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How to Clean Kenmore Dishwasher Filter? (Explained)

The dishwasher is a very important piece of appliance used in your home and kitchen. Like other pieces of furniture in your kitchen, it is important to maintain it regularly. This will increase the lifespan of your dishwasher. 

Does Kenmore dishwasher have a filter? Do Kenmore dishwashers have filters that need to be cleaned?

The great advantage of using the Kenmore dishwasher is that it has a couple of filters that collect unwanted accumulated dirt, oil, and grease along with food particles.

Those of you who use dishwashers to clean utensils for everyday needs at home might have noticed that after a certain period a layer of dirt accumulates under the dishwasher.

The filter’s job is to clean the remaining oil, grease, and food in the utensils.

Most of the Kenmore dishwater filters are located on the bottom right side of the dishwasher.

Depending on the use, the dishwasher filter may need to be cleaned every three to six months. It’s very simple and easy to remove the filters and clean them.

However, in this case, you should follow the directions given in the user manual.

In some cases, recommendations are given to change their dishwasher filters every three to four weeks. Excessive use of dishwashers can quickly accumulate dirt in the filter.

How to clean Kenmore dishwasher filter?

The method of cleaning the filter is very simple. There are three filters in the Kenmore dishwasher. Take out the first filter and immerse it in a soap solution mixed with warm water. Unscrew the other two filters on the back of the dishwasher and rinse with the same solution.

The dishwasher is an electrical household item so it needs proper maintenance. Most of the Kenmore dishwasher comes with filters.

For example, Kenmore ultra-wash dishwasher, Kenmore elite dishwasher filter, Kenmore dishwasher 665, Kenmore portable dishwasher have built-in filters in them. Based on uses, you should clean the dishwasher filter every three to six months.

Sometimes, you might need to clean it very often due to heavy pressure on the dishwasher. The best is to clean the dishwasher once every month. That will sustain the performance of your dishwasher and the filters will remain good as new.

You can use different techniques step by step to deeply clean your dishwasher filter. The following steps will show you how to locate and clean your dishwasher filers easily. The techniques are stated below: 

Detach the filters from the dishwasher:

Most dishwashers have three filters. The first filter is on the spray arm. The other two will be located behind the dishwasher.

The function of the first filter is to protect the spray arm. When you try to separate them, the first one will pop out of the spray arm of the dishwasher, but the other two need to be screwed out of it.

They are dedicated to removing debris from pots and spraying water while cleaning. You need to identify the three filters and carefully separate them.

Soak them into solutions:

You need to wash them in a few steps to clean the filters. You can mix detergent and warm water to create a soap-based solution and wash them in it.

After that, you can apply vinegar solution. Simply soak all three filters into the vinegar solution and rinse with water. 

Clean them using the anti-bacterial solution:

Finally, sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda into hot or lukewarm water as an anti-bacterial solution and soak them in it.

Let them sit in it for a couple of minutes and wash them. Be careful when using the baking soda solution in the filter. Accumulated vinegar in the filters might generate excess foams.

Where are the filters in a Kenmore dishwasher?

Generally, the Kenmore dishwashers contain three filters. The filters are usually found at the bottom of the dishwasher. The filters can be easily seen by pulling out the dish rack if you want.

One of the three filters’ jobs is to protect the spray arm. It protects the spray arm from any type of debris or utensils blocking the spray flow of the dishwasher. You need to find it out and gently detach it from the spray arm while cleaning.

There is another thick and fine filter. The thicker one prevents the food from sticking into utensils and removes them during the cleaning.

The fine one only helps to pass water through it into the dishwasher. You will have to unscrew the filters from the dishwasher to clean them.

In some dishwashers, you won’t need any tools to locate the filters as they stay in the open and can be taken out easily. Make sure to follow the procedure carefully to prevent any damages to the filter or the dishwasher.

How do I remove the filter from my Kenmore Elite dishwasher? 

If you take proper care of your dishwasher and its components and clean them regularly, it will not only prolong life but also provide efficient performance.

In the case of the Kenmore Elite dishwasher, keeping it clean will produce less noise during the dish cleaning cycle, as well as save electricity and water.

As the dishwasher filter is the part that collects the most dirt, so, it is important to clean it separately and well. Kenmore Dishwasher uses three filters called Ultra Clean Filters. The filter removing procedure is described step by step below:

Locate the filters:

Usually, there are three filters used in Kenmore elite dishwasher. The upper filter and the lower filter.

The filters are located on the lower right side of the dishwasher. As you can find them out very easily, no specific instruments such as screwdrivers or pliers are required to remove the filter.    

Remove the upper filter:

the function of the upper filter is to collect oil and grease. The filter is very easy to disassemble from the dishwasher. It will open as soon as the upper lid of the upper filter is rotated clockwise. 

Remove the lower filter:

The function of the lower filter is to collect a large amount of garbage. On the other hand, simply pull up the lid of the lower filter to remove it from the dishwasher.

It is made with finer material that lets water-based or liquid elements pass through it.

How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?

Dirty filters will not only damage your dishwasher but will also reduce its performance, such as consuming extra power and generating noise at work. So, the filter of the dishwasher should be cleaned regularly.

How often you clean a dishwasher filter depends on the use of your dishwasher. If your dishwasher has too much washing pressure, you may need to clean it frequently. However, it usually takes three to six months for the dishwasher filter to be cleaned.

In many cases, even if you clean the filter once a month, your dishwasher will serve as new. However, in these cases, it is better to follow the user manual as it specifies how often the dishwasher filter should be cleaned.

Some companies recommend cleaning their dishwasher filters every two to three weeks. So, always remember to make sure to check the user manual of your dishwasher and find out if it has mentioned cleaning or not.

How to clean Kenmore dishwasher? 

Dishwashers play an important role in cleaning your kitchen utensils when you have a family consisting of many members.

So, cleaning your dishwasher is a must to keep it working and sustain its performance for a long time. The process to clean a Kenmore dishwasher is described below:

Separate the parts:

When cleaning the dishwasher, it is important to disassemble the removable parts such as the dish racks and filters. You can wash and clean the dish racks with a sponge if you wish. 

Use multiple solutions:

Always remember to apply multiple solutions to clean it deeply. Because clogged debris inside filters or dishwashers can cause the same problems again and again.

So, apply the soap-based solution to the parts of your dishwasher. Then soak the parts into vinegar and rinse them using water. After that, use baking soda to pull off anti-bacterial cleaning.

Wash the food particles attached to the dishwasher:

As you’ve cleaned the outer part of the dishwasher now it’s time to clean its inside.

So, what you have to do is, take a sponge, soak it in lukewarm water, add some dishwashing soap on it and scrub inside. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and wipe the soap foam using a towel or tissue.

Final Thoughts 

The filter is an essential part of the dishwasher as it retains dirt and debris from the food in the dishwasher and cleans your utensils. After a certain period, the filters become dirty so it is needed to clean the filter using soap-based water, vinegar, and baking soda solutions separately.