Appliances2 min read
How to clean a dishwasher filter
Gritty glasses and a stale smell usually point to one small part. Cleaning the filter takes about ten minutes and makes a real difference.
By HouseRoutines team · Published
Quick answer: Every 2–4 weeks: twist the filter out, rinse it under warm water with a soft brush and refit it until it locks.
Most modern dishwashers don’t grind food waste away. Instead, a filter at the bottom of the tub catches it — and when that filter clogs, water circulates less freely, dishes come out gritty and the machine starts to smell.
How often?
Every two to four weeks is a sensible range. Lean towards the shorter end if you run the dishwasher daily or rarely scrape plates, and towards the longer end if you use it a few times a week.
Signs it needs attention now
- A film or grit on glasses and cutlery
- A sour or stale smell when you open the door
- Water left standing in the bottom after a cycle
Step by step
- Make sure the dishwasher is off and cool.
- Pull out the bottom rack to reach the floor of the tub.
- Twist the cylindrical filter (usually anticlockwise) and lift it out, together with the flat mesh beneath it.
- Rinse both under warm running water. Loosen grease with a soft brush and a drop of washing-up liquid.
- Wipe out the opening where the filter sits and remove any debris.
- Refit the mesh and the filter, and turn until it locks. A loose filter lets debris reach the pump.
Once a month or two: a deeper clean
Every one to two months, run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner. It shifts grease and limescale from places you can’t see. Check your manual first — some models have their own cleaning programme.
Let your home remember
Filter cleaning is exactly the kind of routine that slips. Add it to your plan once and it simply comes back every few weeks, alongside the rest of your weekly routine.
