How to clean your dishwasher filter, and how often Bosch, Samsung and Miele say to do it

Take out the lower rack, twist the round filter in the bottom of the tub anticlockwise and lift it out, rinse it under the tap with a soft brush, then twist it back in until it locks. How often depends on the brand.

By Abu Bakar SaadatPublished 27 October 20262 min readPublisher: Saadat Rafiq

Illustration

At a glance

Turn to remove: Anticlockwise (Samsung, Bosch)
Clean with: Running water and a soft brush; nothing abrasive
Bosch US: Every few months
Miele: "Check filters" reminder every 50 programmes by default
Advice from: Bosch, Samsung and Miele support pages, read 27 October 2026
Checked: October 2026

How often, by brand

Brand	What the maker says
Bosch (US site)	Clean the filter every few months
Bosch (UK site)	The filter page gives no interval; scrape food off dishes before loading
Samsung (UK site)	Whenever debris builds up
Miele	The dishwasher shows a "Check filters" message every 50 programmes by default; you can set it to between 30 and 60

Gritty dishes, a bad smell or water left in the bottom are good reasons to check the filter, whatever the brand.

Step 1: turn the dishwasher off and take out the lower rack

Illustration of two hands lifting the lower rack out of an open dishwasher — Illustration

Open the door and lift the lower rack out so you can reach the floor of the tub (Samsung, Bosch).

Step 2: twist the filter anticlockwise and lift it out

Illustration of a hand twisting the round filter anticlockwise and lifting it from the dishwasher floor — Illustration

The filter sits in the centre of the tub floor. Samsung says to turn the handle anticlockwise to unlock it; Bosch says to unlock the filter unit and pull it out carefully.

Step 3: separate the parts

Illustration of the cylindrical filter and the flat mesh plate laid on a tea towel — Illustration

On Bosch, unscrew the cylindrical filter from the flat one. On Samsung models with a micro filter, lift the micro filter out from under the filter cover.

Step 4: rinse and scrub gently

Illustration of a filter being rinsed under a tap and scrubbed with a small brush — Illustration

Rinse every part under running water and use a small soft brush, or an old toothbrush, for bits stuck in the mesh (Samsung, Bosch). Don't use anything abrasive: it can damage the filter (Bosch).

Step 5: put it back and twist clockwise until it locks

Illustration of the filter being twisted clockwise back into place with two arrow marks lining up — Illustration

Refit the parts in reverse order and turn the filter clockwise to lock it (Samsung). On Bosch, twist it until the two arrows line up.

If this doesn't work

Error code, or water won't drain after cleaning: the filter may not be seated properly. Samsung says a wrongly refitted filter can cause errors and drain or overflow problems. Take it out and refit it.
Your dishwasher has no removable filter: Samsung says to wipe the inside and drain area with a wet cloth, then run an empty Normal programme with detergent.
Still draining badly: Bosch says a blocked drain pump can stop waste water draining and make the programme stall. Contact the maker's service.
Your model looks different: check the user manual for your model number. Samsung says the same if none of its filter types match yours.

Questions readers ask

Which way do I turn a dishwasher filter?

Anticlockwise to take it out and clockwise to lock it back in, on Samsung and Bosch. Bosch US says to turn the knob to the left to remove it.

Can I use bleach to clean a dishwasher filter?

Samsung says not to use bleach in a dishwasher with a stainless-steel interior, as it can damage or discolour it. Plain running water and a soft brush are what the makers describe.

How do I make the filter need cleaning less often?

Scrape food off plates before loading. Bosch and Samsung both say this.