Pull out the filter at the bottom of the tub, rinse it under warm running water, scrub the mesh gently with a soft brush, and lock it back in. That takes about ten minutes and is the single most useful thing you can do for a dishwasher that leaves grit on plates or smells stale. Rinse it every week or two if you use the machine a lot, and never run a wash with the filter missing.
The rest of this guide covers how to tell the filter is the problem, how to find and release the different designs, how to clean it without damaging the mesh, and what else to do while you have the rack out. If you want the wider picture, our general guide on how to clean a dishwasher covers the drum, seal and spray arms. The filter is the part most people never touch, and the one that decides how clean the water is on every cycle. Like cleaning an oven, it is routine upkeep that prevents bigger problems later.
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Is a dirty filter the reason your dishes come out grubby?
A dishwasher does not wash with fresh water for the whole cycle. It fills, heats, and then pumps the same water round through the spray arms, so anything that comes off your plates is carried round again. The filter assembly at the bottom of the tub catches food scraps on the way back to the pump so they are not sprayed over the next load. When it is clogged, the water that reaches the spray arms is dirtier and flows more slowly, and the machine has a harder time draining as well. It is the same principle as cleaning a Henry Hoover filter: once the filter clogs, flow drops and everything downstream works harder.
Signs the filter needs cleaning now
- A stale or sour smell when you open the door, often like old dishwater or a drain. Food trapped in the mesh rots in the warm, damp tub.
- Gritty or cloudy glasses and small food specks left on plates after the cycle ends.
- A greasy film on cutlery or the inside of plastic tubs, which can be a sign that grease has built up on the filter and in the sump.
- Water left standing in the bottom of the tub after the cycle. A clogged filter is one of the most common causes, and our guide to a dishwasher that is not draining goes through the others.
- New noises such as rattling or straining from the pump area, or a visibly food-clogged filter when you look in the tub.
What happens if you never clean it?
Blocked filters make the machine work harder for worse results. Debris can end up in the spray arm jets, the drain can slow down, and in the worst case the water backs up in the tub. A dishwasher that is regularly left with trapped food and grease will also smell, and a smelly machine is not a good place to put clean plates. None of this is likely to happen overnight, but it builds up, and a quick monthly rinse is far cheaper than a call-out to fix a pump that has been fed debris. If the machine still drains slowly or smells after a clean filter, the drain hose, the air gap or the waste connection may be at fault, and your manual or an appliance engineer should be the next stop.
Finding the filter in your dishwasher
On most machines the filter sits in the floor of the tub, under or just beside the lower spray arm. Take out the bottom rack first, since it will be in the way, and look for a round or cylindrical component with a handle or cap, usually in the centre or towards the back. Some narrower machines put it in a rear corner.
Where is the dishwasher filter located?
Look at the bottom of the tub once the lower rack is out. On many UK machines you will see a round plastic cap or cylinder set into the floor, often with an arrow or a padlock symbol moulded into it. Others use a flat mesh panel that lifts out or a filter tucked behind a small cover at the front. If you cannot spot it, the manual will have a diagram, and the manufacturer’s website usually offers a free PDF copy if you have lost yours.
Common filter designs
- Single cylinder: one piece with a fine mesh built in. It twists out and often has a lip or ridge to grip.
- Two-part set: a coarse outer cup and a fine inner mesh screen. The coarse part catches larger scraps and the fine part catches the small ones.
- Three-part stack: a flat base plate or micro-filter, the cylinder, and a cap that locks the lot together.
- Flat mesh panel: a disc or rectangle that sits flush with the floor and lifts out, more common on older machines.
Look for moulded arrows and symbols before you twist anything. Most designs release with a quarter turn anticlockwise, but some need a gentle press down first and others simply lift out. Your manual is the safest guide for the order the pieces come apart, and it is worth checking before you start rather than forcing a part that is meant to be released a different way.
Dishwashers belong with the other appliances that benefit from a quick look at the manual first, and the same goes for kitchen kit in our utensils and others sections: models differ more than you would expect.
Taking the filter out without making a mess
Should I turn the power off first?
Yes, it is sensible. Switch the dishwasher off at the control panel and, if you can reach the socket or an isolator switch easily, switch it off there too. Do not pull the machine out or work behind it if it is hard-wired. Wait until the tub has cooled before you reach in, since the water left in the sump and the heating element can stay hot for a while after a cycle. A tea towel in the bottom of the tub soaks up drips and catches any scraps you tip out.
Step by step
- Pull the bottom rack fully out. Most lift straight up once you slide them forward, and a few have release tabs on the runners.
- Look for any loose scraps lying on the tub floor and pick them out by hand, bagging them rather than rinsing them down the sink.
- Turn the filter cap in the direction the arrow shows, usually a quarter turn anticlockwise, and lift it free.
- Lift out the coarse filter by its top edge, keeping it upright so the trapped food stays inside, then tip the contents into the bin.
- Lift out the fine mesh screen gently. Hold it flat, because the mesh is thin and can tear if you pull it at an angle.
- If your machine has a flat base plate, check whether it lifts out too. Some do, and sludge collects under them.
If the filter will not budge
Do not yank it or lever it out with a screwdriver. Try rocking it gently while lifting, which often breaks the suction of any grease around the seat. If it is stuck, pour a little warm water around the edge and wait five minutes so the grease softens. Limescale can also grip the threads in hard-water areas, and a small amount of white vinegar around the rim for a few minutes can help. Wipe up afterwards and rinse. Check your manual if it still resists, since forcing the plastic is how filters crack.
Cleaning the filter so the mesh is actually clear
Rinse each piece under warm running water first, holding it at an angle so the water flows through the mesh instead of pushing debris into it. Most of the loose material comes away at this point.
- Soak if it is greasy. Leave the parts in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of washing-up liquid for 10 to 15 minutes to soften baked-on fat.
- Brush gently. An old soft toothbrush or a small bottle brush works well. Brush along the mesh in the direction of the weave, then around the rim and any grooves.
- Do not use harsh tools. Steel wool, scouring pads and wire brushes scratch the mesh and leave rough spots where food sticks. Avoid bleach as well, which can degrade some plastics.
- Rinse well. Run clean water through until there are no suds, then hold the mesh up to the light. You should be able to see light through every hole.
- Wipe the seat. Clean the recess the filter sits in as well, with a cloth or kitchen paper, because sludge collects there and drops back in.
What is the best way to remove stubborn grease and debris?
Soak first, then use a paste. Mix a little baking soda with water, spread it over the mesh, leave it for a few minutes and brush gently before rinsing. For a stale smell, a short soak in a mixture of white vinegar and warm water usually works, and it is gentle on plastic mesh. If you are wondering how much work baking soda and vinegar really do, see our piece on whether baking soda and vinegar clean. A dishwasher cleaner designed for the job can help with grease you cannot reach by hand, and vinegar is similarly useful on plastic parts, much like in a stainless steel sink clean. Do not combine bleach with vinegar or other cleaners, as the mix can release harmful fumes.
Check for damage while it is out
Look closely at each part. Cracks in the plastic, a split in the mesh, a warped rim or a seal that no longer sits flat are all reasons to buy a replacement from the manufacturer, using your model number. A damaged filter lets scraps through to the pump, which is exactly what it exists to prevent. Hold it up to the light: if there are holes bigger than the rest of the mesh, it is time to replace it.
Putting it back and running a test
Refit in the reverse order. Seat the coarse filter first so its top sits level with the tub floor, then drop the fine mesh into place, and finish with the cap or base plate. Turn the cap in the locking direction until it stops, and listen for the click if your model has one. It should be firm without needing force, since over-tightening can crack the plastic threads. Give it a light tug upward: if it lifts, it has not locked.
- Slide the bottom rack back in and check it runs smoothly on its runners and sits level.
- Spin the lower spray arm by hand to make sure nothing is catching on the rack or the filter cap.
- Run a short rinse or quick cycle empty, and watch the first few minutes for leaks around the filter area.
- Look at the end of the cycle for pooled water. Standing water suggests the filter is not seated properly or the drain needs attention.
While the tub is empty, wipe the door seal and the edges of the door, where grease and gunk collect, and check the spray arm holes for bits of food. A cocktail stick clears blocked holes. Check that the door closes against the seal evenly too, the way you would check the seals on double glazed windows, because a gap lets water and grease escape. If a smell lingers after all this, run a hot empty cycle with a cleaner made for dishwashers, or use citric acid if your manual allows it, and see our piece on why a drain smells in case the problem is the waste pipe and not the machine.
How often, and what else deserves a regular clean
Frequency depends on how much you cook and how well you scrape plates. Use this table as a starting point and clean sooner if you notice a smell or cloudy results. It matches the maintenance schedule most manufacturers suggest, but your own manual should take priority.
| Use | Rinse the filter | Typical household |
|---|---|---|
| Light, 1 to 3 cycles a week | Every 6 to 8 weeks | One or two people |
| Regular, 4 to 6 cycles a week | About monthly | Three or four people |
| Heavy, daily or more | Every 2 to 3 weeks | Larger households, lots of cooking |
| Part | How often | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Fine mesh filter | Weekly | Rinse under the hot tap, soft brush for trapped bits |
| Coarse filter | Monthly | Soak in warm soapy water, brush clean |
| Spray arms and seal | Monthly | Wipe the door seal, poke out blocked spray holes |
| Whole machine | Monthly | Run a hot empty cycle with dishwasher cleaner or citric acid |
Scrape, do not pre-wash
Scraping food into the bin before loading keeps the filter cleaner for longer, and most modern machines are designed to cope with a light film of food on plates. You do not need to wash everything under the tap first, which wastes water, but it is worth removing large scraps and anything sticky, such as melted cheese, dried sauce or rice. Whether the machine really beats the sink is covered in our look at dishwasher vs hand-washing.
Other quick jobs while you are at it
- Take out the spray arms if they unclip, rinse them and clear the holes.
- Wipe the door seal and the bottom edge of the door, where mould spots like to start.
- Run a hot empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner every few months, or monthly in hard-water areas.
- Check the drain hose for kinks when the machine is pulled out for another reason.
- Use the detergent and rinse aid your manual recommends, and avoid overfilling the dispenser.
Filters do not have a fixed lifespan. Replace one when it is cracked, warped, torn or will not seat, or when it stays smelly after a proper clean, and use the part number for your model. If something still seems wrong, such as persistent error codes, leaks or burning smells, switch off and call an appliance repair engineer.
What to buy for a cleaner filter
None of this is essential, since warm water and a toothbrush will do most of the work. These are the product types worth a look, with what to check before buying. Links go to Amazon UK searches, so you can compare current options and read the product pages for yourself.
- Dishwasher cleaner: a tablet, liquid or sachet cleaner made for the machine. Check that it is suitable for your dishwasher and that it targets grease and limescale, and follow the instructions for an empty hot run. It suits smelly machines more than a filter that is simply full of food.
- Citric acid: a budget descaling powder for hard-water areas. Look for food-grade powder, check your manual allows its use, and never mix it with bleach-based products.
- Cleaning brush set: a set of small brushes in different sizes reaches into spray arm jets and filter mesh. Choose soft or medium bristles that will not scratch plastic.
- Bottle brush or detail brush: a slim bottle brush with a firm handle is useful for narrow filter cups and the filter housing. Pick one with plastic-coated wire so it cannot scratch the tub.
Dishwasher filter questions people also ask
How often should I clean the dishwasher filter?
A monthly clean suits most households, and every two or three weeks is better if you run the machine daily or wash greasy pans. Rinse sooner if you notice a smell, cloudy glasses or water left in the tub. Your manual may give its own interval, and that is the one to follow.
Can I put the dishwasher filter through a cycle to clean it?
Check your manual first, because advice varies. Most manufacturers say to clean the filter by hand, as loose filters can fall to the tub floor, block the spray arm or warp in the heat. Hand-cleaning under the tap also lets you see the mesh and spot damage.
How do I know if the filter is damaged and needs replacing?
Look for cracks, a split or stretched mesh, a warped rim, or a cap that no longer locks. If it stays smelly after a proper clean, or food is getting past it, buy a replacement made for your model. Use your model number so the fit is right.
Is it safe to run the dishwasher without the filter?
No. The filter stops food scraps reaching the pump and spray arms, so running without it risks blocked jets, a clogged drain and pump damage. If you take it out to clean, refit it before the next cycle, and do not leave it off even for one wash.
Will cleaning the filter get rid of a dishwasher smell?
Often, yes, because trapped food is the usual cause. If the smell stays, wipe the door seal and spray arms, run a hot cleaning cycle, and check the drain hose and sink connection. A persistent sewage smell can mean a waste-pipe problem, and a plumber or engineer can check that.
