Dishes Coming Out Cloudy or Gritty? Start With the Filter

If your dishwasher is leaving food residue, a gritty film, or a cloudy haze on your dishes, the filter is the first place to look. Since around 2010, most dishwashers stopped using a garbage-disposal-style grinder and switched to a removable manual filter — which means it needs to be cleaned by hand.

You will usually find it at the bottom of the tub, underneath the lower spray arm. It typically twists to unlock, or lifts straight out. Rinse it under running water and use an old toothbrush to work loose any trapped food particles, then make sure it clicks or twists fully back into place before running another load.

A good habit is checking the filter every couple of weeks, and running an empty cycle with a dishwasher-safe cleaner once a month to keep the spray arms and interior free of grease buildup.

If you have cleaned the filter and dishes are still coming out dirty, or you are noticing standing water at the bottom of the tub after a cycle, that often points to a drain issue or a spray arm problem worth having a technician look at.