VIDEO: How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filters

Hey, first-time homeowners, do you know you’re supposed to be cleaning your dishwasher filters as often as once a week? C’mon, you don’t have to lie to me. How could you know that? Five seconds ago, you just found out your dishwasher has … filters.

This May Also Interest You: VIDEO: Clean and Unclog Your Garbage Disposal With This Hack!

No shade. A lot of people don’t know about this. But trust me, this appliance maintenance task is as easy as it is important — and if we can do it, you can do it. Watch our helpful DIY how-to video below and bid a not-so-fond farewell to those funky filters in your dishwasher.

Your dishwasher filters catch all the gunk and nasty food particles that come off your dishes during a wash cycle so that they don’t clog the drain or wind up right back on your bowls, plates and glasses.

If you don’t routinely clean these filters — as often as once a week for large families and at least quarterly for smaller households with less-frequent dishwasher use — debris will build up, causing unsanitary conditions and foul odors, not to mention reducing efficiency and shortening the lifespan of your appliance.

The specific location, configuration and removal process for your filters will vary by manufacturer and model — so check your manual — but they’ll generally be found at the base of the inside of your dishwasher, underneath the bottom rack.

Follow these steps to ensure your dishwasher keeps on washing dishes:

1. Remove the bottom rack.

2. Find your fine mesh filter.

3. Remove your fine mesh filter per manufacturer instructions.

4. Scrub out all that gag-reflex-triggering gunk using a clean sponge or brush and warm water with a little bit of dish soap.

5. Now remove your coarse mesh filter.

6. Scrub the coarse mesh filter clean, too.

7. Replace the coarse mesh filter.

8. Replace the fine mesh filter.

9. Replace the bottom rack.

And there you have it. Your dishes will be clean enough to … eat off of.

Once you’ve watched the video and tried out this DIY IRL, consider liking and sharing, and if you really found it helpful, subscribe to the HomeServe YouTube channel for more home maintenance and repair content weekly.

More Related Articles:

• Why Isn’t My Dishwasher Draining?

• Weird Sound Coming From the Dishwasher? How to Diagnose Dishwasher Noises

• How Much Does a Dishwasher Cost?

• What’s the Deal With Countertop Dishwashers?

• The Filth Shall Get Them Clean: Why You Don’t Need to Pre-Rinse Your Dishes