Domakihub How to Descale a Dishwasher and Keep It Running Like New
Remove limescale build-up in under an hour with items you already have at home.
Reviewed by Domakihub cleaning pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
If your glasses come out cloudy or your dishwasher smells stale, limescale is usually the culprit — and it is especially common in Greece, where tap water is notoriously hard. The video above walks through the vinegar method visually; this guide gives you the full step-by-step process, plus tips tailored to vacation rentals and hotels where machines run daily. A proper descale every one to three months restores spray pressure, protects the heating element, and means cleaner results every cycle.
Why Limescale Is a Bigger Problem in Greece
Greece has some of the hardest tap water in the EU. The calcium and magnesium minerals that give the water its hardness deposit themselves on every surface inside your dishwasher — the spray arms, the filter, the heating element, and the door seal. Over time these white or chalky deposits narrow the jets, force the pump to work harder, and shorten the appliance's lifespan.
For holiday rental owners and hotel housekeeping teams, the stakes are higher still: a dishwasher running six or eight cycles a day accumulates limescale two to three times faster than one in a private home. Skipping descaling for a single season can lead to a repair bill that dwarfs the cost of a few bottles of citric acid or white vinegar.
Descaler Options: What to Use
You have three practical choices. White vinegar (ordinary wine or distilled vinegar, 5–10 % acidity) is cheap, always available, and effective on light-to-moderate scale. Citric acid powder, sold in supermarkets and pharmacies, is stronger and leaves no smell — a tablespoon dissolved in warm water makes a powerful descaling solution. Commercial dishwasher descaler tablets or liquids (brands such as Finish Dishwasher Cleaner or Bosch Quick Descaler) are the most convenient option for hotels and rental managers who want a repeatable process with no measuring.
Avoid bleach-based cleaners for descaling — they do not dissolve mineral deposits and can damage rubber seals. Also avoid mixing vinegar and commercial descalers in the same cycle; run them separately.
How to Descale Your Dishwasher: 5 Steps
- 1
Empty and inspect the machine
Remove all dishes and cutlery. Pull out the bottom rack and locate the filter basket at the floor of the tub. Unscrew and remove it, rinse it under a hot tap, and use an old toothbrush to scrub away any trapped food debris. While you are there, check the spray arms: if any jets look clogged, poke them clear with a toothpick or thin wire. Reassemble the filter before continuing.
- 2
Wipe down the door seal and interior walls
Dip a microfibre cloth in a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and warm water and wipe the rubber door gasket thoroughly, paying attention to the folds where mineral residue and mould love to hide. Wipe the interior walls and the base of the tub as well. This physical wipe removes loose deposits before the descaling cycle begins, so the chemical agent can work on the harder crust underneath.
- 3
Place your descaling agent in the tub
Choose one method: pour 250 ml of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe bowl and stand it upright on the top rack — do not add it to the dispenser. Alternatively, place a citric acid descaling tablet (or two tablespoons of citric acid powder in a small bowl) on the bottom rack. If using a commercial liquid descaler, add it to the main wash compartment of the detergent dispenser according to the packet instructions. Do not add normal dishwasher detergent during a descaling cycle.
- 4
Run the hottest, longest cycle
Select the machine's hottest programme — typically 65 °C or 70 °C, often labelled 'Intensive' or 'Eco 70'. The heat activates the acid and keeps it circulating for long enough to break down stubborn deposits on the heating element and spray arms. Let the cycle run to completion without interrupting it. Pause the machine only if you notice an unusual smell or sound, which may indicate a blockage being dislodged.
- 5
Rinse, dry, and add salt
Once the cycle finishes, open the door and let steam escape for a few minutes. Wipe any remaining residue from the walls and door with a dry cloth. Now is also the ideal moment to check the rinse-aid dispenser and refill it if low. Most importantly, top up the water-softener salt reservoir — it is usually a cap at the bottom of the tub. In hard-water areas like Athens, Thessaloniki, or the Cyclades, keeping the salt level full is the single most effective way to slow future limescale accumulation between descaling cycles.
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FAQ
- How often should I descale my dishwasher in Greece?
- In most Greek cities and islands, where water hardness exceeds 200 mg/L, descaling every 4–6 weeks is ideal for machines running daily (rental properties, hotels). For a household dishwasher used once or twice a day, every 2–3 months is usually enough. If you notice cloudy glasses or white residue inside the tub, descale immediately regardless of the schedule.
- Can I descale with white vinegar instead of a commercial product?
- Yes, vinegar works well for light-to-moderate limescale. Use plain white vinegar at 5–10 % acidity and run a full hot cycle. For heavier build-up — especially in a machine that has not been descaled in over six months — citric acid or a dedicated descaler will dissolve deposits more completely. Vinegar is also mildly acidic, so occasional use is fine, but very frequent weekly use can degrade rubber seals over time.
- Will descaling fix poor dishwasher performance on its own?
- Descaling addresses limescale but not all performance problems. If the machine still leaves residue after a descaling cycle, also check that the rinse-aid compartment is full, the salt reservoir is topped up, and you are using the correct wash temperature for the load. Persistent issues — weak spray, error codes, or pooling water — may point to a worn pump or blocked drain hose, which require a technician.