How to Clean a Bosch Dishwasher Filter: Remove, Rinse & Deep Clean the Whole Machine

Bosch dishwashers are quiet and efficient partly because they use a manual-clean filter instead of a noisy food grinder. The catch is that the filter holds onto everything it traps until you clean it. If you want to know how to clean a Bosch dishwasher filter, it’s a five-minute job: pull out the bottom rack, twist the filter counterclockwise and lift it out, separate it into its three parts, rinse them under hot water with a soft toothbrush, then put it back together and turn it until the arrows line up.

Doing this about once a month keeps the wash water clean, and clean water is what gets your dishes clean. Below, the Repairior editorial team walks through each part of the Bosch filter, how they come apart and click back together, and how to deep clean the rest of the machine when the filter alone isn’t enough.

Why Cleaning the Bosch Filter Matters

A Bosch dishwasher recirculates its wash water through the filter many times during a cycle. When the filter is clean, food particles stay trapped and the water hitting your dishes stays clean. When it’s clogged:

• Dirty water gets sprayed back onto dishes, leaving grit, spots or a cloudy film.
• Less water reaches the spray arms, so the top rack especially comes out dirty.
• Trapped food starts to rot, causing the sour smell many Bosch owners notice.
• Water drains more slowly, and you may see water sitting in the bottom after a cycle.

In our experience, a clogged filter is the single most common reason a Bosch “stops cleaning like it used to,” and it’s the first thing a technician checks.

Where Is the Filter in a Bosch Dishwasher?

The filter is at the bottom of the tub, toward the front, just in front of the lower spray arm. You’ll see a round plastic top with two arrows on it. When the arrows line up, the filter is locked in place.

What comes out is actually a three-part filter system:

Part	What it looks like	What it catches
Plastic cylinder filter (with handle)	Round plastic piece you twist	Medium-sized food particles
Fine mesh filter	Flat silver mesh screen	Very small particles that would otherwise land on dishes
Coarse metal filter	Larger flat metal tray the others sit in	Bigger debris like seeds, labels and bits of glass

The parts fit together a specific way, which is why reassembly trips people up. Take a photo before you separate them if it helps.

What You’ll Need

• Hot running water at the sink
• A soft-bristle toothbrush
• A little liquid dish soap (optional, for greasy filters)
• A towel to set parts on
• Rubber gloves if the filter is very dirty

How to Clean a Bosch Dishwasher Filter Step by Step

Step 1: Open the door and remove the bottom rack

Open the dishwasher and slide the bottom rack all the way out. Lift it off the rollers and set it to the side so you can reach the floor of the tub.

Step 2: Twist out the filter

Locate the filter at the front of the tub floor. The two arrows on top should be lined up. Grip the handle, turn it counterclockwise until it stops moving, then lift the whole filter assembly straight up and out.

If your dishwasher is brand new, don’t be surprised to find a little water inside the filter. Bosch tests each dishwasher at the factory, so a small amount of water is left behind. It’s normal.

Step 3: Separate the fine mesh filter

Hold the assembly and gently pull the silver fine mesh filter down and away from the plastic cylinder. It will separate from the plastic piece without tools.

Step 4: Release the plastic filter from the coarse filter

On the plastic cylinder you’ll find two small tabs. Press them in and slide the plastic piece up and out of the coarse metal filter. You now have three separate parts: the coarse metal filter, the plastic cylinder filter and the fine mesh filter.

Step 5: Rinse all three parts under hot water

Hold each piece under hot running water and rinse off food and grease. Work from the inside out on the plastic cylinder so debris washes away rather than deeper into the mesh.

• If particles stay stuck, scrub gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush.
• For greasy buildup, add a drop of dish soap to the brush.
• Don’t use anything abrasive: no steel wool, scouring pads or wire brushes. The fine mesh is easy to damage, and a torn screen lets food through to the pump.
• Hold the mesh up to the light afterward. You should see through it evenly.

Step 6: Clean the coarse filter and the filter opening

Don’t forget the coarse metal filter. Food often sticks to it, especially along its edges. Rinse and brush it the same way.

While the filter is out, wipe around the opening in the tub floor with a damp cloth and remove any food you can see. A small amount of water in the sump below is normal.

Step 7: Reassemble the filter

Put the parts back together in reverse order:

1. Slide the plastic cylinder down into the coarse metal filter and push until it clicks into place.
2. Pop the fine mesh filter back onto the plastic piece.
3. Check that all three parts are firmly connected.

Step 8: Reinstall it and line up the arrows

Slide the assembly back into the tub floor with the larger area of the coarse filter facing the front of the dishwasher. Then turn the plastic handle clockwise until the two arrows line up again. That means it’s locked.

Make sure the filter sits flat and doesn’t rock. A filter that isn’t seated properly lets debris bypass it and can leave grit on your dishes. Slide the bottom rack back in and you’re ready to wash dishes again.

Bosch Filter Reassembly Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Arrows won’t line up	Plastic cylinder not clicked fully into the coarse filter	Remove, press the cylinder down until it clicks, try again
Filter sits crooked	Coarse filter facing the wrong way	Turn it so the larger area faces the front
Mesh filter keeps falling off	Not popped fully onto the plastic piece	Press it on firmly until it holds
Grit on dishes after cleaning	Filter not locked or mesh damaged	Reseat it; replace a torn mesh filter

How Often Should You Clean a Bosch Dishwasher Filter?

About once a month is the right rhythm for most households. Adjust based on how you use it:

How you use your dishwasher	Filter cleaning
A few loads a week, plates scraped	Every 4–6 weeks
Daily loads	Every 2–4 weeks
Large family or heavily soiled pots	Every 2 weeks
Grit on dishes or a sour smell	Right away

How to Clean a Bosch Dishwasher (Beyond the Filter)

A clean filter fixes most problems. For a full deep clean of a Bosch dishwasher, add these steps once the filter is back in.

Clear the spray arms

The lower spray arm on most Bosch models lifts off. The middle arm under the upper rack usually unclips or unscrews. Hold each arm up to the light, push a toothpick through any blocked holes and rinse. Spin the arms by hand after reinstalling to make sure they turn freely.

Wipe the door seal and bottom lip

Mix warm water with a little dish soap, or a spray of half white vinegar and half water. Wipe the rubber gasket around the tub and the bottom edge of the door with a cloth and toothbrush. The wash spray doesn’t reach these spots, so grime and mildew build up there. For black spots, see how to clean a moldy dishwasher.

Run a cleaning cycle

With the dishwasher empty, place a dishwasher cleaner in the detergent dispenser, or set a cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack, and run the hottest program. Many Bosch models have a Machine Care program built for this. It breaks down grease and limescale in the tub and plumbing.

Check the rinse aid and salt

Bosch dishwashers rely on rinse aid for drying. Keep the dispenser full. If your model has a water softener, keep the salt reservoir topped up in hard water areas.

Clean the exterior

Wipe the door with a soft, damp cloth and a drop of dish soap. On stainless steel, wipe with the grain and dry with a microfiber cloth. Spray cleaner onto the cloth, not the control panel.

How to Stop a Bosch Dishwasher From Smelling

1. Clean all three filter parts and the opening in the tub floor.
2. Wipe the door gasket and bottom lip.
3. Run a hot cleaning cycle.
4. Check that the drain hose has a high loop under the sink so dirty water can’t flow back.
5. Run the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher if they share a drain.
6. Leave the door slightly open after a cycle so the tub dries.

Can You Use Bleach in a Bosch Dishwasher?

Bosch dishwashers have stainless steel tubs, and chlorine bleach can pit and discolor stainless steel. Stick to dish soap, white vinegar or a dishwasher cleaner. Never mix bleach and vinegar. More detail in can I put bleach in my dishwasher.

Water in the Bottom of a Bosch Dishwasher

A little water in the sump under the filter is normal. Water sitting on the floor of the tub after a cycle is not. If cleaning the filter doesn’t fix it, the cause is usually:

• A kinked or clogged drain hose
• A blockage at the garbage disposal or sink drain connection
• A drain pump that’s blocked by debris or failing

An E24 or E25 error on many Bosch models also points to a drain problem.

When to Call for Bosch Dishwasher Repair

• Water stays in the tub even with a clean filter
• Drain error codes keep coming back
• Dishes are still dirty with a clean filter and clear spray arms
• The dishwasher doesn’t fill, heat or dry
• Water on the floor or the anti-flood system has triggered

Find Dishwasher Repair Near You

If your Bosch still won’t drain or clean properly after you’ve cleaned the filter, compare local appliance technicians and request free quotes. Have your model number ready (it’s on the edge of the door) and mention what you’ve already tried.

Browse dishwasher repair companies · Get free dishwasher repair quotes · Dishwasher repair service guide

Bosch Dishwasher Filter: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the filter from my Bosch dishwasher?

Slide out the bottom rack, turn the filter at the front of the tub floor counterclockwise until it stops, and lift it straight out.

How do I take apart a Bosch dishwasher filter?

Pull the silver fine mesh filter down to separate it from the plastic cylinder. Then press the two tabs on the plastic piece and slide it up out of the coarse metal filter.

How do I put a Bosch dishwasher filter back together?

Push the plastic cylinder into the coarse filter until it clicks, pop the mesh filter back on, slide it into the tub with the larger area facing the front, and turn until the arrows line up.

How often should I clean my Bosch dishwasher filter?

About once a month. Clean it every two weeks if you run the dishwasher daily or wash heavily soiled pots.

Why is there water in my new Bosch dishwasher filter?

Bosch tests each dishwasher at the factory, so a little water stays in the filter and sump. It’s normal.

Can I clean a Bosch dishwasher filter in the dishwasher?

It’s better to rinse it by hand. The dishwasher can’t run properly without the filter installed, and running it without one can let debris damage the pump.

What should I not use to clean a Bosch filter?

Avoid steel wool, scouring pads, wire brushes and bleach. Hot water and a soft toothbrush, with a little dish soap if needed, are all it takes.

Why are my dishes still dirty after cleaning the filter?

Check that the filter is locked with the arrows lined up, clear the spray arm holes, keep rinse aid filled and avoid blocking the spray arms when loading. If it continues, the wash pump may need service.

Related Guides

• How to Clean a Dishwasher
• How to Clean a KitchenAid Dishwasher
• How to Clean Maytag Dishwasher
• How to Clean GE Dishwasher
• How to Clean a Moldy Dishwasher
• Dishwasher Repair Houston

Conclusion

Learning how to clean a Bosch dishwasher filter takes a few minutes and makes a real difference to how clean your dishes come out.

• Twist the filter counterclockwise and lift it out from the front of the tub floor.
• Separate it into three parts: fine mesh, plastic cylinder and coarse metal filter.
• Rinse under hot water and scrub with a soft toothbrush; never use anything abrasive.
• Click it back together, face the larger area forward and turn until the arrows line up.
• Clean it monthly, wipe the seals and run a cleaning cycle for a full deep clean.
• If water still won’t drain, get free quotes from a local technician.

About This Guide

Editorial policy

This guide was written by David C and reviewed by the Repairior Editorial Team using Bosch care guidance and the filter cleaning routine appliance technicians follow in customers’ homes. Businesses cannot pay to be featured in our how-to content.

Content transparency

Filter design, program names and error codes vary by Bosch series and year. Follow your owner’s manual where it differs from this guide. Repairior is not affiliated with Bosch and earns revenue from optional business plans, which do not affect this guide.

About the author

David C is part of the Repairior Editorial Team, which researches home appliance care and repair and works with local repair businesses across the US, helping homeowners fix what they can and know when to call a pro.

Helpful official resource: Bosch home appliances owner support.