How to Remove and Dispose of a Dishwasher

Are you stuck wondering what to do with your old dishwasher as you eagerly await your new one? Don’t let the prospect of removal and disposal intimidate you—our step-by-step guide will help you tackle this task with ease. Plus, we’ve included a handy how-to video just below to walk you through each step!

Have a new dishwasher on the way? Great! What are you going to do with the old one? Whether you’re replacing a damaged appliance or upgrading to a newer model, that old dishwasher still needs to be dealt with.

Luckily, you’ve got options. Recycling, trashing, selling, or donating, you may not even need access to a truck for hauling the old dishwasher away. If you need some tips on how to remove and dispose of your old dishwasher, keep reading. AppliancePartsPros.com has you covered with another step-by-step guide!

Need a part for your dishwasher instead? Search below using your specific model number to identify the exact part needed:

Tools Needed to Remove Your Dishwasher

Getting your dishwasher out isn’t too complicated a job, but there are a few tools you should have on hand before you get started.

1. A bucket, towel, or other receptacle to catch water spills.
2. A sheet of cardboard or a towel slightly wider and longer than the dishwasher.
3. Work gloves.
4. A screwdriver. you can check which kind you’ll need with a glance at the mounting brackets at the top of the dishwasher.
5. A wrench.
6. A dolly cart or hand truck for moving the dishwasher once it’s been uninstalled.

How To Remove Your Dishwasher

In most instances, it’s not hard or particularly time consuming to get your dishwasher out from beneath the counter, but there’s a small chance your dishwasher has been hard-wired into your home’s electrical system or directly connected to your home’s water lines without a valve. If this is the case, and at any point you feel as though you cannot safely remove your dishwasher on your own, you should stop immediately and contact a professional repair person for assistance!

That said, it’s still a relatively simple process. Let’s take a step-by-step look at how to remove your dishwasher.

1. Disconnect the power. Before you do anything else, make sure you disconnect your dishwasher from its power source. This should be as simple as unplugging the dishwasher from a wall outlet beneath the sink, so check there first!
   
   If you just can’t track down a plug, it’s possible your dishwasher is wired into your home’s electrical system. You’ll need to flip the circuit breaker for the dishwasher into the off position.
2. Shut off the water supply and remove the line. Check under your kitchen sink. Chances are, you’ll find a couple of hoses connecting your dishwasher to the plumbing system by valve. The metal one is the water line hose. Turn the valve clockwise to stop water from flowing into the dishwasher. If your dishwasher doesn’t have this valve, then you will need to turn off your home’s main water valve completely.
   
   Once the water’s off, you need to disconnect the water supply. Having a bucket and/or a towel handy here is a good idea, as water could leak out when you disconnect the line. You may be able to loosen the water line hose by hand, but a wrench will also do the trick. Disconnect the water line and set it on a towel or in a bucket to catch any water that spills out.
3. Disconnect the drain line. With both the power and water disconnected, now it’s time to disconnect the drain hose. This is a flexible hose that will be clamped into place on the sink’s drain line near the water line. When you loosen the clamp and disconnect the drain line, make sure that bucket is beneath the hose to catch any water that leaks out.
   
   With all the various attachments taken care of, we can move on to actually getting that dishwasher out of there!
4. Remove the brackets holding the dishwasher in place. Chances are, your dishwasher is held in place under the counter by a few brackets and screws. Look under the lip of the counter for those. There may also be more around the sides. If you can’t find any or are having trouble reaching them, open your dishwasher door to access them properly. Remove those and set them aside.
5. Remove the front access panel. Down at the bottom of your dishwasher, you’ll probably see a panel, called a kick plate. This hides and protects the feet and the water, drain, and electrical lines. You can take this panel off by removing the screws on either side.
6. Remove the power and water connectors if they are accessible from immediately behind the removed kick plate. They may not be, and you may need to wait until you’ve pulled the dishwasher out to disconnect them.
7. You may need to loosen the feet before proceeding. The feet hold the dishwasher at a certain height so that it is snug in place beneath your kitchen counter. Loosening them will allow you to more easily shimmy the dishwasher out of place. If you can’t do this by hand, a wrench or pliers can do the trick.
8. Set down a towel or sheet of cardboard in front of the dishwasher. As long as you slide the dishwasher on top of this, it should protect your floor from potential damage caused by the feet.
9. Pull the dishwasher out of place until it is clear of the counter. It’s best to do this by opening the dishwasher door and grasping the interior tub. Shimmying it out may also make this a little easier, but it could scratch your floor. Try lifting slightly as you pull to avoid damage.
   
   Once the dishwasher is clear, if there are any hoses still attached, you can remove those. You may also want to disconnect the power cord if your new dishwasher does not come with one.

That’s it! You’re ready to dispose of your dishwasher. In the next section, we’ll set you on the path to proper disposal.

How To Dispose Of A Dishwasher

So, you’ve liberated your dishwasher from beneath the counter and now you’re ready to get rid of it. Can you just leave it on your curb? How tough is it to recycle? Are there any options if it’s still in working order? Let’s take a look!

How to Recycle Your Old Dishwasher

The most Earth-friendly option for a broken dishwasher is recycling. You can go through your appliance’s manufacturer — many will recycle old large appliances — but it may be more convenient and cost effective to go with something closer to where you live. Some recycling centers may even offer you cash for your appliance, so it could literally pay to do a search for local options. There are a few websites, like Earth911, that can make tracking down a recycling center near you a whole lot easier.

If you’re looking to have it hauled away, big box stores like Best Buy, Lowe’s, and Home Depot all have removal and recycling options. Generally, you’ll be paying a fee for these services, but they may do it for free if you’re already buying a replacement appliance from them.

How to Throw Away Your Old Dishwasher

Before you go dropping that old dishwasher off on the curb, be sure to check local and state regulations to see if you’re allowed to dispose of a dishwasher in this way. Many places are fine with dishwashers being put in a dumpster, but plenty aren’t. Some states have outright banned appliances from landfills, and even if you can dispose of your appliance this way, you may find yourself with an additional fee from waste management after it’s hauled away. There’s also a chance that larger appliances are only removed on certain days — usually once a month or once quarterly — and it may just sit there until the day comes.

Junk hauling services like 1-800-JUNK will take your dishwasher away for a fee. This could be an option if you aren’t able to leave the appliance curbside.

How to Sell Your Old Dishwasher

If your appliance still works and you don’t mind waiting a few days to be rid of it, you could consider selling it to earn a bit of cash. There are tons of sites and apps like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace that let you sell things to other people in your area. Just remember to educate yourself on best practices when selling something online to ensure you’re making a safe, legitimate sale.

Be honest about the dishwasher’s age and status in your description. Most manufacturers estimate their dishwashers will last around 8 to 10 years. Just because it’s old or broken doesn’t mean you can’t still potentially sell (or give it away) this way, though. There are many people who will buy or take broken appliances to scrap for parts. Just make sure that you are clear the appliance is broken and is intended for scrap in the descriptions.

Donate Your Old Dishwasher

If your dishwasher is less than five years old and it still works, donating it is a viable option. Don’t have anyone in your immediate orbit that could use a dishwasher? There are other places it can potentially go! Goodwill stores are a great option, as are charities like Habitat for Humanity. You can also check with local community and religious organizations, like schools or churches, they may have some use for a dishwasher.

Where To Find Us 

If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.

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