Domakihub How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter (and Keep It That Way)
A clogged filter is why your dishes smell and come out gritty — fix it in under 10 minutes.
Reviewed by Domakihub cleaning pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
The dishwasher filter is the most overlooked component in any kitchen — and in Greece, where hard water and olive-oil residue are constant facts of life, a neglected filter can turn a reliable appliance into a smelly underperformer within weeks. The video above walks through the removal and rinse process visually; the steps below give you the full sequence with tips tailored to homes, holiday rentals, and hotel kitchens. No special tools required — just warm water and five minutes of your time.
Why the Filter Gets Dirty So Fast
Every time your dishwasher runs, it traps food particles, grease, and limescale in a mesh filter at the base of the tub. In heavily used kitchens — holiday rentals turning over guests weekly, taverna-adjacent apartments, or hotel breakfast stations — the filter can reach a clogging point in less than two weeks. The result is standing water in the bottom of the tub, cloudy glassware, and a sour odour that no amount of rinse aid can mask.
Greece's notoriously hard water compounds the problem. Calcium deposits bind to the mesh and make routine food debris harder to rinse away. Cleaning the filter every one to two weeks in high-use properties, and once a month in ordinary households, is the maintenance rhythm that keeps the machine performing as designed.
Manual vs Self-Cleaning Filters
Older dishwashers — and many entry-level models still sold in Greece — use a self-cleaning filter with a built-in grinder that pulverises food debris so it drains away. These are louder but largely maintenance-free. Most modern dishwashers, including Bosch, Siemens, Miele, and AEG units popular in Greek apartments, use a manual filter system: a cylindrical mesh tube sitting inside a flat coarse strainer at the bottom of the tub. Both parts need periodic cleaning by hand.
If you are unsure which type your machine has, look inside the tub floor after a cycle. A visible mesh basket or cylindrical tube means you have a manual filter that needs your attention.
How to Clean a Dishwasher Filter: 5 Steps
- 1
Remove the bottom rack and locate the filter
Pull the lower dish rack all the way out. Look at the floor of the tub — you will see a round cylindrical filter (the fine mesh tube) sitting inside a flat circular strainer. On most brands the cylindrical filter has an arrow indicating which direction to turn it. Note the arrow before you touch anything.
- 2
Twist out the cylindrical filter
Grip the top of the cylindrical filter and turn it counterclockwise (typically a quarter-turn) until it releases. Lift it straight up and out. Then lift the flat coarse strainer beneath it — it should come free with gentle upward pressure. Set both pieces on the edge of the sink.
- 3
Rinse both parts under warm running water
Hold each piece under warm running water and use your fingers or a soft brush — an old toothbrush is perfect — to loosen any trapped food, grease, or white limescale deposits. Do not use abrasive scourers or steel wool; they will damage the mesh. For stubborn build-up, soak both parts in a bowl of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of white vinegar for five minutes, then rinse again.
- 4
Check and wipe the filter housing in the tub
Before you reassemble, wipe out the filter cavity inside the dishwasher with a damp cloth or sponge. Food debris and sludge collect around the rim of the housing. A quick wipe here prevents the clean filter from immediately picking up whatever was left behind — a step most guides skip, but one that makes a real difference.
- 5
Refit the filter and run a short cycle
Lower the flat strainer back into place, then push the cylindrical filter down into it and turn clockwise until it locks. Replace the bottom rack. Run the dishwasher on a short hot cycle — 60 °C or higher — with the tub empty and a dishwasher-safe cleaning tablet or half a cup of white vinegar in the base. This flushes any loosened residue from the spray arms and drain.
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FAQ
- How often should I clean the dishwasher filter?
- In a family home with daily use, once a month is usually enough. In a holiday rental, short-term let, or hotel setting with heavy turnover, clean it every one to two weeks — or after every three to four guest stays. If you notice a bad smell or gritty dishes before that interval, clean it immediately.
- My filter looks clean but the dishwasher still smells. What else should I check?
- A clean filter rules out the most common cause, but odour can also come from grease on the spray arms, mould along the door gasket, or stagnant water in the drain hose. Wipe the rubber door seal with a damp cloth and white vinegar, unblock the spray arm holes with a toothpick, and run a hot-cycle clean with a dishwasher cleaner to tackle the drain area.
- Can I put the filter in the dishwasher itself to clean it?
- It is not recommended. The high-pressure spray and detergent can warp the fine mesh or damage the plastic casing over time. A gentle hand-rinse under warm water — with a soft brush for stubborn spots — is safer and just as effective. Reserve the dishwasher for dishes, not its own parts.