Most dishwashers sold in the last decade have a manual filter at the bottom of the tub, not the self-cleaning grinder older models used. They're quieter and use less water, but the filter has to be cleaned by hand. If it isn't, food particles get recirculated onto your dishes, odors build up and the drain slows. Add hard water to the mix and spray arms clog with scale. Here's how to keep it working, grouped by part.
The filter
- Remove the bottom rack and find the filter, usually a cylinder in the floor of the tub that twists out.
- Rinse it under warm running water and scrub with a soft brush. Don't use a wire brush or anything abrasive on the fine mesh.
- Check the area under the filter for glass, bones, fruit pits or labels.
- Reinstall it and turn until it locks. A filter that isn't seated can let debris into the pump.
- How often: monthly for most households; every couple of weeks if you don't rinse dishes before loading.
The spray arms
- Spin each arm by hand. It should turn freely.
- Remove the arms (most unclip or unscrew) and look through the holes. Clear any that are blocked with a toothpick.
- Rinse them under running water and reinstall.
- Check that tall items, pan handles or utensils aren't stopping the arms when the dishwasher is loaded.
- How often: every three months, or anytime one area of the rack isn't getting clean.
The door and seals
- Wipe the door gasket and the edge of the tub with a damp cloth. Food and grease collect along the bottom of the door, outside the area the spray reaches.
- Look for tears or flattened sections in the gasket. A damaged gasket can leak.
- Check that the door closes firmly and latches. A door that drops open quickly may have a broken spring or cable.
- How often: monthly.
The drain
- After a cycle, look at the bottom of the tub. A little water around the filter is normal; more than that suggests a drain problem.
- If the dishwasher drains into the garbage disposal, run the disposal before starting the dishwasher. A full disposal can block draining.
- If you've just installed a new disposal, make sure the knockout plug inside the dishwasher inlet was removed.
- Look under the sink for a kinked drain hose.
Hard water adjustments
Much of San Diego County has hard water. Signs include cloudy glasses, white residue in the tub and spots on dishes. Keep the rinse-aid dispenser full, run an empty descaling cycle each month with a dishwasher cleaner or the product your manual recommends, and set the hardness level if your dishwasher has a softener. The scale and mineral buildup guide covers it in more depth.
Loading habits that help
- Scrape food off but don't pre-rinse heavily; modern detergents work better with some soil to act on.
- Face dirty surfaces toward the spray arms.
- Don't overload; water needs to reach every dish.
- Run hot water at the sink until it's hot before starting a cycle, so the first fill isn't cold.
- Use fresh detergent. Pods and powders absorb moisture and lose effectiveness if stored in a humid spot under the sink.
Problems a cleaning won't fix
If the filter, spray arms and drain are clean and the dishwasher still doesn't clean, doesn't drain, leaks, doesn't fill or shows an error code, the cause is likely a pump, inlet valve, heating element, sensor or control. Our dishwasher technicians can diagnose it and give you a written estimate before any work begins. We service most major brands, including KitchenAid, Bosch and Whirlpool.
In condos with shared plumbing, such as many buildings in Mission Valley, a dishwasher leak can reach the unit below quickly. If you see water under the dishwasher, turn off the water supply valve under the sink and stop using it until it's checked.
Odors
A dishwasher that smells is almost always a dishwasher with food trapped somewhere: the filter, the bottom of the door, the drain hose or the disposal it drains into. Clean the filter, wipe the door edges, then run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner. If the smell is like sewage rather than old food, the drain connection or the air gap at the sink may be the cause, which is worth having checked.
Five-minute version
If you only do one thing, clean the filter once a month. It solves more dishwasher complaints than anything else on this page.