It sounds odd that a machine full of hot water and detergent needs cleaning, but knowing how to clean dishwasher parts properly is what keeps dishes coming out spotless instead of gritty, cloudy or smelly. This guide walks you through the filter, spray arms, door seals and interior, explains what causes a bad smell, and suggests a realistic cleaning schedule for a busy Singapore kitchen.

Dishwashers have become far more common in Singapore homes, from compact countertop units in HDB flats to built in machines in condominium kitchens. They save time, but they quietly collect food scraps, grease and limescale in places you never see. In our warm, humid climate, any trapped food starts to smell quickly, especially if the machine sits closed for a few days between loads.

Most of the cleaning is simple and takes less time than you might expect. The key is knowing where the dirt hides, and doing a few small checks regularly so you never face a big, unpleasant job.

One important note before you start: every dishwasher is a little different. Keep your user manual, or look up the model’s manual online, because it shows exactly how your filter and spray arms come out and which cleaning products the maker allows.

Safety first

Switch off the power at the wall before removing any parts or reaching into the base of the machine.
Let it cool. Heating elements and water can stay hot after a cycle.
Watch for sharp edges and broken glass in the filter area. Wear rubber gloves.
Never mix cleaning products. Do not use bleach and vinegar, or bleach and any other cleaner, in the same clean. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that mixing bleach with any other cleaners or disinfectants can release vapours that are dangerous to breathe. Keep the kitchen ventilated.
Store detergent safely. Dishwasher detergents are strong, and pods and tablets can look like sweets to small children. Keep them in a high or locked cupboard, close the dispenser right after loading, and if a child swallows detergent or gets it in the eyes, seek medical help straight away or call 995 in an emergency.

Step 1: Clean the dishwasher filter

The filter is the single most important part to clean, and the one most people forget. It sits in the base of the tub, usually under the lower spray arm, and catches food particles so they are not sprayed back onto your dishes. A clogged filter causes poor washing, standing water and most smells.

Pull out the bottom rack completely.
Find the filter in the floor of the tub. Most modern filters twist anticlockwise and lift out, often with a coarse outer mesh and a finer inner cylinder.
Knock loose debris into the bin.
Rinse under warm running water and scrub gently with a soft brush and a little dish soap. Do not use wire brushes or scourers, which can tear the fine mesh.
Wipe out the filter housing with a damp cloth to remove any sludge.
Refit the filter firmly and make sure it locks into place. A loose filter lets debris into the pump.

How often depends on how well you scrape plates and how often you run the machine. Many households find a quick check once a week works well, with a thorough clean at least monthly. Your manual may give a specific interval.

Step 2: Clear the spray arms

Spray arms spin and spray water through small holes. When those holes block with food bits, seeds or limescale, parts of the rack stop getting cleaned.

Spin each arm by hand. It should turn freely without catching.
Remove the arms according to your manual. Many unclip or unscrew from the centre.
Hold each arm under running water and check that water comes out of every hole.
Clear blocked holes gently with a toothpick or wooden skewer. Avoid metal pins, which can enlarge the holes.
Soak arms with limescale build up in warm water with a little white vinegar, then scrub with a soft brush and rinse well.
Refit them and spin again to confirm they move freely.

Step 3: Wipe the door, seals and edges

The rubber gasket around the door and the bottom edge of the door are where grime and mould gather, because water and food splash there but the main spray never reaches them.

Wipe the door seal with a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water, pulling it gently back to reach the folds.
Scrub the bottom edge of the door and the hinges with an old toothbrush.
Clean around the detergent dispenser and rinse aid compartment.
Wipe the control panel and outer door with a damp cloth only. Do not spray liquid onto buttons or vents.
Dry everything with a clean cloth.

If you see black mould spots on the seal, clean them with soapy water and dry well, then improve airflow by leaving the door slightly open after each cycle. Avoid strong chemicals on rubber seals unless your manual says they are safe.

Step 4: Clean the interior and racks

Check the racks for trapped food, broken glass and labels that have floated off jars.
Wipe the tub walls, especially the corners and the area around the floor drain.
For a cloudy or greasy interior, many manufacturers sell or recommend a dedicated dishwasher cleaner. Follow the product label and your manual, and run it in an empty machine.
Some households run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack to cut limescale and grease. Check your manual first, because some makers advise against vinegar, and never use vinegar in the same cycle as bleach or other cleaners.
Leave the door ajar afterwards to let the inside dry.

Do not use bleach in a dishwasher unless the manufacturer explicitly allows it, as it can damage some interiors and seals.

What causes dishwasher smell and how to fix it

A bad smell almost always has one of a few causes, and working through them in order usually solves it.

Food in the filter

This is the most common cause. Clean the filter as described above, and scrape plates into the bin before loading.

Standing water in the base

A small amount of water near the filter can be normal in some models, but a pool that stays after a cycle suggests a blocked filter or drain. Clean the filter first. If water still does not drain, the drain hose or pump may be blocked or kinked.

Closed door between loads

In our humid climate, a dirty load sitting in a sealed machine for two or three days will smell. Run the machine more often, use a rinse only cycle if your model has one, or leave the door slightly open when it is safe to do so. Keep the door closed if small children could climb on it.

Dirty seals and door edge

Grime on the gasket and lower door can smell even when the inside looks clean. Wipe them weekly.

Kitchen sink connection

Many dishwashers drain into the kitchen sink waste pipe. If that pipe is partly blocked, smells can come back into the machine. Keeping the sink drain clear helps.

When it is not a cleaning problem

Cleaning solves most performance and smell issues, but some symptoms point to a fault that needs a qualified technician or the manufacturer’s service team:

Water stays in the base after you have cleaned the filter.
The machine leaks onto the floor.
It shows error codes, trips the power or will not heat.
Spray arms will not turn even when clear.
You smell burning or see scorch marks.

Switch the machine off at the wall and contact the manufacturer or a qualified technician. Do not attempt electrical or plumbing repairs yourself. Femme5 does not repair appliances or do plumbing work.

A simple cleaning schedule

Every load: scrape plates, check that nothing blocks the spray arms.
Weekly: check and rinse the filter, wipe the door seal and edge.
Monthly: clean the filter thoroughly, clear the spray arms, run an empty cleaning cycle as your manual allows.
As needed: descale if your manual recommends it, and refill rinse aid and dishwasher salt if your model uses them.

For the rest of the kitchen, our guides to cleaning the fridge and cleaning an oven follow the same step by step approach, and our washing machine cleaning guide covers the other appliance that tends to develop smells. If you have a tumble dryer, our dryer cleaning guide covers its lint filter and vents.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?

A quick check and rinse once a week, with a thorough clean at least once a month, suits most households. Clean it more often if you run the machine daily or tend not to scrape plates. Your user manual may specify an interval for your model, so check it.

Why does my dishwasher smell even after a cycle?

The usual causes are food trapped in the filter, standing water in the base, grime on the door seal, or a dirty load left closed for days. Clean the filter and seals, run the machine more often and let it air out between loads. If water does not drain after cleaning the filter, contact a technician.

Can I use vinegar and bleach to clean a dishwasher?

Never use them together, because mixing bleach with acids such as vinegar can release dangerous gas. Bleach is not recommended in most dishwashers unless the manufacturer allows it. Some households use vinegar alone in an empty cycle, but check your manual first, as some makers advise against it.

Why are my dishes coming out gritty or cloudy?

Grit usually means a clogged filter or blocked spray arm holes, so clean both. Cloudiness can come from limescale, too much or too little detergent, or an empty rinse aid compartment. Follow your manual’s guidance on detergent dosage, rinse aid and salt settings.

Conclusion

A dishwasher that is cleaned regularly washes better, smells fresh and lasts longer. Focus on the filter first, keep the spray arms clear, wipe the seals and door edge, and run an occasional cleaning cycle in the way your manual allows. Keep detergents out of children’s reach, never mix chemicals, and call a qualified technician when a problem goes beyond cleaning.

A few minutes a week is all it takes to keep your dishwasher working as it should. If you would rather not do it yourself, our cleaning service handles weekly upkeep and our deep cleaning team takes on the bigger jobs. Get a quote from Femme5.

The Femme5 Team
Home cleaning team, Femme5 Agency
Femme5 provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning for HDB flats, condominiums and landed homes across Singapore.

Femme5 Cleaning Team

Written by the home cleaning team at Femme5 Agency Pte Ltd, which provides part-time home cleaning, deep cleaning and post-renovation cleaning across Singapore.

How to Clean a Dishwasher: Filter, Spray Arms, Seals and Smells