If the glasses, plates and dishes you pull out of the dishwasher after a cycle look better than when you put them in, it could be a small part of your dishwasher that is causing the problem.
Your washing machine filter quietly lifts the tough stuff, trapping loose food particles so they don’t get into that circulating wash water. If it’s clean and well-stocked, there’s less need to wash the dishes beforehand and a better chance of them coming out sparkling clean. But if it’s covered in food particles, that’s where problems can arise.
When compiling and analyzing our list of the best dishwashersevery technician I spoke to said that one of the most common causes of dishwasher repair calls and warranty claims is failure to clean the filter.
So, how often should you clean your dishwasher filter? It is more important than most people realize. Let’s explore why your filter is important, how often you should clean it and the best way to do it.
Your dishwasher filter is important. Here is the reason
A dirty filter can cause your dishwasher to malfunction.
A dishwasher filter has three benefits: It keeps the water cleaner, protects the water pump and prevents food debris from clogging the spray nozzles and drain lines. As a result, the dishwasher requires less effort to operate, and will eliminate wild cards that can damage your expensive kitchen appliance.
In contrast, the Maytag PDC3600AWX portable dishwasher does not have a filter type. This means I need to be more diligent about scrubbing and pre-cleaning when I load to keep it running smoothly.
How to clean your dishwasher filter
The filter is your dishwasher’s secret weapon.
Even if you regularly run a self-cleaning cycle in your dishwasher with a product like Affresh, solid food debris won’t go away unless you empty the filter. Here’s a quick guide to cleaning your dishwasher filter.
- Remove the bottom rack to access the filter assembly at the bottom of your dishwasher. You may also need to remove the shower arm slightly to access the filter.
- Rotate the filter to open it before removing it. Remember that your filter may have two parts: an inner cylindrical filter and an outer flat screen. You have to clean both of these.
- Clean the filter with clean water in your kitchen sink. If food waste and hard water remain, it may be necessary to scrub with a soft brush (aggressive scrubbing can damage the filter mesh) and soapy water.
- Some brands suggest drying the filter assembly before putting it back in your dishwasher. However, you should be prepared to reapply it before it dries out, as prolonged moisture is unlikely to cause problems for a product that always works with water and dishwashing chemicals.
- Don’t forget to turn on the filter to lock everything in place.
How often should you clean your dishwasher filter?
Keep things simple by scrubbing your dishes before loading and setting a monthly cleaning schedule.
If there is no manufacturer’s instruction included, I recommend checking your dishwasher filter at least once a month. If it’s clean, your job is done. If not, it’s time to clean it.
Best of all, it’s as easy as setting a reminder on your phone, calendar or task wheel to check and clean your dishwasher filter. However, you should also stay on top of any drop in performance or bad odors in your dishwasher, which may mean it’s time to clean the filter ahead of schedule.
You can also simplify the process of organizing (and cleaning) by scraping food scraps from the trash. This one habit easily turns filter cleaning into a monthly chore — even two daily wash cycles — rather than a twice-a-week nightmare without a scratch.
For context, some brands offer detailed filter schedules based on how often you use your dishwasher and how well you clean (scrubbing and rinsing) the dishes before loading. Ease of scrubbing is the deciding factor in preventing frequent filter clogs.
It’s much easier to scratch your dishes than to find a complicated schedule like LG’s. Also, pre-washing your dishes before loading them is not a good use of water.
Normally, I would go to the manufacturers for how often to clean your dishwasher filter, but the advice in the user manual for our best dishwasher picks is inconsistent. For example, Bosch (PDF) and LG recommend checking and cleaning the filters after every dishwasher cycle. In contrast, brands like Samsung (PDF), Midea (PDF), KitchenAid (PDF) and Frigidaire (PDF) offer vague instructions about cleaning periodically or as needed.
Always remember to replace your dishwasher filter after cleaning it — you shouldn’t run any cycles without it.
Even companies like Whirlpool (PDF) and Maytag (PDF), which recommend cleaning your dishwasher filter every three months, muddy the water by saying that frequency depends on your usage. I mean, technically, they’re not good. Someone like me, who uses the dishwasher once a week, may not need to clean the filter more than once every few months, compared to busy families who use multiple loads every day.
Even if you have a dirty dishwasher filter, you probably won’t need more than 10 minutes to complete the cleaning process. Now you can enjoy a new, more efficient dishwasher.
