How to Clean Dishwasher Drain Hose Without Removing it?

Last Updated on March 6, 2023

Are you facing clogging or blocking inside the drain hose of your dishwasher? You must try to fix it quickly to prevent your kitchen from severe havoc caused by dirty surroundings and unpleasant smells. This happens due to the failure of the dishwasher due to an uncleaned drain hose.

Thinking about how to clean the dishwasher drain hose without removing it? No need to worry as we will show you how to unclog a blocked drain hose and then its proper cleaning to restore normal functioning.

How to Know If the Dishwasher Drain Hose is Clogged

Wisely said, it is better to look for prevention instead of rushing toward a cure, so it is good to keep your dishwasher safe from clogging to avoid malfunctioning. But what if you don’t know how to find out if your dishwasher is actually clogged?

You must pay attention to your dishwasher whenever using it. With some time, you will get to know the signs of normal mechanism or malfunctioning, such as:

• If there are unusual sounds like thumping coming out when you turn on your dishwasher
• The rate of draining is slower, or nothing is draining at all
• Instead of moving water out of the tank, it is coming back into the machine
• The dishwasher isn’t cleaning dishes properly

These all are the signs of abnormal functioning of a dishwasher that needs repairing.

How to Clean Dishwasher Drain Hose Without Removing it

Cleaning the dishwasher drain hoses might seem complex if you are a beginner. You may even try to hire a professional to do this task, but the procedure is simple and easy and doesn’t involve any rocket science.

Required Tools

The following essential tools are needed to clean the dishwasher drain hose without removing it:

• Baking Soda
• White Vinegar
• Rubber mitts
• Damp cloth
• Rubber gloves

Eliminate Leftover Food Chunks

You will find piles of wasted food and lots of grease and grime inside your dishwasher. These materials will make the dishwasher even more dirty and smelly. So, you should first clean all leftover food parts from the inside and outside of the dishwasher.

Turn Off Garbage Disposal

It is good to shut down the dishwasher and its garbage disposal to eliminate the cloggings or blocking particles to avoid further risks.

Most drain hoses get blocked due to overfilled garbage disposal. It will prevent anything from draining and result in a huge accumulation of wastes inside the machine. Turn on the garbage disposal and let it run for at least 15 minutes.

Make A Cleaning Solution

For better results, a good cleaning solution will be required. You can buy one or make it at home with ingredients already present inside your cabinets.

• Take one cup of vinegar and add one cup of baking soda to a bowl.
• Put the mixture inside the dishwasher container and wait for 20 minutes to let it work.
• The mixture will help eliminate grease and smell from the dishwasher. Baking soda will aid in deodorizing the inside of the drain hose.

Use Hot Water in Drain Hose

Once you have cleaned the drain hose with baking soda and vinegar solution, put hot water inside it to rinse the mixture. You can do it by turning on the rinse cycle of your dishwasher.

People use Drano for unclogging drain hoses, but we won’t recommend using it. The composition of Drano includes Sodium Hydroxide, which causes damaging effects to the drain hose if it is made of plastic. However, if PVC drain pipes are present, you can use Drano without worrying.

Alternative Ways to Clean Dishwasher Drain Hose Without Removing It

After trying all the above-mentioned tactics, if your dishwasher drain hose is still not working, then there are some alternative ways you can try to accomplish this task.

Look for Blockings in Spray Arms of Dishwasher

A nozzle located at the dishwasher’s spray arm can get blocked if food particles are stuck in it or minerals from hard water accumulate in the holes. You will notice the change when you try to drain water and experience lower pressure in draining due to clogging.

• To fix it, you need to make a solution of water and vinegar.
• Put the solution inside the pipe leading to spray arms and wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
• You can use small pins to open nozzle holes if debris is collected in them.
• Avoid using toothpicks as they can break and get stuck inside holes.
• Rinse the solution and clean the spray arms with a paper towel.

Unblock Filters of Dishwasher

Cleaning the dishwasher drain hose sometimes also requires unblocking filters. If the filter is blocked due to food chunks or waste particles, it won’t let anything reach up to the drain pipe and leave the dishwasher. Therefore, it is important to clean your dishwasher’s filter with care to get rid of debris.

Clean Air Gaps of Dishwasher

Another reason for blocking the dishwasher drain hose is clogged air gaps that must be checked frequently. Sometimes, the problem resides in the air gap, and it causes an overflow of water.

To make it right, you need to put down the air gap cap and clean it to remove dirt.

Tips & Tricks to Maintain Dishwasher Drain Hose

You should consider some recommendations for the maintenance of the dishwasher drain hose. 

• Check the air gaps and dishwasher drain line regularly or after every use. If there is debris, remove them as soon as possible.
• Before running the dishwasher’s cycle, always run the garbage disposal to remove obstructions or grime present inside the drain hose.
• Never put dirty dishes with leftover food present on them inside the dishwasher. Always scrape off the food.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaners in your dishwasher as most of them release Sodium Hydroxide, which isn’t safe for the drain hose.
• Make it a habit to clean the dishwasher’s filter to prevent the accumulation of food debris and dirty water inside the unit.

How Often Should You Clean Dishwasher Drain Hose

If you wash heavy loads regularly inside your dishwasher, it is good to clean the drain hose on a daily basis. However, you should deep clean your dishwasher drain hose once a month.