How to Clean GE Dishwasher Filter [Everything You Need to Know]

If you are trying to figure out how to clean your GE dishwasher filter, this article will provide the best tips you’ll find online.

General Electric (GE) dishwashers have been around for a long time. GE is a company that’s been producing high-quality home appliances for other innovative products for over 125 years, which is why many older GE dishwashers are still functioning.

A GE dishwasher is easy and reliable to use but many components need to be cleaned; one of the most important being the dishwasher filter.

The dishwasher filter is responsible for keeping food particles away from clean plates and other tableware.

That said, cleaning one is not as simple as pressing a button on the GE dishwasher. Luckily, we’re here to help. We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about these GE dishwasher filters and how to clean them.

What Is a GE Dishwasher?

A GE dishwasher is a dishwasher that’s manufactured by General Electric. General Electric has been making appliances for over a century, so they’re common dishwashers to find in most homes and appliance stores.

GE dishwashers can have self-cleaning filters or Ultra Fine Filter and Fine Filter combinations. Learning about GE dishwasher filters and how to clean them will help you maximize the performance and longevity of GE dishwashers.

What Is a GE Dishwasher Filter?

GE dishwasher filters prevent food debris from being deposited on tableware and the walls of the dishwasher. GE dishwasher filters also prevent food particles and grime from clogging the drain and spray arms.

Some GE dishwashers have self-cleaning filters that you don’t need to clean and some GE dishwashers have mesh plate filters with ultra-fine filters above them. These are GE Ultra Fine Filters and GE Fine Filters.

How Often Does a GE Dishwasher Filter Need to Be Cleaned?

GE dishwasher filters need to be cleaned at least once per month. However, the best practice is to clean GE Ultra Fine Filters every 2 weeks and to clean GE Fine Filters once per month.

You can also remove both GE filters and clean them at the same time. There are GE dishwashers with self-cleaning filters that don’t need to be cleaned manually. These GE dishwashers should be deep-cleaned at least once per month to ensure proper filter and spray arm function.

The Steps Needed To Clean GE Dishwasher Filters

Most GE dishwashers have filters that work in multiple stages. These are GE Ultra Fine Filters and GE Fine Filters. You can choose to clean one or the other but we recommend cleaning both when cleaning a GE dishwasher.

The components found in both filters are similar but there are some variations in the steps needed to clean them. We’ll take you through the steps to effectively clean both types.

Fine GE Dishwasher Filters

Fine Filters in GE dishwashers are mesh plate filters. Mesh plate filters are located at the bottom of GE dishwashers

The steps to clean GE Fine Filter are listed below.

Remove all of the dishwasher racks from the appliance.
Remove the Ultra Fine Filter from the mesh plate.
Twist the two retaining posts counterclockwise to remove the Fine Filter. The retaining posts in most GE dishwashers are located in the back of the dishwasher tub (at the bottom).
Rinse the Fine Filter under warm or hot water. We recommend warm water because it can loosen food particles.
Create a solution that includes warm water and soap and rinse the Fine Filter again.
Use a soft sponge to gently scrub the filter and rinse the Fine Filter under warm water.
Place the Fine Filter back in the GE dishwasher.
Twist the retaining posts clockwise to secure the mesh plate.
Place the Ultra Fine Filter back into the dishwasher.
Perform a wash cycle with hot water to test the appliance.

Following these steps will help you clean more GE Fine Filters.

Ultra Fine GE Dishwasher Filters

Ultra Fine Filters are GE dishwasher filters used for filtering small food particles. These filters are located above the Fine Filter and serve as a GE dishwasher’s first line of defense. To clean a GE Ultra Fine Filter, follow the steps below.

Remove all racks from the GE dishwasher.
Locate the Ultra Fine Filter, which is found above the Fine Filter (mesh plate).
Twist the Ultra Fine Filter counterclockwise to remove them.
Rinse the GE Ultra Fine Filter under warm or hot water to loosen food particles and grime.
Mix a solution of soap and warm water.
Rinse the GE Ultra Fine Filter with the soap and warm water solution.
Using a gentle sponge, brush the filter and rinse it with warm water.
Place the Ultra Fine Filter back in the dishwasher using the arrow located on the Fine Filter for guidance.
Twist the Ultra Fine Filter clockwise to secure them to the mesh plate (Fine Filter).
Perform a warm water wash cycle to ensure that everything is working properly.

Some newer GE dishwashers have more than one Ultra Fine Filter. Follow the same steps to clean these filters.

Self-Cleaning GE Filters

GE also has dishwashers that use self-cleaning filters. These filters don’t need to be removed from the dishwasher to clean them but some GE dishwashers do have removable self-cleaning filters.

To clean a dishwasher that has a self-cleaning filter we recommend performing a deep clean. You can deep clean any GE dishwasher, even if the filter can’t be removed.

Below are the instructions to deep clean a GE dishwasher:

Open the dishwasher door and look for deposits of food particles or grime.
Wipe down the bottom of the dishwasher with a cloth and clean the spray arms with a paperclip, toothpick, or tweezer.
Remove the self-cleaning filter, scrub the area around it, and rinse the filter under warm water.
Use a GE dishwasher cleaner or a white vinegar and water solution to clean the interior of the dishwasher.
To use these solutions effectively remove everything from the dishwasher and place them in a bowl on the top rack. Then, run a wash cycle with warm water and remove the solution from the dishwasher.

For GE self-cleaning washing machines the goal is to keep the interior clean to preserve the life of the self-cleaning filter. You do not need to apply soap to GE self-cleaning filters. They shouldn’t be scrubbed.

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Maintaining Your GE Dishwasher

Cleaning the filter on GE dishwashers can be time-consuming and a lot of work if it’s clogged by many food particles. While cleaning the dishwasher filter is the most important part of GE dishwasher maintenance, you should also clean the rest of the interior and even the exterior door. Cleaning the interior and exterior of a GE dishwasher can prevent dust, food particles, and grime from frequently clogging the GE filter.

How to Clean the Interior of a GE Dishwasher

You can clean the interior of a GE dishwasher in many ways. Many people believe that when a dishwasher performs a cleaning cycle for tableware it also cleans the interior.

While this does apply to some dishwashers, like Samsung brand, GE dishwasher interiors need to be be manually cleaned at least once per month. The steps to manually clean a GE dishwasher interior are listed below:

Empty the GE dishwasher.
Fill a bowl with white vinegar.
Place the bowl of white vinegar on the top rack of the GE dishwasher.
Have the dishwasher perform a wash cycle and make sure it uses hot water; cold water is less effective at freeing up food particles and grime.
Remove the bowl of vinegar.
Spread baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher.
Run another wash cycle with hot water.
In GE dishwashers without a stainless steel interior pour a single cup of bleach into the base of the dishwasher
Run another washing cycle with hot water.
Manually scrub food particles or grime that remains on the interior.

For most GE dishwashers, these steps are safe to follow and do a good job at cleaning the interior.

How to Clean the Exterior of a GE Dishwasher

Cleaning the interior of a GE dishwasher is important but it’s not the only area you need to clean. If you leave the exterior of a GE dishwasher dirty, there’s a chance that dust and debris can get into the interior of the dishwasher.

Dust and debris from outside of the dishwasher will clog GE filters more quickly because they’re not intended to filter dust particles.

To clean the exterior of GE dishwashers follow the steps below.

Mix a solution of dish soap and warm water.
Dip a cloth into the solution.
Wipe the surface.
Rinse the cloth and wipe the surface again.
Dry the dishwasher with a towel to remove excess water that can cause water spots and particles to stick to the door.

These steps are also safe to follow if you have a stainless steel GE dishwasher door.

Clearing Clogged GE Dishwasher Drains

GE dishwashers have drains that remove water from the dishwasher. When these drains become clogged by food particles, the filter has to work harder to prevent odors and keep the dishwasher.

Clearing clogged drains also helps your dishwasher run more efficiently and can remove odors. To clear the drain of a GE dishwasher follow the steps below.

Mix a solution of 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
Locate the drain and pour the solution into the drain.
Let the solution sit in the drain for at least 15 minutes; the longer you let the solution sit in the drain the better.
Pour hot water into the drain to remove the solution and clear the debris.
Make sure all of the solution is removed from the drain before using the dishwasher.

If you can’t remove debris from the drain with this solution, we recommend contacting GE or reaching out to a professional technician.

Other Tips to Maintain Your GE Dishwasher

Cleaning GE dishwashers is the best way to maintain them. Still, there are other small things you can do to maximize a GE dishwasher’s efficiency. These tips can also preserve a GE self-cleaning filter and ensure that Ultra Fine Filters and Fine Filters have the least resistance.

Make sure you follow these tips below to get the most out of GE dishwasher filters:

Don’t use abrasive sponges, cloths, or cleaning pads when cleaning the interior of GE dishwashers. Doing so can damage the finish and make it easier for debris to stick to surfaces inside the appliance
Scrape plates before placing them in the dishwasher but don’t rinse them. Rinsing them can cause the dishwasher to sense that dishes are cleaner than they are, which results in worse cleaning jobs
Make sure the dishwasher is using water that’s 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, dishwasher detergent won’t fully dissolve and that results in less optimal cleaning cycles
Make sure the dishwasher is loaded properly to avoid blockages

Following these tips can help you extend the lifespan of all GE filters and internal dishwasher components.

Always Keep Your GE Dishwasher Filters Clean

GE dishwashers are built to last and have been for several decades. Unfortunately, they only last a long time if you keep up with GE dishwasher maintenance, which includes cleaning the filters.

To ensure that the dishwasher filter lasts for a long time we recommend cleaning Ultra Fine Filters and Fine Filters bi-weekly or at least once per month. Keeping up with GE dishwasher filter cleaning will ensure that it lasts beyond its warranty.

Plus, a clean GE dishwasher filter provides you with better cleaning. You don’t want leftovers on your plates, right?