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Quick answer
It depends on how many loads you run and how much food goes in with the dishes. Bosch says to clean the filter every few months, and every month if you have hard water. Whirlpool says every three to six months in general, and gives a schedule that goes as often as once a week for heavy, unscraped loads.
For the rest of the machine (Whirlpool brand):
affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, 6 tabletsWhirlpool's schedule
| How you load | Loads per week | Clean the filter |
|---|---|---|
| Wash dishes before loading | Up to 14 | Once a year |
| Scrape only | 1–7 | Twice a year |
| Scrape only | 8–14 | Every three months |
| Scrape and rinse | 1–7 | Once a year |
| Scrape and rinse | 8–14 | Twice a year |
| No scraping or rinsing | 1–3 | Every two months |
| No scraping or rinsing | 4–7 | Once a month |
| No scraping or rinsing | 8–12 | Every two weeks |
| No scraping or rinsing | 13–14 | Once a week |
Signs it's due now
Whirlpool says to clean the filter if you can see food or soil in it, if cleaning results get worse, or if dishes come out gritty.
- Some Whirlpool models have a Clean Filter light. After cleaning, Whirlpool says to hold the Clean Filter button for 3 seconds, then open and close the door to reset it.
- Water left in the tub is a different problem. See dishwasher not draining.
Do you need to pre-rinse?
Whirlpool says it isn't necessary to wash or even rinse dishes first: scrape off large food particles and load them. It also says detergent on pre-washed dishes can cause permanent white etching over time. Its schedule shows the trade-off: the less you scrape, the more often the filter needs cleaning.
Soft brush only. Whirlpool says a wire brush or scouring pad can damage the filter.
How we work: the schedule is Whirlpool's; the hard-water advice is Bosch's. We don't test dishwashers ourselves. Sources are listed below.
Questions people ask
How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?
Bosch says every few months, or monthly with hard water. Whirlpool says every three to six months in general, and more often for heavy, unscraped loads.
What's the most often I'd need to clean it?
Whirlpool's schedule says weekly if you run 13 to 14 loads a week without scraping or rinsing.
Do I need to rinse dishes before loading?
Whirlpool says it isn't necessary: scrape off large food particles and load them. Its schedule shows that less scraping means more frequent filter cleaning.
Sources
Last checked Oct 23, 2026. Steps come from Whirlpool's product help pages and Bosch's support pages and manual. Turn off power at the breaker before working on a dishwasher that won't drain.
