Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly? An Appliance Expert Explains What to Check Before Your Next Load

Sophie Hirsh

Mon, October 19, 2026 at 10:53 AM UTC

5 min read

I don't have a dishwasher in my apartment—so every night, when I wash all the dishes that I've piled up in my tiny kitchen sink throughout the day, I wistfully think, One day, a dishwasher will come into my life and solve all my problems.

OK, I know getting an apartment with a dishwasher won't actually solve all of my problems, but it'll certainly help me save time and elbow grease on a daily basis.

That said, various friends and family members have complained about issues with their dishwasher over the years, ranging from rust developing on the top rack to mysterious smells to the machine not cleaning as thoroughly as it once did.

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Their comments have left me wondering why dishwashers always seem to experience reduced efficacy over time—and is there a way to prevent it?

To find out, we turned to Glenn Lewis , the President of Mr. Appliance , a Neighborly company that offers professional repair and maintenance services for various appliances.

According to Lewis, there's actually one hidden spot in most modern-day dishwashers that, when left uncleaned, can cause the machine to clean less effectively. Keep reading to learn more about this secret spot and how to clean it!

If Your Dishwasher Isn't Cleaning Properly, You Need to Clean This Hidden Spot

If your dishwasher isn't cleaning your dishes thoroughly, you might need to clean the filter beneath the dishwasher's lower rack.

"The filter located beneath the bottom rack is often the most overlooked area in a dishwasher ," Lewis tells Parade . "Newer dishwashers have removable filters that trap food particles and debris, and when the filter becomes clogged with food residue, grease and buildup, water flow is restricted and the dishwasher cannot effectively clean dishes."

Why You Need to Clean Your Dishwasher's Filter

As Lewis explains, the dishwasher filter "is designed to capture food particles before they recirculate through the appliance."

If the filter isn't cleaned, it can get clogged, which will "prevent proper water flow" and can "cause food debris to be redistributed onto dishes." Ewww.

And the longer you go on without cleaning the filter, the worse the problem can get.

"Over time, buildup can also contribute to odors and place additional strain on the appliance," Lewis says.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher's Hidden Filter

The first step is to check if your dishwasher has a removable filter.

"Not all brands have removable filters," says Lewis. "Be sure to read your use and care manual for your specific dishwasher."

As long as your dishwasher does have a filter, you can get started with cleaning it anytime. And fear not—though cleaning your dishwasher filter may sound like an overwhelming and icky job, Lewis is here to reassure you that it's just "a simple maintenance task." In fact, all you need is dish soap, a basic cleaning brush and a sink.

Here's how to clean your dishwasher filter, in Lewis' words:

Remove the lower rack.
Locate the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher.
Unlock and remove the filter.
Rinse the filter under hot running water to remove loose debris.
Wash it with warm water and dish soap.
Gently scrub with a soft-bristle brush if needed.
Reinstall the filter, making sure it's secure before starting the dishwasher.

From there, your next load of dishes should come out clean and sparkly!

Why So Many People Don't Know About Cleaning Their Dishwasher's Filter

You'd think that newer, high-tech dishwashers would be able to self-clean their own filters—however, it's actually the older dishwashers that had this feature, per Lewis.

"Although older dishwashers often have self-cleaning filters, most new dishwashers have a removable filter that requires routine maintenance," he explains.

"Because the filter is located beneath the lower rack and out of sight, it is easy to overlook until cleaning performance noticeably declines," Lewis adds. "It's important to regularly inspect and maintain internal components, such as the filter."

How Often to Clean Your Dishwasher's Filter

"In order to prevent odors, clogs, and reduced cleaning performance, dishwasher filters should be inspected and cleaned about once a month," Lewis says. However, this varies depending on how often you run your dishwasher.

"Homes that run frequent dishwasher cycles or regularly wash heavily soiled dishes may benefit from more frequent cleaning," he says. Conversely, if you live alone or don't run your dishwasher more than once or twice a week, you can probably go longer stretches without cleaning the filter.

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Source:

Glenn Lewis , President of Mr. Appliance

This story was originally published by Parade Home & Garden on Oct 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the House & Home section. Add Parade Home & Garden as a Preferred Source by clicking here.