How to Clean a KitchenAid Dishwasher

KitchenAid builds two kinds of filtration, and they need different care. Knowing which one you own saves you from twisting out a filter that is not there, or from skipping the rinse that keeps a manual system working.

Manual-clean system

A cylindrical upper filter assembly twists out about a quarter turn counterclockwise, and a flat lower mesh filter lifts out under it. This is the system that needs the monthly rinse, and the one that causes gritty dishes when it is neglected.

Maintenance-free system

There is no filter cup to remove. A fine microfiltration system handles the water, and the only routine job is emptying a small foreign-object cup at the front of the tub, below the lower rack: press the center tab and lift it out.

How to tell in ten seconds

Pull the lower rack out and look at the bottom of the empty tub. A removable round assembly means a manual-clean system. A flat screen with a small lift-out cup at the front means a maintenance-free one. Most cleaning guides tell every owner to twist out a filter, which wastes the time of maintenance-free owners and leaves manual-filter owners who skip the rinse with the gritty-dishes symptom the rest of this page addresses.

Everything on this list is a household item, and none of it is harsh enough to damage the tub or the finish when you follow the amounts below.

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Citric acid
• A soft cloth and a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush
• Mild dish detergent for the exterior
• Gloves

During a cleaning cycle, put a dishwasher cleaning tablet or the vinegar or citric acid method in the machine and nothing else. No hand dish soap, no bleach, no drain-opening chemicals.

Work through the steps in this order. Each one takes a few minutes, and together they cover everything the water touches.

1. Empty it and look around

Pull the racks out, remove large debris from the sump area, and spin both spray arms by hand to confirm they turn freely. Check the bottom of the tub for standing water: a little in the sump is normal, but water near the door is not, and points to a blockage or a pump problem.

2. Clean the filter on manual-clean systems

Remove the lower rack. Twist the upper filter assembly a quarter turn counterclockwise and lift it out, then lift the lower filter slightly and pull it forward. Rinse both under warm running water and scrub the mesh with a soft brush. Never use a wire brush or scouring pad on the mesh.

For a deeper clean, soak both parts in warm water with a splash of vinegar for at least 30 minutes, then rinse. To reinstall, seat the lower filter under its locating tabs, insert the upper assembly, and turn it clockwise until it drops and locks. If it still turns freely, it is not locked; arrow alignment does not matter as long as it is locked. Never run the dishwasher without the filters properly seated.

3. Empty the foreign-object cup on maintenance-free systems

With the lower rack out, find the small cup at the front of the tub below the lower rack. Press the center tab, lift it out, empty it, rinse it and press it back in. This is the only routine filter job on these systems.

4. Wipe out the sump

With the power off, wipe the sump area with a damp cloth, working around the edges where soil collects. Do not reach past the screen or into the pump. If you find glass or hard debris, stop and treat it as a service issue.

5. Clear the spray arms and the third-rack jets

Twist each spray arm off its mount, rinse it, and clear blocked holes with a straightened paper clip. Do not use a toothpick, which snaps off inside the hole. The small jets in the third rack are the finest in the machine and the first to clog, so clear them the same way; a clogged third rack is the usual reason the top rack comes out dirty while the rest is clean. Reattach the arms and spin them by hand to confirm they turn.

6. Clean the door, gasket and control panel

Wipe the inside of the door, the edges and the control panel with a soft damp cloth and mild detergent. Work along the folds of the door gasket with a soft toothbrush, where film and dark buildup collect. If the gasket has dark spots, wipe with a dry microfiber cloth first, since it lifts the film without spreading it, then with a cloth dampened with vinegar, and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes before wiping clean.

7. Run the cleaning cycle

Pick one method per cycle and never combine them.

• Citric acid, the most effective: put 3 to 4 tablespoons of citric acid in the detergent cup, run a normal cycle with the machine empty, then run a second short cycle with detergent. It descales without the vinegar smell.
• Vinegar: stand about 2 cups of white vinegar in a glass or measuring cup on the bottom rack, add no detergent, and run a complete cycle with air-dry or the energy-saving dry setting.
• Cleaning tablet: place a dishwasher cleaning tablet in the detergent cup and run a normal cycle with the machine empty.
• Baking soda for odor: sprinkle about 1 cup of baking soda along the bottom of the tub, run a short hot cycle, and air-dry.

Never combine vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. They cancel each other out and foam.

8. Clean the exterior

On stainless steel, use a soft damp cloth with mild detergent, then a stainless steel cleaner, wiping with the grain of the finish. No abrasive pads or powders. On a fingerprint-resistant finish, the same soft cloth is enough, with no cleaner that leaves a film. On a panel-ready door, wipe with a damp cloth only and follow the panel maker's care instructions.

9. Check the air gap and drain hose

If the sink has an air gap, lift the chrome cover, unscrew the plastic cap, and check for soil buildup. Rinse it out and reassemble. Check that the drain hose has its high loop or air gap and is not kinked; a sagging hose traps water and causes odor.

Each of these does a different job, and the right pick depends on whether you are fighting mineral scale, grease or odor.

Pick one method per cycle and never mix them.

A few habits do real damage, and they are easy to avoid once you know them.

• No bleach in the tub, which corrodes stainless steel, and never bleach and vinegar together, which produces chlorine gas.
• No hand dish soap or laundry detergent, which foams and can flood the machine.
• No wire brush or scouring pad on the filter mesh.
• No vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle.
• No drain-opening chemicals inside the dishwasher.
• Don't overuse vinegar: it is an acid, and using it too often can damage the machine.
• Don't run the dishwasher without the filters seated.

Film and spotting are a water-chemistry problem, not a sign of a dirty machine, and the rinse-aid dispenser is the machine's own mineral-control tool. Keep it full and you remove most of the film before it sets.

If your water hardness is 15 grains or more, a whole-house water softener is strongly recommended, and cleaning cycles should run more often. Hard water also shortens the filter interval and makes citric acid the better monthly choice.