5 Dishwasher Maintenance Tips From an Appliance Technician

A dishwasher is one of those appliances people use all the time without thinking much about what is happening inside of it. You load the dishes, add detergent, press start, and expect everything to come out clean. Most of the time, that is exactly what happens.

Then one day, the dishwasher starts smelling strange. The dishes still feel greasy. Water stays in the bottom. You hear a grinding sound that was not there before. At that point, a lot of people assume the dishwasher is done and start looking at replacement prices.

Before you do that, it is worth checking the basic maintenance first.

Marcus, a technician with Appliance EMT, has worked on enough dishwashers to see the same problems show up again and again. A lot of dishwasher issues do not start with one major failure. They start with food, grease, glass, bones, and buildup collecting in places people forget to clean.

Here are Marcus’s top five dishwasher maintenance tips to help your machine clean better, smell better, and avoid unnecessary problems.

1. Clean the Dishwasher Filter

“If you don’t clean out your dish washer filter every month or so it may choke out your dishwasher”

According to Marcus, The dishwasher filter is one of the most important parts to clean, but it is also one of the easiest parts to forget.

The filter catches food particles and debris before they can move deeper into the drain system. Over time, grease, rice, pasta, paper labels, and small pieces of food can collect around it. Once the filter gets dirty, the dishwasher may have trouble draining or circulating clean water.

A clogged filter can also cause dishes to come out with food still stuck to them. In some cases, the machine may smell bad even after a full wash cycle. That smell is not always coming from the drain line. Sometimes it is old food sitting in the filter.

Most dishwasher filters are located at the bottom of the tub under the lower spray arm. Depending on the model, the filter may twist out or lift straight up. Always check the owner’s manual before forcing anything. If the filter does come out, rinse it under warm water and use a soft brush to remove buildup.

Do not use a wire brush or anything sharp. The filter screen can be damaged, and once that happens, debris can get past it more easily.

How Often Should You Clean a Dishwasher Filter?

That depends on how often you use the dishwasher and how much food is left on the dishes. For a busy household, checking it every few weeks is a good habit. If you rinse dishes well and do not run the dishwasher often, you may not need to clean it as frequently.

The main thing is not to wait until the dishwasher starts smelling bad.

2. How to Check and Clean Dishwasher Sump?

The sump is the area at the bottom of the dishwasher where water collects before it is pumped through the machine or sent down the drain. This area can catch things that make it past the filter.

Marcus has seen small bones, broken glass, toothpicks, plastic pieces, fruit pits, and other debris trapped inside dishwasher sumps. These items may look harmless, but they can block water flow, damage the pump, or cause loud grinding noises.

This is why scraping plates before loading them matters. You do not have to wash every plate by hand first, but larger food scraps should go into the trash. Chicken bones, seafood shells, labels, and broken dish pieces do not belong in the dishwasher.

If you are comfortable checking the sump, turn off power to the dishwasher first. Remove the bottom rack and filter, then look for visible debris around the opening. Wear gloves because broken glass may be hard to see under cloudy water.

Do not reach deep into the pump area or start removing parts unless you know what you are doing. Some dishwasher components are sharp, and certain covers are attached with screws or clips that can break.

If the dishwasher is making a grinding noise, leaving water in the bottom, or showing a drain error, the sump and pump area may need a closer inspection by an appliance repair technician.

Catching debris early can be the difference between a quick cleaning and a damaged drain pump.

3. Do Not Overload the Dishwasher

It is tempting to squeeze in one more plate, one more cup, and one more pan. Nobody wants to run two loads when everything almost fits into one.

The problem is that an overloaded dishwasher usually does not clean well.

Dishwashers rely on spray arms to move water around the tub. When dishes are packed too tightly, the water cannot reach every surface. Large pans and cutting boards can also block the spray arms from spinning.

That is when you start finding food stuck to bowls, cloudy glasses, and detergent that never fully dissolved. People sometimes blame the detergent or assume the dishwasher is weak, but the real issue is how the machine was loaded.

Leave enough space between dishes for water to move around them. Face dirty surfaces toward the center where the spray is strongest. Make sure tall items are not blocking the upper spray arm. Before starting the cycle, spin the spray arm by hand to make sure it can move freely.

Utensils also need space. When spoons sit directly against each other, water cannot clean between them. Mix up the direction of utensils when the basket design allows it, but place sharp knives safely with the handles up.

Overloading can also put extra pressure on the racks and wheels. Over time, heavy loads may cause racks to sag or become harder to slide.

A full dishwasher is fine. A packed dishwasher is different. If water cannot move, the dishes cannot get clean.

4. Use a Cleaning Solution Made for Your Dishwasher Brand

Dishwasher cleaner can help break down grease, mineral buildup, and residue in areas you cannot easily reach. Still, not every product should be used in every machine.

Marcus recommends checking what the dishwasher manufacturer says before choosing a cleaning solution. Some brands have their own recommended cleaner. Others list specific product types or cleaning instructions in the owner’s manual.

Using a manufacturer approved dishwasher cleaner can help remove buildup from the tub, spray arms, hoses, and internal water system. This is especially helpful if you have hard water or notice a white film on dishes and inside the machine.

Follow the directions on the cleaner exactly. Some products go into the detergent dispenser. Others sit upside down on the rack. Some require an empty dishwasher and a hot cycle.

More cleaner does not mean a better result. Adding too much can create excess foam or leave residue behind.

Never use regular dish soap in a dishwasher. Dish soap is made to create suds, and those suds can quickly leak out of the door and across the floor. Dishwasher detergent is designed to clean with much less foam.

You should also avoid mixing different cleaning chemicals. A dishwasher cleaning product should be used by itself unless the instructions clearly say otherwise.

If the dishwasher has a strong odor or heavy buildup that keeps returning, cleaner may not fix the real problem. There could be old food in the filter, standing water in the sump, a drain hose issue, or a problem with the pump.

Cleaning products can help with maintenance. They cannot repair a failed part.

5. Run a Cleaning Cycle With Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar can be useful for dealing with light odors and some mineral residue inside a dishwasher. The key is using it correctly.

Start with an empty dishwasher. Place a dishwasher safe cup or bowl containing distilled white vinegar on the top rack. Run a hot wash cycle without detergent.

Do not pour vinegar directly into the rinse aid dispenser. Vinegar is acidic, and repeated direct exposure may damage certain seals or rubber components. Keeping it in an open cup on the top rack allows it to mix with the wash water during the cycle.

Also, do not mix vinegar with bleach or any cleaner that contains chlorine. Combining cleaning chemicals can create dangerous fumes. If you used a dishwasher cleaning product, complete that cycle first and follow the label instructions before using anything else.

Vinegar is not a replacement for cleaning the filter or removing debris from the sump. It may help with odor and light buildup, but it will not remove a piece of glass from the pump or fix a dishwasher that is not draining.

It is also smart to check the owner’s manual before using vinegar. Appliance materials and manufacturer recommendations can vary by model.

How to Tell When Dishwasher Maintenance Is Not Enough

Regular maintenance can prevent a lot of common dishwasher problems, but it cannot solve everything.

You may need professional dishwasher repair if the machine is not draining, leaking onto the floor, making a loud grinding sound, leaving dishes completely cold, or showing the same error code after basic cleaning.

A dishwasher that stops in the middle of a cycle may have a problem with the door latch, control board, pump, heating system, or water supply. Those issues need proper testing before parts are replaced.

This is where misdiagnosis gets expensive. Replacing a drain pump will not help if the real problem is a blocked hose. Replacing the control board will not help if the dishwasher is losing power through a damaged connection.

A trained appliance technician can test the machine and find the actual cause instead of guessing.

Simple Dishwasher Habits That Make a Real Difference

You do not need to take the dishwasher apart every week. The best maintenance is usually a few simple habits done consistently.

Scrape large food pieces into the trash. Check the filter before it gets packed with debris. Keep the spray arms clear. Give dishes enough room. Use the correct detergent and cleaner for the machine. Run a cleaning cycle when you notice odors or buildup.

Those steps may sound basic, but they help the dishwasher do what it was designed to do.

The goal is not to keep the inside looking brand new every day. The goal is to stop small problems from turning into expensive repairs.

Key Takeaways

1. Clean the dishwasher filter regularly so food, grease, and debris do not block water flow or cause odors.
2. Check the sump for broken glass, small bones, labels, and other debris that could damage the pump or stop the dishwasher from draining.
3. Avoid overloading the dishwasher because packed dishes can block the spray arms and prevent water from reaching every surface.
4. Use a dishwasher cleaning solution recommended for your specific brand and always follow the product instructions.
5. Run an empty hot cycle with distilled white vinegar to help with light odors and mineral buildup, but never mix vinegar with bleach or other cleaning chemicals.
6. If the dishwasher is still leaking, holding water, making loud noises, or leaving dishes dirty after maintenance, the problem may need professional diagnosis.

Need Dishwasher Repair?

If your dishwasher is still leaving dirty dishes, holding water, leaking, or making unusual noises after maintenance, it may be time to have it checked.

Appliance EMT provides professional dishwasher repair and appliance diagnostics. Our technicians inspect the full system, explain what is causing the problem, and recommend the repair that actually makes sense.

Call Appliance EMT at 1-877-649-9777 to schedule dishwasher repair service.

Do not replace it before you know what is wrong. Sometimes the fix is simpler than you think.

View 12 reasons why your dishwashwer isn’t working and how to fix them