It’s not difficult to clean a dishwasher drain.
What Causes Dishwasher Drain Clogs?
A cloggeddishwasher filtercan cause slow draining and odors.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
There are two basic reasons a clog happens.
Remove the lower rack.
Turn Off the Electricity
Before cleaning the drain, turn off the breaker or unplug the dishwasher.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Most filters are round and twist-lock into place.
Some filters are a single cylindrical component, others have a secondary flat filter below the cylinder.
You may need a screwdriver to remove the filter and any screens covering the dishwasher drain.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Consult your dishwasher manual about locating the drain hose and how to disconnect it to remove a clog.
Clean the filter with some dishwashing liquid.
Run an empty cleaning cycle with just a bowl of white vinegar placed securely on the top rack.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
Do not put any vinegar in the dish soap dispenser.
The vinegar and steam will dissolve the sludge.
Bleach is too harsh for the appliance and can also damage the stainless steel parts of the interior.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
The Spruce / Ana Cadena