Dishwashers Troubleshooting

Standing water, poor cleaning and a door that will not latch are the three complaints that cover most dishwashers. Two of them usually end at the filter.

2 guides · updated September 2026

All dishwasher guides

Dishwasher Leaving Dishes Dirty or Gritty

Poor cleaning is usually water not reaching the dishes rather than a weak detergent. Spray arms, the filter and loading account for nearly all of it.

Dishwasher Standing in Water at the End of a Cycle

The filter, the drain hose and the disposal connection explain nearly every dishwasher that will not empty, including one easily missed installation mistake.