How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter

Manual filters capture the food scraps in the dishwasher and contain them until you clear them out. If you don’t clean a manual filter, the food it collects can cause odors and reduce water flow, preventing dishes from getting their cleanest.

To find out whether you have this type of filter, look under the plastic spray arms at the bottom of the tub, and you’ll see a plastic cylinder like the one shown below. (It resembles the filter on some carafe water filters.) You might see arrows that indicate which direction to turn the filter for unlocking and locking it.

Self-cleaning filters are exactly that: filters that both capture and dispense with food residue in the dishwasher, so they rarely need your attention. To determine whether this is the type you have, look inside the dishwasher for a plastic grid or series of holes at the base of the machine that cover the filter, as in the photo below.

Some self-cleaning filters have a grinder that pulverizes food so that it washes away easily, though our tests have found that they tend to be noisy. But good insulation can dampen the noise a dishwasher makes, which is why some dishwashers with this type of self-cleaning filter still earn decent scores in our noise tests.

To address the noise problem, many self-cleaning filters these days have an ultrafine mesh instead of a grinder. The rush of water forces food through the filter, breaking it into tiny particles that drain away with the rest of the water in the dishwasher. This quieter type of self-cleaning filter can sometimes be found in some of the more expensive dishwashers.

If you have a self-cleaning filter and you notice your dishwasher isn’t washing as well as it used to, there could be a problem with the filter. Because you can’t remove self-cleaning filters, you should consult the owner’s manual for help diagnosing the problem, and you may need to call a repair service to resolve the issue.

Because self-cleaning filters capture and pulverize food scraps, you don’t need to tend to them. But if you have a manual filter, you will need to empty and clean it from time to time.

You can check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website for your particular dishwasher model to find out how frequently you need to clean the filter. Many manufacturers suggest doing so every two to three months, though if you use your dishwasher a lot, you may need to clean it more regularly. A sure sign it’s time is when you notice bits of food stuck to your dishes after the wash cycle.

To access the filter, remove it from under the spray arms. Your particular filter might be made up of multiple parts that can be separated for a thorough cleaning. Again, check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.

Rinse the filter under running water to remove any food or debris (see below). To get rid of any stuck gunk, use a sponge or scrub brush with warm soapy water—or even a bottle brush or toothbrush if your filter has parts that are hard to get to. But it’s best to avoid wire brushes or scouring pads so that you don’t damage the filter.

Most of the dishwashers in our ratings have manual filters. Here are the best models in terms of overall performance.