How to Clean a Dishwasher Filter (and How Often to Do It)

To clean a dishwasher filter, pull out the bottom rack, twist the filter out of the floor of the tub, rinse it under warm running water, scrub it gently with a soft brush and mild soap, and lock it back in place. Advice on how often ranges from about once a week to every few months, depending on how much you use the machine and what your manual says. It's an easy job that takes a few minutes and needs no tools.

Why a clean filter matters

The filter sits under the lower spray arm and catches food scraps so they don't land back on your dishes or block the drain. On many dishwashers bought in the last 10 years, the filter is manual: it holds onto debris until you take it out and clean it, according to Consumer Reports. Manufacturers have moved toward this design because it runs quieter than older grinder-style systems.

When the filter goes uncleaned, Consumer Reports lists what tends to happen:

• Odor. Trapped food rots, and you smell it every time you open the door.
• Gritty dishes. Small bits such as coffee grounds get past a clogged filter, go through the spray arms and end up on your clean dishes.
• Standing water. A blocked filter can leave water pooled in the bottom of the tub.
• Shutoffs. If the filter is badly blocked, too little water reaches the spray arms and the dishwasher can stop partway through a cycle.

Bosch says the filter helps the dishwasher drain properly. A clogged filter is one of the first things to check before you book a repair visit for a dishwasher that won't drain or isn't cleaning well. If it turns out to be the cause, you've saved yourself a service call.

What you need

• Your dishwasher's owner's manual (the paper copy or the PDF from the manufacturer's website)
• A sink with warm running water
• Mild dish soap
• A soft scrub brush or sponge
• An old toothbrush or bottle brush for tight spots
• A toothpick or wooden skewer for clearing spray-arm holes
• A towel to set parts on
• Rubber gloves (optional, but useful because debris in the sump can be sharp)

Don't use wire brushes, steel wool or scouring pads. Consumer Reports and GE Appliances both warn that they can damage or scratch the filter.

Step by step: removing and cleaning the filter

Filter designs vary by brand and model, so keep your manual open next to you. The steps below follow the common design: a cylinder you twist out, often sitting in a flat mesh plate.

1. Check which kind of filter you have. Look under the lower spray arm. A plastic cylinder, often with arrows showing which way to turn it, is a manual filter. A plastic grid or a row of holes covering the base usually means a self-cleaning filter that you can't remove, according to Consumer Reports. If yours is self-cleaning, stop here and see the professional section below.
2. Wait until the dishwasher has finished its cycle and the tub has cooled. Don't open it in the middle of a cycle to do this job.
3. Pull the bottom rack all the way out and set it aside.
4. Take off the lower spray arm if your model needs it. Bosch's support page tells owners to remove the lower rack and spray arm before taking out the filter. Many other models let you reach the filter without removing the arm.
5. Twist the cylindrical filter counterclockwise and lift it out. GE and Bosch both use a counterclockwise (left) turn to unlock it.
6. Take out the flat filter if your model has one. On GE models with a separate Fine Filter, you twist two retaining posts at the back of the tub counterclockwise and then lift the mesh plate out.
7. Look into the opening. Wipe out loose food and standing water with a sponge. Bosch warns that some debris down there may be sharp, such as broken glass, so wear gloves and don't sweep blindly with bare fingers.
8. Take the filter apart if it's designed to separate. Some cylinders unscrew from their screen. Your manual will show how.
9. Rinse each piece under warm running water to wash off loose food.
10. Scrub gently with warm soapy water and a soft brush or sponge. Use a toothbrush or bottle brush to reach inside the cylinder. GE notes that a soft brush or sponge may be needed to remove hard-water calcium deposits from the fine mesh.
11. Check each piece for tears, holes or cracks. A damaged filter lets debris through. If you find damage, order the replacement part listed for your model number rather than putting the damaged one back.
12. Clean the spray arm while it's out, or while you can reach it. Rinse it under the faucet and clear any clogged holes with a toothpick or wooden skewer, as Consumer Reports suggests. If the arm has a hole underneath that sprays into the filter, check that one too.
13. Put the flat filter back first, then twist its retaining posts clockwise to lock it if your model has them.
14. Set the cylinder back in place and twist it clockwise until it locks. On GE models, line it up with the arrow on the Fine Filter. A loose filter can let food get past it, so make sure it's seated firmly.
15. Put the spray arm and bottom rack back. Then spin the arm by hand to make sure it turns freely.
16. Run your next load as usual and check the results. Clean dishes and no standing water mean the job is done.

How often to clean it

Sources don't agree on a single interval. Consumer Reports has given several answers: about once a week, or twice a month for light users, in one article; once every couple of months in its general cleaning guide; and every two to three months in its filter guide, which also notes that many manufacturers suggest that range. GE recommends inspecting and cleaning the filters every other month, or more often with heavy use. Bosch recommends every few months. Your owner's manual has the final say for your model.

Household and usage	Suggested interval	Notes
Daily loads, large family, dishes loaded with food scraps	Every 1 to 4 weeks	Heavy use is where Consumer Reports' weekly advice fits best
A few loads a week, dishes scraped before loading	About every 1 to 2 months	Matches GE's "every other month" and Consumer Reports' "couple of months"
Light use: one or two people, occasional loads	Every 2 to 3 months	The range many manufacturers give, per Consumer Reports
Self-cleaning (non-removable) filter	No routine filter cleaning	Watch for poorer wash results instead
Any household, at any time	Clean it now	Gritty dishes, odors, standing water or a cycle that stops partway

A practical approach is to check the filter monthly for the first few months. If it's nearly clean each time, stretch the interval. If it's packed, shorten it.

When to call a repair technician

Cleaning the filter is a homeowner job. These signs point to something more:

• Water still won't drain after you clean the filter. The blockage may be in the pump, the drain hose or the sink connection. Bosch's support line is listed at 1-800-944-2904 for troubleshooting help, and other brands have similar lines.
• You have a self-cleaning filter and wash quality has dropped. Consumer Reports notes you can't remove these filters yourself, so check the manual and call a repair service if needed.
• The filter housing, locking tabs or retaining posts are cracked or broken, so the filter won't lock in place.
• Grinding, humming or rattling noises continue after the filter is clean, which can mean debris has reached the pump.
• Water is leaking onto the floor, or you see scorch marks, smell burning or the dishwasher trips a breaker or GFCI outlet more than once after you reset it. Anything inside the machine's wiring or plumbing connections is a job for a licensed technician, because it involves live electrical parts and water lines behind the cabinet.

If you just moved into a home with an unfamiliar dishwasher, checking the filter is a good item to add to your first-week checklist.

Keep a record

Write down the date each time you clean the filter, along with what you found: light debris, packed with food, or any damage. After a few entries you'll know the right interval for your household. Also record your dishwasher's model and serial numbers (usually on a label at the edge of the door or tub) and the part number of any replacement filter, with its receipt. If the machine fails while under warranty, a dated maintenance history and proof of purchase for parts make the service conversation simpler. When you sell the home or move out of a rental, you can also show the next occupant how the appliance has been looked after.