The 20-minute dishwasher deep-clean that beats a service call

You will need

• White vinegar · Woolies/Coles home brand, ~$2 for 2L
• Dish soap (a few drops) · Any brand, already in your kitchen
• Old toothbrush · Free — grab one from the bathroom bin
• Toothpick or wooden skewer · Woolies $2 for a pack
• Dishwasher-safe bowl or jug · Something you already own
• Dishwasher cleaner tablet (optional) · Finish Dishwasher Cleaner, Bunnings or Woolies ~$5

Step 1

Pull out the filter and soak it

Twist and lift out the cylindrical filter from the base of your dishwasher — it usually turns a quarter-turn anti-clockwise. Drop it in your sink with hot water, a splash of white vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap. Let it soak for 10 minutes while you tackle the spray arms.

Step 2

Remove the spray arms

The lower spray arm usually just pulls or clips straight up off a central post — no tools needed. The upper one typically unclips or unscrews from under the top rack. Give each a gentle tug or twist and they'll come free.

Step 3

Clear the spray arm holes with a toothpick

Hold each spray arm up to the light and look through the little holes — blocked ones are the main reason dishes come out dirty. Poke a toothpick or skewer into each hole to dislodge any trapped grit or hard water scale. Rinse under running water and give the whole arm a scrub with the toothbrush.

Step 4

Scrub and rinse the filter

After soaking, scrub the mesh filter gently with the toothbrush — you'll be surprised what comes off. Rinse it thoroughly under running water until the water runs clear. Reassemble by pressing and twisting the filter back in clockwise until it clicks.

Step 5

Refit the spray arms and run a hot cycle

Clip or press the spray arms back onto their posts and give them a spin to confirm they rotate freely. Place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with white vinegar on the bottom rack — no detergent, nothing else in the machine. Run the hottest, longest cycle available to flush out any remaining grease and scale.

Step 6

(Optional) Follow up with a cleaner tablet

If the smell or performance is still off after the vinegar cycle, pop a Finish Dishwasher Cleaner tablet in on the next hot empty cycle. This hits residue the vinegar missed and deodorises the door seals. Do this whole routine once a month to keep things running well.

The stop point

If the spray arms are cracked, the filter housing is broken, the pump is making a grinding noise, or water is pooling and not draining after a cycle → stop, you need an appliance repairer (not a plumber).

Mendy calls tradies for you. Your first booking is free, then $3.50 a booking.

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