Page 11 | To never have cleaned my dishwasher

Pavementworrier · 2026-01-09T21:22:43+00:00

Is it true you're supposed to do it monthly???

HostaCentral · 09/01/2026 21:53

Yep. I unscrew the filter and give it a clean. There's always a few peas in there along with bacterial slime. Also look around and under the door edges. Last time it took several sheets of paper towel to remove the brown bacterial slime that has accumulated along the door seals. It stank.Yummy.

I just use soda crystals on a hot run to give a general clean once in a while.

SugarCoatSandwich · 09/01/2026 21:53

Of course you need to clean them!

The edges get filthy and the filter develops like a mould sponge.

You also need to take out the grill thst goes around the filter and clean the arms.

WhatFlavourIsIt · 09/01/2026 21:52

@Pavementworrier- No you gotta pull it out. It will look like a grey jelly smell like something ungodly.

TY78910 · 09/01/2026 21:51

TokenGinger · 09/01/2026 21:48

I do a cleaning cycle with a bottle of the cleaning solution every four weeks, but this filter thing is new to me!! Arghhh. Where is it? We have an integrated one, do I need to pull off my base board to find it? So many questions!!

No! It’s like a round thing at the bottom of the dishwasher! You twist and pull out a cylinder of muck!

Justwingingit2005 · 09/01/2026 21:50

We had a new hob fitted. The repair man put his cup in dishwasher. He said that could do with a clean (I'd never done it). He said once a month to six weeks.... I must admit I did it and it smells lovely.

ReignOfError · 09/01/2026 21:50

Good grief, the things you learn. I’ve had dishwashers since 1989, and apart from the filters and the door, I’ve never cleaned one. I’m sure I will start now…

INeedAnotherName · 09/01/2026 21:50

WHAT??!

TY78910 · 09/01/2026 21:49

Pavementworrier · 09/01/2026 21:46

So can any cleaning products just dissolve it so I don't have to open the filter?

(I am happy to be bad for the environment)

No, you still need to open the filter and give that a scrub. Nothing will dissolve what’s in there it needs to be ‘picked off’. I can only describe it as the equivalent of if you squeezed out all the juice out of an orange and was left with the white stringy bits - that’s the consistency. I use an Ikea kitchen brush just to scrub it off under water.

Also - would it blow your mind if I told you you’re supposed to unscrew the wing things as well and scrub around the holes? That also builds up the same stuff as around your filter!

Windywuss · 09/01/2026 21:49

VoodooQualities · 09/01/2026 21:48

Definitely clean the filter every couple of weeks like I do* - it gets clogged with food and horrible slimy grimness.

*I am responsible for it, but I actually execute the job by reminding my husband to do it, this is fair and correct.

I don't have a husband. Damn it 😭

TokenGinger · 09/01/2026 21:48

I do a cleaning cycle with a bottle of the cleaning solution every four weeks, but this filter thing is new to me!! Arghhh. Where is it? We have an integrated one, do I need to pull off my base board to find it? So many questions!!

VoodooQualities · 09/01/2026 21:48

Definitely clean the filter every couple of weeks like I do* - it gets clogged with food and horrible slimy grimness.

*I am responsible for it, but I actually execute the job by reminding my husband to do it, this is fair and correct.

Original poster

Pavementworrier · 09/01/2026 21:46

So can any cleaning products just dissolve it so I don't have to open the filter?

(I am happy to be bad for the environment)

OP posts:

justasking111 · 09/01/2026 21:46

A friend called out the plumber when hers stopped working. Yep she didn't know about the filter. Chicken, fish bones, broken glass will do that 😔

Windywuss · 09/01/2026 21:45

I'll put it on the to do list along with changing the toilet seat 🙈

WhatFlavourIsIt · 09/01/2026 21:44

@Windywuss- you can usually YouTube it. Most makes and models come apart in much the same way..

Windywuss · 09/01/2026 21:42

Grim. I suspected I was supposed to do this but no idea how or where the manual is.

Potatoelephant · 09/01/2026 21:41

I do ours whenever the glasses look a bit grimy after a wash. It does make a difference.

also bleach spray and wipe around the edge of the door regularly as that bit gets dirty and think it’s worse as it’s an integrated one so it’s like the back of a cupboard door round the edge.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 09/01/2026 21:38

I clean ours once every couple of weeks, we've got a Fisher Paykel 2 drawer one so the filters are quite small and they get greasy/clogged easily. And I take the rotating arms out and run under the taps to get any debris out. I then go round the seals with a wet cloth and washing up liquid.

I'll get my coat.....

WhatFlavourIsIt · 09/01/2026 21:37

Oh you're in for a treat when you pull out the filter. When I go to clean a new clients house it's one of the 1st things I do. I make sure I'm alone because I have a strong stomach for most things out a dishwasher filter is the only thing apart from cat puke that will have me retching over the sink.

Cornflowers35 · 09/01/2026 21:37

When I had to get my washing machine fixed the engineer recommended monthly service washes (or both dishwasher and washing machine) using soda crystals.

TY78910 · 09/01/2026 21:34

Yes maybe not monthly but every 6w or so. Coincidentally done it today and the dishwasher smells lemony even after doing a load which is pleasant. But I do it because I find after a while it doesn’t clean the glasses very well.

ImmortalJillyCooper · 09/01/2026 21:34

Does anyone put Calgon in every wash like the instructions tell you?

Whizzingwhippet · 09/01/2026 21:33

Ignorance was bliss 😭
(crosses fingers DH is happy to have this on his jobs list...)

dementedpixie · 09/01/2026 21:33

I do clean out the filter and mesh bit from time to time. Usually when it stops cleaning so well. It can get a bit grim

ImmortalJillyCooper · 09/01/2026 21:32

Pavementworrier · 09/01/2026 21:31

There's a filter at the bottom you're supposed to empty out (ugh)

Haven't tried yet

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That’s different. Even I do that every few months!