topic Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter in Kitchen

Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:22:11 GMT

I received an email regarding the most common issues with your dishwasher and one of them was regarding gritty or dishes that didn't come clean.

Since I consider myself a DIY type of homeowner, I try to keep all preventative maintenance done sooner then later to avoid costly repairs. I don't have any issues with my dishwasher, but decided to check the filter just to see if I should clean it. Cleaning just involved soaking it until the screen comes clean (no scrubbing recommended, (but I did use the spray feature on my kitchen faucet to make sure I got rid of everything).

Well ladies, below is how it looked - Yuck..... and I rinse all my dishes before putting them in! I'm thinking most of it is dishwasher soap, but either way, it's gross.

If you haven't checked yours lately, try you tube for instructions, mine is a Whirlpool and only involved turning the round filter counterclockwise and lifting it out.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Fofina — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:25:29 GMT

i must have the same dishwasher. Checked mine a few days ago and it was caked with detergent just like yours.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:28:41 GMT

My poor Jenn-Air dishwasher. It's been good to me. Both baskets have rusted so bad...it's the wonder I'm not orange (rust).

I have no idea where the prongs that used to be in it are. They just disappeared...somewhere.

It's supposed to have a grinder something or other in it.

I ordered new baskets about 1 year ago. From Sears. Then when I realized they hadn't come, I called Sears and said they were not coming (nice to let me know).

So, I'm ready to cough up a few dollars short of $500...yepper, that's the cost of 2 baskets. I could buy a new dishwasher for that price.

I'm all about easy so I'll just buy the @#$ baskets and have my friend (can't bend over) put the one's in.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

SharkE — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:34:55 GMT

My Bosch will show on the LED

E 22 if it needs cleaning. Pretty easy to take out and use brush on and run under hot water and reinsert

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

deeva — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:37:32 GMT

I have the same filter in my Jenn Air. I clean the filter regularly.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

GSPgirl — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 19:56:08 GMT

We clean ours our every few months. If your dishwasher has a bad smell, it’s most likely the filte being clogged up with food and paper particles.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

GingerPeach — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:01:53 GMT

Thank you for the reminder.

When I FINALLY was able to purchase a new dishwasher last year, one of the main things I wanted was a super-easy-to-clean filter. My new Miele has one that just twists and lifts out. An indicator tells me when to clean as well. It really is super easy to work with as you only have to move the handle about 45 degrees to be able to lift it out. It looks like this:

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

SeaMaiden — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:20:04 GMT

@CAcableGirl2 Thank-you! Never knew anout this or thought about this. I have a brand new dishwasher and I never use Do my dishes by hand. I only run it through a cycle -empty - about once every three months to keep it flowing. But, if I do start using it, thi is good information!

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

pupwhipped — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:02:28 GMT

Well, call me one big dummy! I didn't even know there was a filter on my dishwasher. Guess I'll go see if I can locate it...GE Profile model.

On another appliance note, if any one reads this and wants to comment, have you ever had your dryer vent that runs to the outside cleaned by a professional company? I was getting rust color stains on my clothes from my dryer. Appliance guy put in a new seal and corrected that issue. I mentioned to him that my dryer doesn't seem to be as hot as it once was and he said to have the vent cleaned. He suggested I call Steamatic to have that done as his company does not do it. Anyone have experience with this? TIA!!!

Off to find that dishwasher filter!

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Nightowlz — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:27:27 GMT

Gross after watching a video on YouTube I'm glad we wash our dishes by hand. That dishwasher was so nasty there's no way it's cleaning your dishes. LOL!!!

There's only 2 of us so it takes forever to full the dishwasher before we can run it. We never put pots or pans in the dishwasher.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:31:45 GMT

Wow, I did not know my dishwaher had a filter.....

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Carol Diane — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:36:29 GMT

Just a note....I just went to try and find the filter on my Kenmore dishwasher. I couldn't find anything so I looked it up. Mine does not have a filter that the average owner can get to. You have to shut off the electric and go through a whole process. They suggest having a professional do it....of course.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Daysdee — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:44:33 GMT

@GingerPeach I have an older Miele (which I love) and about three years ago I had to have a repair done. The guy told me about cleaning that filter so I do it on my schedule now. Never cleaned a filter in any other dishwasher I've had over many years. It is easy to clean and amazing the way it is so dirty. My filter is the same as the one you pictured.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Daysdee — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:47:35 GMT

@pupwhipped My DH cleaned the dryer vent thing for years. Now I have to have someone do it. I have it done every two years since I only do laundry for one. If it isn't cleaned it not only can affect the heating of your dryer where it takes longer to dry the clothes, but it also can cause fires. I know people that have never had it done.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:48:08 GMT

@pupwhipped If it takes longer to dry your clothes then it used to, it could be that the pipe is clogged with lint. I believe most dryers will automatically shut off (and not turn back on) if it becomes too clogged to avoid a fire.

If you have the vent that just goes outside on the ground floor, it's easy to just pull your dryer out, remove the hose and check.

If you have one that goes up the wall and exits on the roof, you will need to get one of those poles with the brush on it and have someone on the roof just unclog it like a plumber runs a snake tool through the pipe to clear it.

My dryer died and it was time to buy a new one, but I also wanted to make sure it was clear since I have one that exits on the roof and I had never had it cleaned.

My son got all the lint on the ground floor that he could get to and then had to climb on the roof to "drill" the flexible pole from the top down to push the lint out the bottom.

I was surprised to see the amount of lint that was in that pipe since I always clear out the vent in the dryer ever time I use it.

Here is what we used from Lowes - I'm not sure what someone would charge, but I'm thinking it can't be more then a couple of hundred dollars.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

icezeus — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:51:04 GMT

I am afraid to look. I did not even know until reading this thread that my dishwasher had a filter. Ummm... I have lived in my home for 15 years.

Next week, I will be checking out Youtube to see if I can figure out where it's located and how to clean.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:52:54 GMT

@Mom2Dogs I didn't know it had one either, so imagine my surprise on how disgusting it was. I did also find a flat screen that lifted up once the round filter was off, and of course it had stuff on it too. I think it was paper that had come off of jars that I had put in to re-use. Lession learned, take all paper labels off jars before putting in dishwasher!

Super easy to get to and clean, it was just on the bottom of the washer under the bottom rack that I lifted out once the round filter was out.

I then got motivated and changed my house air filter today too.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:54:45 GMT

@CAcableGirl2.....there is only two of us in the house so the dishwasher most of the time is 'me'...but I am now very curious so I will need to see if I have a filter I can get to.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

sunshine45 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:56:25 GMT

recently purchased two new dishwashers.....one for our home, one for our beach home. they are both kitchenaid and they have a "clean water wash system" that do not require you to remove and clean the filters. all of the buttons are on the inside top of the door. love the clean lines of this model.......only thing on the outside is the door handle.

Re: Yuk! Check your dishwasher filter

Citrine1 — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 22:20:25 GMT

Hmmm. Add me to the list of people who had no idea that the dishwasher had a filter!