How to Clean a Frigidaire Dishwasher: Filter, Spray Arms, Door Gasket & Smells

Spotting little flecks of grime inside your cups after a full wash? That’s a sign your Frigidaire’s filter area is overdue for a clean, and the good news is that it’s one of the quickest dishwasher jobs there is. Here’s how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher: pull out the bottom rack, lift off the lower spray arm, twist out the filter, pull out the fine filter underneath, clean all of it along with the sump, put it back with the slots and notch lined up, then start and cancel a cycle so the dishwasher pumps out the dirty water.

On most Frigidaire models the hands-on part takes about 10 minutes, less time than it takes to make a hot drink. The Repairior editorial team put this guide together from Frigidaire care guidance and the routine technicians use when a customer calls about dirty dishes. We’ve also added a deeper monthly clean, smell fixes and the signs that it’s a repair job instead.

Why Your Frigidaire Leaves Gunk in Cups

Most current Frigidaire and Frigidaire Gallery dishwashers use a manual-clean filter. It traps food so the pump can recirculate clean water, but it doesn’t empty itself. Once it fills up, dirty water gets sprayed back onto your dishes. Cups and glasses on the top rack catch it first because they sit upside down over the spray.

What you see	Likely cause	Fix in this guide
Specks or film inside cups	Clogged filter and sump	Steps 3–6
Dishes dirty only on the top rack	Blocked spray arm holes	Spray arm section
Sour or rotten smell	Food rotting in the sump	Steps 5–6 and 8
Dirty water sitting in the bottom	Clogged filter, or water left after cleaning	Steps 6 and 8
White chalky film	Hard water scale	Hard water section

What You’ll Need

• A dry towel (for grip and for spills)
• Rubber gloves; glass and sharp debris can collect in the sump
• An old toothbrush or soft brush
• Dish soap and hot water at the sink
• Paper towels for wiping out the sump
• A cup or squeeze bottle of clean water
• A toothpick for spray arm holes

How to Clean a Frigidaire Dishwasher Filter Step by Step

Step 1: Pull out the bottom rack

Open the door and slide the bottom rack all the way out. Lift it off and set it aside to give yourself room to work on the tub floor.

Step 2: Remove the lower spray arm

On most Frigidaire models, the lower spray arm simply pulls straight up off its post. Set it in the sink; you’ll clean its holes in a minute.

Step 3: Twist out the main filter

In the center of the tub floor you’ll see the filter with a handle. Turn it counterclockwise to unlock it, then pull it up and out.

If it’s been a while, expect it to be coated in grey sludge. That buildup is exactly what’s ending up in your cups.

Step 4: Pull out the fine filter

Under the main filter is a second, flatter fine filter. It just pulls out, but it can be snug and slippery. If you can’t get a grip, wrap a towel around it and pull firmly and steadily. Don’t pry it with a screwdriver; the plastic edges crack easily.

Step 5: Clean the filters

• Rinse both filters under hot running water.
• Scrub the mesh gently with a toothbrush and a drop of dish soap, inside and out.
• For greasy filters, soak them in hot soapy water for 10–15 minutes first.
• Hold the mesh up to the light. You should be able to see through it evenly.
• Skip steel wool, wire brushes and scouring pads. A torn screen lets debris into the pump.

Step 6: Clean the sump and flush it

Look into the opening where the filters sat. There’s usually still some gunk clinging to the walls of the sump. Wearing gloves, wipe it out with paper towels and pick out anything solid: seeds, labels, bits of plastic or glass.

Then squirt a little clean water into the sump to rinse away what’s left. You’ll be draining this water out at the end, so don’t worry about it pooling.

Step 7: Reinstall the fine filter, main filter and spray arm

Getting the alignment right is the only tricky part:

1. Fine filter: look for the water jet on the tub floor. The fine filter has a slot that must line up with that jet. Set it in so the slot fits around the jet and the filter lies flat.
2. Main filter: find the small notch on the filter. It lines up with a matching position in the opening. Drop the filter in with the notch aligned, then turn it clockwise until it clicks into place.
3. Spray arm: press the lower spray arm back onto its post and spin it by hand. It should turn freely without hitting anything.
4. Slide the bottom rack back in.

If the filter won’t turn or click, lift it out and check the fine filter’s slot. A misaligned fine filter is the usual reason the main filter won’t lock.

Step 8: Drain the dirty water with Start, then Cancel

You’ll have some dirty rinse water sitting in the bottom from cleaning. On many Frigidaire models you can pump it out without running a full cycle:

1. Close the door and press Start to begin a cycle.
2. Press Cancel (on some models, Start/Cancel again or hold it for a few seconds).
3. The dishwasher cancels the cycle and runs its drain pump to empty the tub. You’ll hear it pumping.

Control panels vary, so if yours doesn’t drain this way, check your owner’s manual for the cancel and drain method. Once it drains, you’re done and ready to load dishes again.

Clean the Spray Arms While You’re There

Hold the lower spray arm up to a light and look through each hole. Any blocked hole means weaker spray. Push a toothpick through to clear it, then run water through the arm’s center opening to flush the debris out.

The upper spray arm under the top rack usually unclips or unscrews. Check it the same way every few months, especially if the top rack isn’t getting clean.

Monthly Deep Clean for a Frigidaire Dishwasher

The 10-minute filter clean handles dirty cups. For a fresher, fully clean machine, add these once a month.

Door gasket and bottom lip

Mix 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water and a teaspoon of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the rubber gasket, door edges and the bottom lip where the door hinges, then scrub with a toothbrush and wipe dry. This is where musty smells and mold usually start. For stubborn black spots, follow our guide on how to clean a moldy dishwasher.

Hot cleaning cycle

With the dishwasher empty, place a dishwasher cleaner in the detergent cup, or set a cup of white vinegar upright on the top rack, and run the hottest cycle. It clears grease and scale from the tub, spray arms and hoses.

Racks and silverware basket

Look for dried food on rack tines and rollers and wipe them down. Rinse the silverware basket in the sink.

Exterior

Wipe the door with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. On stainless or smudge-proof finishes, wipe with the grain and dry. Spray cleaner onto the cloth, not the control panel.

Hard Water Film on Glasses

A white, chalky film that doesn’t wipe off easily is mineral scale. Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack, keep the rinse aid dispenser full and turn up the rinse aid setting if your model has one. Repeat monthly in hard water areas.

Why Does My Frigidaire Dishwasher Smell?

1. Dirty filter and sump: the most common cause. Clean them as above.
2. Grime on the door gasket: wipe it every week or two.
3. Drain backflow: make sure the drain hose has a high loop or air gap under the sink.
4. Disposal connection: run the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher.
5. Trapped moisture: leave the door cracked after a cycle so the tub dries.

Can You Use Bleach in a Frigidaire Dishwasher?

Only if the tub is plastic and your manual allows it, and never with vinegar. Frigidaire Gallery and many newer models have stainless steel tubs, which bleach can pit and stain. Details in can I put bleach in my dishwasher.

How Often to Clean a Frigidaire Dishwasher

Task	How often
Filters and sump	Monthly; every 2 weeks with daily use or gunk in cups
Hot cleaner or vinegar cycle	Monthly
Door gasket and lip	Every 1–2 weeks
Spray arm holes	Every 2–3 months
Exterior	Weekly

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forcing the main filter to turn when the fine filter isn’t aligned with the jet
• Prying the fine filter out with tools instead of using a towel for grip
• Leaving dirty rinse water in the tub instead of draining it
• Running the dishwasher without the filters installed
• Scrubbing the mesh with abrasive pads

When to Call a Technician

• The dishwasher won’t drain after Start/Cancel, or water stays in the tub after cycles
• Cups still come out dirty with clean filters and clear spray arms
• Error codes or blinking lights
• No fill, no heat or poor drying
• Leaking under the door or a burning smell

Find Dishwasher Repair Near You

If your Frigidaire still won’t drain or clean properly after you’ve cleaned the filters, compare local appliance technicians and request free quotes. Have your model number ready; it’s on the edge of the door or tub.

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

Frigidaire Dishwasher Cleaning: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the filter from my Frigidaire dishwasher?

Pull out the bottom rack and lift off the lower spray arm. Turn the main filter counterclockwise and pull it out, then pull out the fine filter underneath, using a towel for grip if it’s tight.

How do I put the Frigidaire filter back in?

Set the fine filter in with its slot lined up on the water jet. Drop the main filter in with its notch aligned and turn it clockwise until it clicks. Then press the spray arm back on.

How do I drain water from my Frigidaire dishwasher?

On many models, press Start to begin a cycle and then press Cancel. The dishwasher stops and pumps out the water. Check your manual if your control panel works differently.

Why is there gunk in my cups after washing?

The filter and sump are clogged, so dirty water is being sprayed back onto your dishes. Clean the filters and sump and clear the spray arm holes.

How often should I clean my Frigidaire dishwasher filter?

About once a month, or every two weeks if you run it daily or notice residue in cups.

Why does my Frigidaire dishwasher smell like rotten eggs?

Food decaying in the filter or sump, or drain water flowing back. Clean the filters and sump and check that the drain hose has a high loop.

Can I use vinegar to clean my Frigidaire dishwasher?

Yes. A cup of white vinegar on the top rack during an empty hot cycle removes film and odors. Use it occasionally rather than every load.

Does Frigidaire Gallery have the same filter?

Most Gallery models use the same twist-out filter with a fine filter underneath. Check your manual if yours looks different.

Related Guides

• How to Clean a Dishwasher
• How to Clean Maytag Dishwasher
• How to Clean a Bosch Dishwasher Filter
• How to Clean GE Dishwasher
• How to Clean a Moldy Dishwasher
• Dishwasher Repair Houston

Conclusion

Learning how to clean a Frigidaire dishwasher takes about 10 minutes and fixes most cases of gunk in cups.

• Pull the bottom rack and lower spray arm, then twist out the main filter and pull out the fine filter.
• Scrub the filters gently, wipe the sump and flush it with a little water.
• Reinstall with the fine filter’s slot on the water jet and the main filter’s notch aligned until it clicks.
• Press Start, then Cancel, to pump out the dirty water.
• Do a monthly deep clean of the seals and a hot cleaning cycle.
• If it still won’t drain or clean, 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 Frigidaire 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 designs and control panels vary by Frigidaire model and year. Follow your owner’s manual where it differs from this guide. Repairior is not affiliated with Frigidaire 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: Frigidaire owner center.