Maytag Dishwasher Filter Cleaning & Replacement

Three Stages, Not Two#

What sets the Maytag system apart from a basic two-part filter is the third stage. The cylindrical filter catches large debris — bones, seeds, label scraps — before it reaches the spray arms; the flat mesh underneath captures the finer particles that slip through; and the chopper blade below grinds whatever solids remain so they pass the drain pump instead of clogging it. The two filters and the chopper blade are independent maintenance items, but they work in sequence, which is why recurring drainage trouble after new filters usually points downstream at a dulled chopper blade rather than the filters.

Clean, or Replace?#

Cleaning the Dual Power Filter#

1. Pull out the lower rack to reach the filter on the tub floor.
2. Twist the upper cylindrical filter about a quarter turn counter-clockwise and lift it straight up.
3. Lift the flat lower filter straight up from its recess.
4. Rinse both under warm water, working the mesh with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush.
5. For calcium buildup, soak the parts in white vinegar for twenty to thirty minutes, then brush again.
6. Inspect the mesh for tears or a cracked frame — physical damage means replacement, not another cleaning.
7. Seat the flat filter first, then drop the cylinder in and twist it clockwise to lock, and run a short rinse to confirm nothing bypasses it.

Use the Whirlpool Cross-Reference#

Maytag dishwashers are built on the Whirlpool platform and share roughly 80 percent of their parts with Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Amana machines. The filter housing is common across those brands, so when a filter genuinely needs replacing, search both the Maytag model-specific number and the Whirlpool cross-reference (a W10 or WP prefix) — the identical part under the Whirlpool label is often cheaper. The cylindrical filter is generally interchangeable, but confirm the lower mesh matches your exact model before ordering.

A Word on Diagnosis and Warranty#

Because these machines share the Whirlpool platform, they also share its diagnostic mode: a button sequence on the tech-sheet label inside the console door brings up stored fault codes and live readings, which is worth doing before ordering any part. It is also worth checking warranty first — Maytag covers select dishwasher components, including the chopper blade and the stainless tub, under a longer limited parts warranty than standard Whirlpool coverage, so a claim can occasionally cover the whole part cost.

Why Cleaning Matters#

A neglected filter is behind most Maytag dishwasher complaints. As debris clogs the mesh, wash quality drops and food redeposits on dishes, water pools in the tub, and the turbidity sensor stretches a normal cycle well past its usual run time as it keeps adding rinses to clear water it reads as dirty. Running the machine with no filter at all is worse — unfiltered debris reaches the drain-pump impeller and accelerates its wear. The monthly, tool-free cleaning is what prevents all of it, and weekly cleaning suits homes that run heavily soiled loads.