How to Remove Mildew from the Interior of a Dishwasher

The inside of a dishwasher.
  • 2 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 25
What You'll Need
Vinegar
Water
Sponge
Cleaning brush
What You'll Need
Vinegar
Water
Sponge
Cleaning brush

Although the dishwasher is used for cleaning the dishes every day, most of us seldom think of cleaning the dishwasher. There is a popular misconception that since hot water is used for rinsing kitchen utensils, interiors of the dishwasher might be getting automatically cleaned. Just the water basin at the bottom of the dishwasher has hot water, leaving the other parts (especially interiors and upper parts) exposed to mildew and mold infections. If your dishwasher is covered with mildew, the following steps can help you clean your dishwasher effectively.

Step 1 - Clear the Dishwasher

A man and woman look at a dishwasher.

Remove the racks and the silverware tray from the dishwasher. This allows you to access the corners and crevices of the dishwasher. Wash them with hot water to get rid of mildew that may have accumulated on them. Put them aside to dry.

Step 2 - Clean Inside the Dishwasher

For cleaning the interiors, take a large bowl and add ½ cup of white vinegar to 2 cups of hot water. Mix it thoroughly and use a sponge to apply and scrub the mixture thoroughly inside the dishwasher.

If you cannot clean the mildew completely using a sponge, then use an old toothbrush.

Step 3 - Run the Dishwasher

Someone points to a dishwasher setting.

Replace the racks and add some white vinegar to a small dishwasher-safe bowl. Place this bowl on the top rack and start the dishwasher with the highest level of heating available.

After that put 1 cup of baking soda at the bottom of the dishwasher floor, and run the highest level of heating a second time. This is to clean any mildew-affected areas that were missed during the vinegar treatment.

Your dishwasher should now be free of mildew and mold.