Where Is the Filter in a Whirlpool Dishwasher?

Okay, real talk—have you ever opened your dishwasher, expecting sparkling clean dishes, only to be hit with… funky smells and cloudy glassware? Yeah, same. The culprit? Nine times out of ten, it’s that sneaky little thing called the filter. And if you’ve got a Whirlpool dishwasher, you’re probably wondering: Where the heck is it? Let’s find out together.

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So… What Even Is the Dishwasher Filter?

Before we go hunting, let’s quickly break it down. Think of the dishwasher filter as the bouncer at your favorite club. It stands there, catching all the food scraps and gunk so they don’t clog up the plumbing or swirl back onto your clean dishes. Gross, right?

Now, most Whirlpool dishwashers have a manual filter system, which means it doesn’t clean itself. Yup—you gotta give it a little TLC every now and then. But don’t worry, it’s way easier than it sounds.

Alright, Where Is This Thing Hiding?

Here’s where the fun begins.

Open the dishwasher (obviously).
Remove the bottom rack to give yourself some wiggle room.
Now, look at the bottom of the tub, right in the center. That little circular thing? Bingo. That’s your filter.

You’ll usually see two parts:

A lower mesh filter (flat and round)
And a cylindrical upper filter that kind of looks like a twisty water bottle lid

If you’ve never noticed it before, don’t worry—you’re definitely not alone. Whirlpool made it blend in real well. Almost too well.

How Do You Take It Out?

Okay, don’t yank anything just yet.

Grab the cylinder-shaped upper filter and twist it counterclockwise (lefty-loosey, baby).

Pull it up gently.
Then lift out the flat mesh filter underneath.

Boom. You’ve officially found and removed the filter like a boss.

Now What? Is Cleaning It Gross?

Ehh… a little. But oddly satisfying.

Take the filters to your sink, rinse them under warm water, and maybe give them a scrub with a soft brush or old toothbrush. If there’s stubborn grease or food stuck on, soak ’em in a bit of warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes. Done and done.

Oh—and never put them in the dishwasher to clean them. That defeats the whole purpose, doesn’t it?

Putting It All Back In (Because You Kinda Have To)

Once they’re squeaky clean:

Slide the mesh filter back into place.
Drop the cylindrical filter on top.

Twist it clockwise to lock it in.

Make sure everything’s snug. You shouldn’t be able to spin the filter around freely if it’s locked in correctly.

How Often Should You Do This?

Honestly? It depends.

If you rinse your dishes well, every 1-2 months is probably fine.
If you’re like most of us and toss everything in with a little leftover pasta sauce or cereal bits still hanging around—try every 2-3 weeks.

Set a reminder. Your dishwasher (and your nose) will thank you.

Final Thoughts (AKA Dishwasher Wisdom You Didn’t Know You Needed)

Finding the filter in your Whirlpool dishwasher might’ve felt like a mystery before, but now you know the drill. It’s like finding a secret hatch in your kitchen that leads to cleaner dishes.

So next time your dishwasher smells like a leftover burrito or your glasses look foggy, don’t panic—just check the filter.

Still not sure if you’ve found the right filter or it looks different? No worries. Whirlpool has a few different models. Peek at the manual or check their website. Or hey—YouTube never fails.

Now go forth, brave dish-cleaner, and reclaim your sparkling kitchenware.