How often should you run your dishwasher cleaning cycle?

These tasks are more about efficiency, longevity, and comfort. Not a huge deal if you miss one, but it pays off over time.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

Grease and mineral scale build up on the spray arms, tub walls, and heating element over time. A cleaning cycle dissolves that film so the machine washes and drains the way it should.

1. Empty the dishwasher completely.
2. Place a dishwasher cleaner (or a cup of white vinegar upright in the top rack) and run the hottest cycle.
3. For mineral scale, sprinkle a cup of baking soda across the bottom and run a short hot cycle after.
4. Wipe the door edges and gasket, where grime collects out of the water's reach.

Alternatives & optional extras

• A monthly rinse-aid top-up keeps the film from building in the first place.
• Smells lingering after cleaning usually trace to the filter, not the tub; clean that too.

Time: ~1 hour · Typical cost: $5–$10 per cleaner, or pennies for vinegar and baking soda

What you'll need

• Dishwasher cleaner

If you skip it

Left alone, grease and scale coat the spray arms and element, so dishes come out dirtier and the machine works harder to heat and drain.

Other dishwasher maintenance

• Clean dishwasher filter — every 3 months
• Inspect dishwasher supply line and drain hose — once a year

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Refrigerator — start with: replace refrigerator water filter, every 6 months
• Washing machine — start with: inspect washer supply hoses, every 6 months
• Dryer — start with: clean dryer vent duct, every 6 months
• Range hood — start with: degrease range hood filter, every 3 months