TaskFlush the filter
How oftenOnce a month
MethodWarm tap water
Maintenance & prevention
How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter the Right Way
A clean filter supports good drainage and cleaning. Here is a safe routine.
Maintenance & prevention
How to Clean Your Dishwasher overview
Cleaning a Maytag dishwasher filter means turning the upper filter assembly a quarter turn counterclockwise, lifting it out, pulling the lower filter forward, rinsing both, and brushing gently with a soft brush. Never use a wire brush or scouring pad, and never run the dishwasher without the filters locked in place. Gritty dishes, odor, or poor draining are the usual signs it is due.
A filter that needs cleaning disrupts the daily kitchen routine, yet one gritty load does not prove anything has failed. Stick to observations that are safe to repeat, and keep notes you can hand over if a Maytag service visit follows.
Start with the simple conditions
Let the dishwasher finish, switch it off, and wait for it to cool; then follow the manual to find the filter, twist it, and lift it out exactly as described. Leave panels, fittings, and controls alone and never force anything. If a simple adjustment changes the result, run a regular cycle once before you decide what it showed.
TaskLoosen residue
How oftenWhen needed
MethodSoft-bristle brush
TaskInspect the housing
How oftenEvery cleaning
MethodLight wipe
Food particles caught in the mesh or filter housing can weaken washing and slow draining, notably where dishes go in unrinsed. Pay attention to the timing too: does it happen on every run, with certain loads or settings, or only once the machine has been working a while? Those clues beat repeated restarts.
How is a dishwasher filter system built?
Maytag describes a triple filtration system on many models. The upper filter assembly keeps oversized items and fine particles out of the pump, and the lower filter keeps food from recirculating onto your dishes. Some models use a self-cleaning filter that relies on centrifugal force and water pressure, while others are manual-clean, so the first job is to find out which you have. Some designs use a foreign object cup that needs no routine cleaning and only emptying when full.
For the steps, pull out the lower rack, turn the upper assembly counterclockwise and lift, then lift the lower filter by its circular opening and pull it forward. Rinse under running water. Hard-water calcium can be loosened with a soft brush.
Safe checks that protect the appliance
Model-specific controls, filter access, and maintenance timing are spelled out in the manual that came with the machine, so read it first. Only clean what it labels as owner-serviceable, with the products it recommends, and reseat every removable part as intended.
- Note any displayed message or error code first, then clear it.
- Inspect the hoses, vents, seals, and plugs in plain view and leave electrical connections where they are.
- Prefer one controlled trial over a string of rapid repeats.
- Scrape plates and let the hot tap run at the sink before starting, which sends less soil toward the filter.
Fine for owners
- Flush with warm water
- Brush softly
- Seat the filter firmly
Technician-only
- Poke with sharp tools
- Operate with it removed
- Reach down into the pump
Prior to starting another cycle, clear anything obstructing the machine, cut back an oversized load, and be sure airflow, water supply, and door clearance are free. Frequent resets are a poor idea; they can disguise an intermittent problem and strand water, heat, or pressure somewhere it does not belong.
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Frequently asked questions
Wait until the dishwasher is off and cool, then use the manual to locate, twist, and lift the filter only as instructed.
Only if there is no burning smell, smoke, sparking, gas odor, water near electricity, or other safety warning. Otherwise stop and arrange service.
Book a diagnosis when the safe checks above do not resolve cleaning a dishwasher filter, or when the next step would require opening the appliance or testing internal parts.
Tell us what’s wrong — we’ll take it from there
Share a few details and we’ll confirm an appointment. Prefer to talk? Call us and we’ll help right away.
Reach us directly
Phone
(844) 415-0954
Hours
Mon–Sat: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Service area
Serving Miami, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas.
Response time
Appointment timing depends on ZIP, route capacity, appliance type, access and parts.