If your dishes have been coming out of the dishwasher with little bits of food stuck on them, cloudy glasses, or that weird “not quite clean” look, there’s a good chance your dishwasher isn’t actually the problem. The real culprit might be hiding at the bottom of the machine. Most people have no idea their dishwasher even has a filter that needs to be cleaned! It’s one of those simple maintenance jobs that’s easy to overlook, but it can make a huge difference in how well your dishwasher performs.
The dishwasher filter is designed to catch food particles before they get pumped back onto your dishes. Over time, those bits of food, grease, and grime build up until the filter gets clogged. When that happens, your dishwasher can’t circulate water as efficiently, which means your dishes don’t get as clean. The good news? Cleaning the filter only takes a few minutes, requires no special tools, and can instantly improve your dishwasher’s cleaning performance.
To make things even easier, I’ve put together a complete step-by-step YouTube video that walks you through the entire process. I’ll show you exactly where to find the filter, how to safely remove it, the best way to clean it, and how to reinstall it correctly. Whether you’ve never cleaned your dishwasher filter before or it’s just been a while, you’ll be surprised how quick and simple the whole process really is. Be sure to watch the video embedded below before you get started!
Once you’ve cleaned the filter, you’ll probably notice cleaner dishes, better-smelling dishwasher cycles, and improved overall performance. It’s also a great way to help extend the life of your dishwasher since it won’t have to work as hard to circulate water. I recommend checking your filter every month or two, especially if you run your dishwasher frequently or don’t rinse dishes before loading them.
Sometimes the best DIY tips aren’t expensive upgrades or fancy gadgets—they’re the simple maintenance tricks that keep the things you already own working like new. Cleaning your dishwasher filter is one of those jobs that most homeowners never think about until something stops working well. Spend five minutes on it today, then watch the video below for the full walkthrough. Your dishwasher—and your dishes—will thank you!
Did you know your washing machine also has a filter?