How to Clean a Dishwasher Filter

Cleaning a dishwasher filter takes about ten minutes and no tools. Pull out the bottom rack, twist the cylindrical filter counterclockwise to unlock it, lift it out along with the flat filter beneath, then rinse both under hot running water and scrub gently with a soft brush. Reseat the filter and twist to lock. Do this monthly and your dishes come out cleaner and the smell goes away.

A clogged filter is the number-one cause of cloudy dishes, gritty residue, and a musty dishwasher odor. Here is exactly how to clean it, how to know if yours even comes out, and when a filter needs replacing instead of rinsing.

How often should you clean a dishwasher filter?

About once a month for most households. If you rinse plates before loading, you can stretch to every two or three months. If you scrape but do not rinse, or you run heavy, greasy loads, clean it every couple of weeks. A quick tell: if you see food specks redeposited on clean dishes or notice an odor when you open the door, the filter is overdue regardless of the calendar.

Does my dishwasher have a removable filter?

Most dishwashers built in roughly the last 15 years do. Manufacturers moved from loud hard-food grinders to quiet, manual-clean filters, which are the round-and-flat assemblies sitting in the floor of the tub below the bottom spray arm. To check yours, pull out the lower rack and look at the base near the back center. If you see a cylindrical tower with a twist grip, it lifts out for cleaning.

Older units and some models use a self-cleaning grinder instead, with no removable filter to service. If there is nothing that twists or lifts, do not force it, and consult your model’s manual. For the removable type, follow the steps below.

How do I clean the dishwasher filter, step by step?

Set aside ten minutes and work at the sink. The whole job is rinse-and-scrub, no chemicals required for routine cleaning.

1. Empty the bottom rack and pull it fully out of the dishwasher so you can reach the tub floor.
2. Twist out the upper filter. Grip the cylindrical filter and turn it counterclockwise (roughly a quarter turn) until it unlocks, then lift it straight up and out.
3. Lift out the lower flat filter. Underneath sits a flat mesh screen. Most lift right out; on some models it slides toward you first.
4. Rinse both parts under hot running water. Let the water flush food and grease out of the mesh and the cylinder.
5. Scrub gently. Use a soft brush or an old toothbrush with a drop of dish soap to clear stubborn debris. Do not use a wire brush, which can tear the fine mesh.
6. Wipe the filter well. With the filter out, wipe the recess it sits in and clear any debris around the sump opening with a damp cloth or sponge.

How do I put the filter back correctly?

Seat the flat filter first, then lock the cylinder, and confirm it is tight. Drop the flat screen back into its recess so it lies flat, then set the cylindrical filter into the center opening and twist clockwise until it stops and locks. This step matters: a filter left loose or unlocked can let food bypass the screen, rattle against the spray arm, or in some models trigger a leak or poor-wash complaint. Give it a gentle tug to confirm it is seated before you slide the rack back in.

Should I clean or replace the filter?

Clean it monthly, but replace it when it is damaged or permanently clogged. Routine rinsing handles normal buildup. Swap the filter if you see torn mesh, cracks, warping, or a stubborn film that will not rinse away, since a compromised filter stops protecting the pump and can let debris recirculate. A genuine dishwasher sump filter such as the Whirlpool WPW10463906 drops in the same way it came out. Match the part to your model number to be sure of fit.

How do I keep the filter cleaner for longer?

Scrape, run hot, and clean the machine monthly. Three habits cut down how fast the filter loads up:

• Scrape plates of large food scraps before loading (a full pre-rinse is not necessary, and scraping is enough).
• Run the hot water at the sink until it is hot before starting a cycle, so the dishwasher fills with hot water and dissolves grease better.
• Run a dishwasher cleaner monthly. An empty hot cycle with an affresh dishwasher cleaner tablet clears grease and mineral film from the tub, filter, and sump.

That last habit also addresses the sump: keeping grease from building up is what prevents the slow-drain and odor problems that start at a clogged filter.

Watch: removing and replacing a dishwasher sump filter

The bottom line

A monthly ten-minute filter rinse is the highest-value dishwasher maintenance you can do: twist out the filter, rinse and gently scrub both parts under hot water, then lock it back in tight. Replace the filter if it is torn or permanently clogged, run a cleaner tablet monthly, and cloudy dishes and odors stay gone.

Written by: AppliancePartsPros Team Reviewed by: Ed C., Appliance Technician, 25 years