A guide to dishwasher filter maintenance

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Published Date 11/19/2024

When New York Times Wirecutter reporter Andrea Barnes hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for twenty guests in 2019, the biggest surprise wasn’t how the turkey turned out. It was in the form of an error code on her Bosch 300 Series dishwasher.

“It smelled rotten inside,” Says Barnes. “The appliance repairman explained to me that the error code meant water had been leaking to the bottom of my dishwasher.”

As it turned out, the cause of this leakage was more embarrassing than it was complicated. Why? “He pulled out a disgusting filter covered in a slime of congealed food. He then showed me how to clean the filter, which also happened to be the source of the rotten smell,” she recalls. “At last, I had a working dishwasher, along with what could have been a preventable bill. Since learning to clean the dishwasher filter, I am happy to say that I have not needed to have my dishwasher serviced again.”

So what simple maintenance can you perform in order to prevent a major repair bill? As it turns out, it only takes less than five minutes every few months.

Your dishwasher's filter is a remarkable piece of engineering that works tirelessly behind the scenes. Acting as a guardian against major damage, it enables you to skip pre-rinsing while filtering water and trapping food particles during each wash cycle. Most importantly, it prevents serious clogs that could lead to leaks or pump failure.

Regular maintenance is crucial - neglecting your filter can result in unpleasant odors and poorly cleaned dishes. In worst-case scenarios, it might even cause drainage issues or pump damage. The good news? Maintaining your filter is straightforward. Just grab a bottle brush for reaching tight spaces and have hot water ready.

Find the filter. While consulting your manual is ideal, you'll typically find the filter beneath the propeller. Start with an empty dishwasher, remove the bottom rack, and look for the propeller at the base. In most models, you can simply remove the propeller to access the filter underneath.

Clean thoroughly. Run hot water over the filter to remove debris. Use your bottle brush to reach any stubborn spots or tight crevices that need extra attention.

Then, reassemble. Carefully place the filter back in position and return the bottom rack to its place.

For those who skip prerinsing dishes (which is encouraged), expect to clean the filter more frequently. Bosch recommends 4-12 cleanings annually without prerinsing, versus 3-6 times with prerinsing. Miele suggests checking every 50 cycles, while Whirlpool offers specific guidelines based on your dish preparation habits. When in doubt, consult your machine's manual for maintenance schedules.

This simple task becomes especially important before major events like Thanksgiving when your dishwasher will handle heavy loads. If you notice decreased cleaning performance or unusual smells, checking the filter should be your first move.

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