To clean a dishwasher filter, twist the filter assembly out of the tub floor, rinse it under warm water, scrub the fine mesh with a soft brush and lock it back in place. Do it whenever dishes come out gritty, the tub smells stale or dirty water stands on the tub floor after a cycle, and as routine upkeep every month or two.
Time: about 15 minutes · Difficulty: Easy · You'll need: a soft brush (an old toothbrush works), dish soap, a towel, a flashlight
Before you start
- •Let the dishwasher cool if it just ran. The water and the heating element can still be hot.
- •Turn the dishwasher off and make sure no cycle is paused mid-wash.
- •Pull the bottom rack all the way out so you can reach the tub floor.
- •Skip wire brushes and scouring pads. The fine mesh tears easily, and a torn filter lets debris reach the pump.
Steps
Step 1 — Find the filter
On many dishwashers made in roughly the past decade, the filter sits in the tub floor below the lower spray arm, usually as a round cylinder with a grip on top. Some older models use a self-cleaning filter with a built-in grinder and have nothing to remove, so check your manual if you don't see one.
Step 2 — Twist and lift out the cylinder
Turn the cylinder counterclockwise, typically about a quarter turn, until it unlocks, then lift it straight up. On many models a flat mesh plate underneath lifts out next.
Step 3 — Separate the pieces
Some cylinders pull apart into a coarse inner basket and a fine outer screen. Separate them gently by hand and note how they fit together.
Step 4 — Rinse and scrub
Hold each piece under warm running water and brush the mesh lightly with a drop of dish soap. Grease film is often the real culprit, so keep going until water passes straight through. Hold the screen up to a light to make sure every section is clear.
Step 5 — Clear the sump
Shine a flashlight into the opening where the filter sat. Pick out anything caught there, such as seeds, bits of label or broken glass (use tongs or gloves for glass), then wipe the area with a damp paper towel.
Step 6 — Reassemble and lock it in
Set the flat plate back first, drop the cylinder in, and turn it clockwise until it locks and any alignment arrows line up. A filter that isn't fully locked can let food bypass the mesh.
Step 7 — Run a short test
Slide the rack back in and run a rinse or short cycle. Check the tub floor afterward for standing water.
Didn't fix it?
If dishes are still gritty or spotty with a clean filter, the spray arms are the next suspect; see how to clean dishwasher spray arms. Standing water after a clean filter points past it, usually to a kinked drain hose, a blocked air gap or the drain pump. If the dishwasher hums without draining, shows an error code, or leaves water on the floor, it's time for our dishwasher repair technicians.
How often to do this
Clean the filter about once a month if you run the dishwasher daily, and every two to three months with lighter use. Scrape plates into the trash before loading. Bones, fruit pits, paper labels and toothpicks clog filters far faster than ordinary food residue does.
From Kevin: The filter is the first part I pull on almost every "it's not cleaning" call, and a lot of owners never knew it came out. Tie the job to something you already do monthly so it actually happens.
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