Having a dishwasher can make life a lot easier. But if you notice strange odors coming from the dishwasher or not-quite-as-clean-as-you-expected dishes after a cycle, you might be wondering if you’re better off handwashing your dishes instead. 

But there is something you should be doing frequently to make sure your dishwasher is doing its job as good as it should: Checking the filter. Morgan Eberhard, senior scientific communications manager at Procter & Gamble (the parent company of Cascade) shared that the filter is often the most neglected part of the machine. Yet, it makes a huge difference in how clean your dishes come out. 

In general, you should be cleaning your dishwasher’s filter at least once a month. Using a high-quality detergent will break down a majority of the food residue that the filter catches, but it’s still a great practice to keep an eye on it so that you get the best results out of your dishwasher.

The filter is usually at the bottom of your dishwasher and catches any debris so that it doesn’t clog your drain. You’ll want to remove the filter and scrape off any food waste that might be on it. Then you can use a small amount of dish soap and a soft-bristle brush to scrub it thoroughly. Once that is done, simply place it back in the dishwasher. And if you have any questions, make sure to consult with the manual for your dishwasher. 

If you’ve checked the filter and notice your dishes are still coming out cloudy, there are a few other factors that can be at play. Pre-rinsing your dishes (one of the most controversial dishwasher topics) can make it harder for your dishwasher to sense how dirty the dishes are, resulting in residue and cloudiness. 

Eberhard also offered a quick trick to see whether your water quality could be the culprit. You’ll want to take a paper towel dipped in some white vinegar and wipe the cloudy dish. If the cloudiness comes off, it’s pretty likely that you have hard water, which often leaves residue on dishes. Adding a rinse aid to your cycle will help resolve the issue and leave your dishes sparkling. 

If undissolved powder or pods is a problem you’re facing in your dishwasher, Ciufo says there are some steps to take to mitigate. “Clean your dishwasher, especially the spray arm and filter. That is likely the cause of the undissolved detergent. If it’s a pod that hasn’t fully dissolved, and you’ve used a quick-wash or shorter cycle than normal, it may be that that cycle isn’t long enough to allow the pod to dissolve fully.”

All in all, keeping your dishwasher well-maintained doesn’t have to be a complicated task. A small habit like checking and cleaning your filter will take just a few minutes, and that’s nothing compared to the amount of time saved from handwashing. So remember to check your filter, skip the pre-rinse, and you’re all set for squeaky clean dishes every time!