your dishwasher isn't cleaning your dishes is a great place to start. If you’re facing persistent issues, it can be helpful to troubleshoot a dishwasher that isn't cleaning properly to pinpoint what’s going on.
Your Essential Dishwasher Cleaning Toolkit
Before you start, get your cleaning gear ready. It makes the whole process smoother. The good news is you probably have everything you need in your kitchen cupboards. Your main allies will be white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda – a classic duo for a reason. They’re brilliant at cutting through grease, sanitising, and dissolving the stubborn limescale common in UK hard water.
Your Deep Cleaning Checklist
| Tool | Primary Use | Alternative Option |
|---|---|---|
| White Vinegar | Dissolves limescale, grease, and sanitises. | Lemon juice or a dishwasher cleaner. |
| Bicarbonate of Soda | Deodorises and scrubs away residue. | A mild abrasive cleaner (use with caution). |
| Soft Cloth/Sponge | Wiping interior walls, racks, and door seals. | Microfibre cloth or a non-scratch scourer. |
| Old Toothbrush | Scrubbing tight spots like the filter and spray arms. | A small bottle brush. |
| Toothpick/Pin | Clearing blocked holes in the spray arms. | A piece of thin wire or a paperclip. |
Having these items on hand means you can tackle every part of the dishwasher without any last-minute dashes to the shops.
Cleaning the Dishwasher Interior by Component
Now it's time to get stuck in. A component-by-component approach ensures you don't miss a spot and restore your machine's cleaning power.
Start with the filter. It’s usually the main culprit behind bad odours. Most filters twist out from the bottom of the dishwasher. Once removed, give it a proper scrub with an old brush and warm, soapy water to get rid of trapped gunk.
Next are the spray arms. These get easily blocked with food, stopping water from reaching your dishes. Use a pin or toothpick to carefully poke out any debris from the small nozzles.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget the rubber door seal. This area is a prime hiding spot for mould. A quick wipe with your cloth and some soapy water will make a massive difference to cleanliness and smell.
Finally, give the utensil basket and racks a good wipe-down. This focused effort guarantees a much deeper clean, tackling grime that a standard wash cycle just can’t shift.
How to Run the Ultimate Cleaning Cycles
After scrubbing the interior, it's time for the final flourish. This involves two separate cleaning cycles to sanitise the machine and flush out any remaining grime.
First up is white vinegar. Pour about 250ml of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl and place it on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Vinegar's acidic properties are brilliant for cutting through grease and descaling internal pipes clogged with hard water deposits.
The Two-Cycle Method
This double-whammy approach ensures your machine is deeply sanitised and deodorised.
The Vinegar Cycle: Run the machine on a full, hot wash cycle without any detergent. The steam will distribute the vinegar everywhere, breaking down mineral deposits and sanitising the interior.
The Bicarbonate of Soda Cycle: Once the vinegar cycle has finished, sprinkle a cup of bicarbonate of soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Run another short, hot cycle. This step neutralises any lingering odours (including the vinegar smell!), leaving your dishwasher sparkling and fresh.
Keeping Your Dishwasher Sparkling
You’ve given your dishwasher a proper deep clean. Keeping it in top-notch condition is much easier. A few simple habits will stop grime from building up again, meaning your machine will run more efficiently for longer.
A quick monthly check-up is usually enough. Wipe down the door seal with a damp cloth and rinse the filter under the tap. It only takes a couple of minutes but makes a massive difference in stopping smells and blockages. Doing this regularly makes future deep cleans a breeze and helps extend your appliance's life. For more tips, see our guide on maintenance tips to extend the life of your dishwasher.
Regular maintenance is vital to prevent limescale from interfering with sensors on newer smart dishwashers, ensuring they keep working as they should.
Your Dishwasher Cleaning Questions Answered
Deep cleaning a dishwasher can bring up a few questions. Here are quick answers to common queries.
How Often Should I Deep Clean My Dishwasher?
For most homes, a thorough clean every three to six months is ideal. However, if you live in a hard water area or run the machine daily, you might want to do it quarterly. This will keep pesky limescale at bay. If you’re noticing strange lights or poor cleaning, understand what the different dishwasher warning symbols mean. They can often point you to the problem.
Did you know the UK's compact dishwasher market is valued at around £350 million? These smaller models often run shorter, more frequent cycles, which can cause grime to build up faster, so they benefit from a regular cleaning schedule. You can find more insights about the compact dishwasher market on mordorintelligence.com.
Struggling with a faulty appliance? From dishwashers to washing machines, Go Assist offers fast, reliable repairs across the UK. Book an engineer online today and get your home running smoothly again.
