Place a towel and pan under the connection point. Using pliers, loosen the clamp securing the hose to the dishwasher pump or the garbage disposal. Have the pan ready to catch residual water.

We trust our dishwashers to sterilize our lives. But a dirty drain hose turns a sanitizing machine into a bacteria sprinkler.

Welcome to the ugly truth of homeownership:

Cleaning your dishwasher drain hose is a relatively simple process that you can do yourself with a few basic tools. Here's a step-by-step guide: