Kenmore dishwasher filter cleaning is a short job that prevents most drain and cleaning complaints. Our UltraWash maintenance guide says to remove and rinse the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub every two to four weeks, more often in households that run the dishwasher daily. The filter is not the same on every Kenmore. A 665-prefix dishwasher was built by Whirlpool and a 587-prefix one by Frigidaire, and our builder guide says the two use different filter geometry and pump layouts. Check the prefix on your model tag, then follow your owner’s manual for how your filter releases.
Where is the filter on a Kenmore dishwasher?
Our pages place the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub, where it catches food debris before the drain pump. Our not-draining guide says most Kenmore dishwashers built after the mid-2010s use a removable, hand-washable filter instead of a self-cleaning one. Open the door and pull out the lower rack to see it. The model tag is printed along the top edge of the tub opening, and the first three digits before the first period tell you who built the machine.
How are 587 and 665 dishwasher filters different?
Our builder guide says a 665-prefix Whirlpool-built dishwasher uses a self-cleaning or removable filter assembly with a distinct impeller-and-chopper pump design, and that a twist-out cylindrical filter typically points to the Whirlpool-built 665 line. It says a 587-prefix Frigidaire-built dishwasher uses a different filter geometry and pump layout entirely, and that a flatter, differently shaped filter assembly is more consistent with the Frigidaire-built 587 line. The guide recommends confirming rather than trusting the shape alone, and warns that reaching for the wrong guide or the wrong replacement filter because both machines say UltraWash on the front is the mistake the prefix check is there to prevent. Our pages do not give separate removal steps for each platform, so use your owner’s manual for how your filter releases and locks.
What is the safe way to clean the filter?
Switch the dishwasher off first. Then follow the general steps on our pages:
- Remove the lower rack to reach the bottom of the tub.
- Remove the filter assembly the way your manual describes. Our 587 guide calls it the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub; some models have more than one piece.
- Rinse it thoroughly to clear food particles and film.
- Check the sump area under the filter for trapped food, glass fragments and labels, and remove them carefully. Handle any broken glass with care.
- Refit the filter so it is locked in place, then close the dishwasher and run a short cycle to confirm the water drains.
Do not run the dishwasher with the filter out. Do not force a filter that will not release; check the manual. If the filter assembly looks damaged, a technician can match the right replacement from your full model and serial number.
What else belongs in the routine?
Our UltraWash guide lists the other monthly tasks: check the spray arm holes for clogs from hard-water deposits or food particles and clear them with a toothpick if needed, run a dishwasher-cleaning product monthly to dissolve mineral buildup and grease film inside the tub and wipe down the door gasket and the interior edge where grime collects. Scraping large food debris off plates before loading reduces strain on the filter and pump. Our not-cleaning-well guide adds that a hard-water cleaning cycle every one to two months suits areas with mineral-heavy water, and that loading dishes with clearance for the spray arms to rotate freely matters more than most people expect.
What are the signs the filter needs attention?
Our UltraWash guide lists cloudy glassware, a lingering odor after cycles, dishes that are not fully dry and cycles that seem to take longer than expected. Standing water at the end of a cycle also points to the filter. Our F8E1 page, a slow-drain pattern on Whirlpool-built dishwashers, lists a clogged drain pump filter, with food debris built up around the filter assembly, among its causes and says to remove and clean the drain pump filter. If cleaning the filter does not fix a drain complaint, read the Kenmore dishwasher F8E1 guide for 665-prefix units or the 587-series not draining guide for 587-prefix units.
When should you call a technician?
Call if the filter is clean and the sump is clear but the dishwasher still leaves standing water, the cleaning has not improved after a clean filter and clear spray arms, or the filter is cracked or will not lock. Our guide says the wash pump, the water inlet valve or the drying fan may need inspection after the routine care has been done. Give the technician your full model number, not just the prefix. Do not open the base of the dishwasher or the control panel, and if water is near the outlet, switch off the breaker at the panel while standing on a dry floor and do not pull the plug from a wet outlet. See Kenmore dishwasher not cleaning well and UltraWash maintenance for the symptoms in more depth.
We are an independent repair company, not the manufacturer. Our Kenmore dishwasher repair team works on both platforms, and you can schedule a visit online.
