If you have a dishwasher, you’re familiar with its many benefits. This is especially true if you’ve ever lived for an extended period of time without one. When I lived in a small apartment, not having a dishwasher meant trying to wash and dry plates, bowls, pans, and pots all at the same time on a tiny countertop. Now, it’s much easier to simply toss some dishes in the dishwasher and have them ready to be used again in no time.
In my home now, I pride myself on being able to load the dishwasher effectively and pack in as many things as possible into it. I don’t miss those days of handwashing everything, so I make the most of having a dishwasher. However, sometimes I pack too much in, and not everything gets super clean. At least that’s why I thought the dishes weren’t coming out clean. Turns out: I was neglecting a basic part of the dishwasher.
You need to clean the filter in the dishwasher regularly
I forgot about it for a long time
Recently, my sink had been backed up a bit. It was draining slowly, and I couldn’t figure out where the clog was. I tried using a liquid drain cleaner to no avail. But I noticed that whenever I was running my dishwasher, the water would back up into the sink even more.
This made me eventually snake the drain and clear out the gunk and waste that had been building inside the sink’s pipes. It solved the problem of any water backing up from the dishwasher into the sink, too.
This ordeal made me think more about what having a dishwasher entails. Sadly, I hadn’t thought much about the filter until then.
I knew there was a filter in the dishwasher, but I hadn’t ever set a reminder to clean it out or even really thought about cleaning it. If a dish or a few dishes didn’t come out clean, I always figured they were too dirty to begin with, and there was nothing the dishwasher could have done. I’d then take them out and hand-wash them to get them clean again.
When the water was backing up, there was a stench from the dishwasher that was not pleasant. I took the bottom rack out and unscrewed the cover to the filter. When I removed the filter, I saw food bits caked onto it, with gross food bits everywhere.
I was sick of dust coming back right after cleaning and this trick fixed it
Why do I dust if it immediately returns?
Properly cleaning the filter isn’t hard
It only takes a bit of time
Not all dishwasher filters are the same. But many are found below the spray arm at the bottom of the dishwasher. How to remove them varies.
For the most part, there are two kinds of filters. One is a manual filter, which is like the one you see in the photos. My dishwasher’s manual filter is made from fine mesh that traps the food and keeps it from going into parts of the dishwasher where it could be dangerous. The mesh is housed in a plastic that screws into the dishwasher. These are the most common filters in newer dishwashers.
Some older dishwashers have self-cleaning filters. These have a grinder built into them that breaks down food like a blender. It can be a bit more difficult to clean the filter from there, but it works well to get rid of the food.
My dishwasher is a Bosch and has a filter at the bottom of the machine below the spray arm. I don’t have to interact with the spray arm in order to get it out, either.
This ordeal made me think more about what having a dishwasher entails. Sadly, I hadn’t thought much about the filter until then.
Unscrewing the lid and lifting the filter out is simple. When you take the filter out, you might see some standing water in there, which will get flushed out if your dishwasher isn’t clogged.
It’s important to run the filter under water to get off as much of the larger bits of food first. I use a soft sponge to scrape away some of the bigger pieces before switching to a small brush to get rid of the rest of the caked-on gunk. I apply gentle pressure, as even though the mesh is strong, I don’t want to potentially puncture it.
After a few more rinses, the filter looks brand new again, and it’s safe to return it to the dishwasher.
Keeping up more regularly on this eliminates maintenance costs
You don’t want to have to pay for a new dishwasher because of something like this
While you’re not supposed to scrub your dishes clean before putting them in the dishwasher, you want to get rid of some of the bigger things that could potentially clog your filter. You want a little bit of mess on your plates and bowls because the dishwasher’s sensors will trigger a better clean.
When it comes to the filter, a few minutes of your time every month or two can prevent potentially disastrous consequences. Not only do the dishes not get as clean, but the food buildup can also smell. Food can block the spray arm’s holes, minimizing its effectiveness.
The dirtier the filter is, the more likely a clog is to happen. If a clog happens, it can hurt your dishwasher’s drainage and potentially cause a leak. A leak can cost you a lot of money to fix, especially if it’s leaking somewhere internally in your home. Fixing this problem while you can is a smart decision, as you make your kitchen feel cleaner.
Cleaning your dishwasher filter saves money
Avoid a big bill by rinsing your dishwasher’s filter regularly. By doing this, you get rid of potentially harmful food waste that can build up inside your dishwasher and cause all kinds of issues. Unscrewing the filter and cleaning it won’t take long, and your dishwasher is better for it. Don’t be neglectful, and you’ll be better off.
