How to clean a dishwasher filter in 10 minutes

Step by step: how to clean a dishwasher filter in 10 minutes

1. 1

   Pull out the bottom rack

   Slide the bottom rack all the way out so you can see the floor of the tub. The filter is usually a round cylinder in the center or back of the floor, sometimes with arrows or a lock symbol on top.

2. 2

   Twist and lift out the upper filter

   Turn the cylinder a quarter turn counterclockwise (to the left) and lift it straight up. Do not force it; if it does not turn, check your manual, since a few models lift or unclip instead.

3. 3

   Remove the flat lower screen

   Many filters have a second, flat mesh plate under the cylinder. Lift it slightly at the opening and slide it forward to take it out. Some cylinders also come apart into two pieces; separate them if they do.

4. 4

   Clean out the filter well

   Wearing gloves, wipe out the hole the filter sat in with a paper towel. Pick out glass, seeds, labels and bits of bone. Do not push debris down into the pump opening.

5. 5

   Rinse and brush the mesh

   Hold each piece under warm running water. Scrub the mesh gently with a soft brush and a drop of dish soap, inside and out, until you can see light through it evenly. Never use a wire brush or scouring pad, which can tear the fine mesh.

6. 6

   Soak it if it is greasy or scaled

   If the mesh still looks dark or slimy, soak it for 10 to 15 minutes in hot water with a squirt of dish soap. For white, chalky scale, soak it in equal parts white vinegar and warm water for 15 to 30 minutes, then brush again and rinse well.

7. 7

   Lock it back in place

   Slide the flat screen in first, then drop the cylinder in and turn it clockwise until it locks and lines up with the arrows. Tug it gently: it should not spin or lift. Running the dishwasher without the filter properly locked can damage the pump.

How often should you clean a dishwasher filter?

Clean a manual filter about once a month, and every two weeks if you run the dishwasher every day or rarely scrape plates. Whirlpool gives exactly that schedule. Bosch suggests every few months, which suits households that scrape dishes well.

Clean it sooner if you notice any of these:

• Dishes come out with grit, specks of food or a sandy feel.
• A sour or rotten smell when you open the door.
• Water left standing in the bottom after a cycle ends.
• Glasses look cloudy even though your detergent has not changed.

Does every dishwasher have a filter you can remove?

No. Most dishwashers sold in the last decade have a manual filter you remove and clean, but many older and some budget models have a self-cleaning filter with a hard food grinder.

Manual filters let the machine run without a noisy grinder, but they rely on you to clean them. If you cannot find a handle or lock symbol, check your manual before prying anything up.

How do you clean a Whirlpool dishwasher filter? Whirlpool’s instructions match the steps above: turn the upper filter assembly a quarter turn counterclockwise and lift it out, then grasp the lower filter at its circular opening, lift it slightly and pull it forward. Rinse both under running water, use a soft brush for stubborn soil or hard water deposits, and skip wire brushes and scouring pads. When you put it back, the upper assembly should lock; if it turns freely, it is not locked, and Whirlpool says not to run the dishwasher without the filters properly installed.

What to clean after the filter

Once the filter is clean, the rest of the dishwasher takes about 15 more minutes and fixes most leftover smells.

Whirlpool’s cleaning steps have you wipe the tub and the door gaskets with warm water, paying attention to the bottom front of the tub, then run an empty cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar in an upright glass cup on the lower rack and no detergent. Our full guide to cleaning a dishwasher walks through the spray arms, gasket and cleaning cycle in order.

Cleaning the filter well is also how you clean a dishwasher drain from the inside, because the filter guards the opening to the pump that drains the tub. With the filter out, lift food, glass and seeds out of the well by hand or with a paper towel instead of pushing them down. If water still stands in the tub after a cycle once the filter and well are clean, look up the draining section of your manual or book a service visit.

If the filter is cracked, the mesh is torn, or the cylinder will not lock anymore, replace it. Filters are inexpensive parts ordered by your dishwasher’s model number, usually printed on a label on the edge of the door or the tub.

Mistakes to avoid

• Scrubbing the mesh with a wire brush, steel wool or a scouring pad, which tears it.
• Running a cycle with the filter missing or not fully locked, which lets debris reach the pump.
• Pushing debris from the filter well down into the drain opening instead of lifting it out.
• Putting the filter in the dishwasher to clean it; the food it holds just goes back in the sump.
• Assuming an older dishwasher has no filter without checking the manual.