How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter

To clean a dishwasher filter, twist it counter-clockwise to remove, rinse under warm water, scrub gently with a soft brush and a drop of dish soap, then twist it back clockwise until it locks. Do this every 1 to 2 months to prevent smells, spotty dishes, and premature pump failure.

The steps

Pull the bottom rack out

Slide the bottom rack out of the dishwasher and set it aside. You need room to reach the floor of the tub.

Twist the filter counter-clockwise

The filter sits in the middle of the tub floor, right below the lower spray arm. A quarter turn counter-clockwise releases it and you can lift it straight out. Some models have two pieces, a cylinder filter and a flat mesh screen underneath. Pull both.

Rinse under warm running water

Hold the filter under warm tap water. Most of the food debris washes off in the first 30 seconds. Do not use hot water since it can set grease into the mesh.

Scrub gently with a soft brush and dish soap

Put a drop of dish soap on a soft brush (an old toothbrush works well) and work it into the mesh from both sides. Skip anything abrasive or sharp since the mesh is delicate and a tear means you have to replace the whole filter.

Drop it back in and twist clockwise until it locks

Seat the filter flush against the tub floor and twist clockwise until it stops and locks in place. If it does not seat flush, it will not lock, so check the orientation before you turn. A loose filter lets food bypass into the pump.

Run a short rinse cycle

Run the shortest rinse or sanitize cycle to flush anything you dislodged during cleaning. This step is optional but worth the 15 minutes.

Why a clogged filter ruins your dishwasher

Your dishwasher has a filter at the bottom of the tub that catches food scraps so they do not recirculate onto your dishes during the wash. When the filter clogs, three things happen in order:

Dishes start coming out with grit, film, or visible food particles stuck to them.
The inside of the dishwasher begins to smell, especially after it sits unused overnight.
The pump motor works harder to push water through the blockage, and eventually it burns out.

That third point is the expensive one. A new pump runs $300 to $500 installed, and the diagnostic call alone is usually $100 or more. A 5 minute filter cleaning every other month eliminates that risk entirely.

What you will need

Warm water from the tap
A soft brush, an old toothbrush is perfect
A single drop of dish soap

No replacement parts, no cleaning products beyond soap, no tools. If you have these three things, you can clean the filter in the next 5 minutes.

When to replace instead of clean

Pull the filter out and look at the mesh under a light. If you see any of these, buy a replacement filter instead of cleaning the current one:

A visible tear or hole in the fine mesh
Cracks in the plastic frame
Warping that prevents the filter from seating flush
Persistent dark staining that does not come out after cleaning

Replacement filters run $15 to $30 and are model-specific. Find your dishwasher model number on the inside of the door, usually on a sticker along the left or right edge, and search that number plus "filter." Every major brand sells replacements directly or through Amazon and appliance parts sites.

When the filter is clean but dishes still come out dirty

If you just cleaned the filter and dishes are still spotty, the spray arms are the next thing to check. The small nozzles on the spray arms clog with mineral deposits in hard water areas. That is a separate 10 minute job and worth doing at the same time as the filter.

Beyond that, check your detergent. Old detergent loses effectiveness after about 6 months once the box is opened. And make sure the rinse aid dispenser is full, since rinse aid is what keeps water from beading and leaving spots as dishes dry.

How this fits into a maintenance routine

Filter cleaning is one of the highest-return, lowest-effort tasks in home maintenance. Most owner's manuals recommend monthly, but every 1 to 2 months is plenty for a household that scrapes plates before loading. If you have a disposal and you never scrape, aim for monthly.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?

Every 1 to 2 months. Clean it sooner if you notice grit on clean dishes, bad smells from inside the dishwasher, or water pooling at the bottom after a cycle.

Can I put the filter in the dishwasher?

No. The mesh is too fine to clean itself in a cycle, and the filter will not stay seated during the wash. Always clean it by hand in the sink.

What happens if I never clean my dishwasher filter?

Food debris recirculates onto your dishes instead of being trapped, which leaves grit and film. It also strains the pump motor. A clogged filter is the most common reason dishwashers fail early, and a pump replacement runs $300 to $500 with labor.

My dishwasher still smells after I cleaned the filter. What else should I check?

Check the spray arms, the gasket around the door, and the drain hose. Running a cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack helps too.