Two maintenance jobs prevent most of the dishwasher complaints we are called out for. Neither needs tools, and both are described in the owner's manual for your model.
The Filter
Current Whirlpool dishwashers typically use a manual-clean filter in the floor of the tub rather than a grinder. It catches food so it is not redeposited on the load, and it is meant to be removed and rinsed on a schedule. Owners who never knew it existed are the ones who call about poor cleaning, standing water or a smell.
- Pull out the lower rack so you can reach the tub floor.
- Twist the cylindrical upper filter as the manual describes and lift it out, then lift out the flat lower filter if your model has one.
- Rinse both under running water with a soft brush or an old toothbrush. No wire brushes and no scouring pads; a scratched mesh traps more, not less.
- Wipe the housing underneath and take out anything solid: glass chips, fruit stickers, seeds, a bottle cap.
- Refit and make sure the cylinder locks home. A filter left loose lets debris straight into the pump, which is a repair rather than a clean.
Every month suits most households. Weekly is not excessive if you rarely scrape plates or you wash a lot of rice and pasta.
The Spray Arms
Lift or unclip each arm following the manual, then hold it up to the light and look along the row of nozzles. Anything blocked with a seed or hard-water scale leaves a dead zone in the load, which reads as “the top rack never gets clean”. Clear each hole with a toothpick, rinse the arm through, and refit it. Then spin each arm by hand before closing the door: an arm fouled on a tall item is the other half of the same complaint.
While You Are In There
Wipe the door gasket and the edge of the tub where grease collects, and check the detergent dispenser flap opens freely. If cleaning results stay poor after all of that, the usual culprits are water temperature, an overloaded rack, or a circulation fault. Book a Whirlpool dishwasher repair visit if a clean filter and clear arms have not changed anything.