How to Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar and Baking Soda?

The fix for a smelly or dingy dishwasher is usually pantry staples, not a special cleaner. The standard method, shared by Whirlpool and KitchenAid, runs two separate cycles: first white vinegar to break down grease and grime, then baking soda to neutralize odors. Do not combine them in the same cycle — the fizzing reaction cancels out both. Also, remove and clean the filter first; no amount of vinegar fixes a filter caked with food.

What You Need Before Starting

Gather four things: white vinegar (distilled is fine), baking soda, a dishwasher-safe glass or bowl, and a soft-bristle brush. That’s it. You won’t need detergent or a rinse aid for this process. Confirm your dishwasher is empty before you begin, including the silverware basket. If you see large food bits in the bottom or on the filter, wipe them out first so they don’t get cooked into the interior during the hot cycle.

Step-by-Step Vinegar and Baking Soda Cleaning

The process is two cycles with a filter cleaning in between. Both Whirlpool and KitchenAid describe the same core sequence, with minor differences in container placement. Follow the order exactly.

Step 1: Clean the filter. Remove the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub. Whirlpool calls this the first step in its method. Rinse it under running water, then soak it in hot water with a few drops of mild dish soap for about 15 minutes. Scrub it with the soft-bristle brush, rinse thoroughly, and snap it back into place.

Step 2: Run the vinegar cycle. Place it upright on the lower rack per Whirlpool’s method, or on the bottom of the tub if you follow KitchenAid’s placement. Run a complete normal or hot water cycle with the heat dry or heated dry option turned off, and no detergent. The vinegar breaks down grease, hard water spots, and film during the wash. When the cycle ends, the container will be empty and rinsed clean.

Step 3: Run the baking soda cycle. Whirlpool and KitchenAid both specify this amount and placement. Run a short, hot water cycle, again with no detergent. The baking soda neutralizes lingering odors that vinegar leaves behind. You’ll see it dissolve as the tub fills.

Step 4: Check the results. Open the door after the final cycle and breathe in. The vinegar smell will be gone, and the tub should look brighter. If the interior still has a film, repeat the vinegar cycle once more before trying anything else. If the machine still smells, run the vinegar cycle twice — vinegar is the odor cure, but it needs a clean filter to work.

How Often to Clean and What to Skip

Run this vinegar-and-baking-soda treatment once a month for a machine that gets regular use, or every few months if you run fewer loads. Between deep cleans, wipe the door gasket and empty the filter weekly to extend the interval.

A few cautions matter. KitchenAid notes that vinegar is an acid, and using it too often could damage your dishwasher over time — check your owner’s manual first. Whirlpool specifies running the cycle without detergent and with heat dry off, so the vinegar isn’t neutralized or evaporated too quickly. The same logic applies to baking soda: no detergent in that cycle either. Don’t substitute apple cider or other vinegars; the instructions reference white vinegar specifically. And never mix vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle — the reaction produces water and carbon dioxide, which does nothing for cleaning.

This handles the buildup that causes the musty smell at the very bottom of the tub, and it’s safe to do in addition to the two-cycle method above. If you’re also shopping for a machine that cleans itself more effectively, our run-down of the best cleaning dishwashers on the market covers models with built-in self-cleaning filters worth considering.