Dishwasher cleaning: step-by-step guide and maintenance tips
Are your dishes no longer coming out clean, or has a musty smell crept in? A good clean often solves it.
Do it yourself or leave it to us
Cleaning your dishwasher or having it serviced
A dishwasher cleans your dishes, but not itself. Food residue, grease deposits and limescale build up in the filter, the drain pump and the spray arms. The result: dishes that don't come out clean, a bad smell or an error code on the display. Below you can read in four steps how to clean your dishwasher yourself. Would you rather have a technician do it? That is possible too: maintenance costs €50 per appliance, on top of the diagnosis and any repair.
A few minutes a month keep your dishwasher in good condition. Still not right after a thorough clean? Then you know something is broken, and a technician can look in the right place.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does dishwasher repair cost?
Whether your dishwasher won't drain, doesn't dry or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your dishwasher isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your dishwasher, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
These are the fixed moments. Do you notice problems earlier? Then a thorough clean is the first step, even before you book a technician.
| What | How often |
|---|---|
| Check and rinse the filter | Every month |
| Clean the filter assembly thoroughly | Every 2 months |
| Clean the spray arms | Every 6 months |
| Refill the regeneration salt | As soon as the light comes on |
| Descale with a descaling tablet | Every 3 to 6 months, more often with hard water |
| Wipe the door seal | Every month |
Keep the manual in your language close to the appliance. It shows how the filter and the spray arms come off on your model.
How do you clean the filter assembly of your dishwasher?
The filter catches food residue and gets clogged over time. This is the most common cause of drainage problems and poor washing results.
- Switch off the dishwasher.
- First remove the lower spray arm so you can reach the filter more easily.
- Unscrew the filter assembly and take off the loose parts.
- Rinse away food residue and scrub the filter with a brush under running water.
- Reassemble the filter. Mind the marked arrows: they must face each other.
How do you check the drain pump of your dishwasher?
The drain pump sits behind the filter. Small objects such as cherry stones, glass shards or bones can block the impeller.
- Scoop the water out of the wash area with a cup.
- Wear protective gloves, because there may be glass shards.
- Carefully pry off the cover of the drain pump.
- Look for foreign objects and remove them.
- Check that the impeller turns freely.
- Click the cover back into place.
Is water still left in the machine after this check? Then the problem is deeper and you are best off booking a repair.
How do you clean the spray arms of your dishwasher?
Clogged holes in the spray arms spread the water unevenly. The dishes then don’t get clean everywhere.
- Unscrew the spray arms, top and bottom.
- Rinse them under running water.
- Clear clogged holes with a toothpick or a needle.
- Put them back and check that they can turn freely.
When should you refill salt and descale your dishwasher?
Regeneration salt protects the dishwasher from limescale and is essential for a long life of your appliance. Refill it as soon as the light comes on. In addition, run an empty wash on a high programme every 3 to 6 months with a descaling tablet made for dishwashers.
Can you use ordinary vinegar to descale?
Better not. Vinegar can damage rubber parts and the stainless steel tub. Use a descaler or tablet made specifically for dishwashers.
How do you prevent bad smells in your dishwasher?
Why does my dishwasher still smell after cleaning?
Check the rubber seal around the door. Mould often builds up there. Wipe it with a damp cloth and a drop of washing-up liquid. Leave the door ajar after every wash so the moisture can escape.
Does the smell stay, even after a thorough clean?
Then something may still be stuck in the drain or the pump. A technician checks this during the diagnosis.
How do you load your dishwasher correctly?
Incorrect loading is an underestimated cause of poor washing results.
What goes in the lower basket?
Plates and pots, with the dirty side facing the spray arms.
What goes in the upper basket?
Glasses, cups and small bowls, upside down.
How do you arrange the cutlery?
Knives with the point down, forks and spoons alternately.
What should you watch for with large crockery?
Always check after loading that the spray arms can still turn freely.
When do you choose the ECO programme?
The ECO programme is energy-efficient but takes longer. If you want to wash quickly, choose a normal programme.
What does maintenance by a technician cost?
Would you rather have everything checked thoroughly in one go? That is possible, at your home.
| Maintenance | Price (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| 1 appliance | €119 (€69 call-out and check + €50 maintenance) |
| 2 appliances | €169 (€50 extra for the second appliance) |
| 3 appliances | €219 (€50 extra for the third appliance) |
| With a repair | €50 extra per appliance, on top of the diagnosis and the repair |
During maintenance the technician cleans the filter assembly, checks the drain pump and inspects the spray arms. You also get advice on use and upkeep. If he finds a fault, he tells you in advance what the repair costs.
When do you need a technician?
Cleaning solves a lot, but not everything. Book a technician if:
- you still see an error code after a thorough clean
- the dishwasher leaks or does not drain
- the heating element fails and the dishes stay cold and wet
- an unusual smell remains after cleaning
Do the dishes stay cold and wet? Read dishwasher not heating.
Where do we maintain and repair dishwashers?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Is your dishwasher broken?
Our dishwasher repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. The diagnosis at your home costs €69, a repair €179 in total at most, parts extra. See also all our prices.
Frequently asked questions about dishwasher cleaning
Check the filter every month and clean the filter assembly thoroughly every 2 months. Clean the spray arms every 6 months. Descale every 3 to 6 months, more often with hard water. Leave the door ajar after every wash.
Better not. Vinegar can damage rubber parts and the stainless steel tub. Use a descaler or tablet made specifically for dishwashers.
Check the rubber seal around the door, because mould often builds up there. Wipe it with a damp cloth. If the smell stays, there may be a blockage in the drain or the pump. A technician finds out during the diagnosis.
Maintenance at your home costs €119 including VAT: €69 for the call-out and check and €50 for the maintenance. Each extra appliance costs €50. If you also have a repair done during the same visit, maintenance is added at €50 per appliance, on top of the diagnosis and the repair (together at most €179, parts extra).
If the machine leaks, won’t drain or shows an error code, book a repair. The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If you choose the repair, you pay €179 in total at most, parts extra, with a 3-month warranty on the repair.
No. If your dishwasher is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and whether you want maintenance, a repair or both.