Dishwasher Filters

[pedro47]

On our last timeshare visit, I learned a trick from the maintenance person about the dishwasher not draining properly or slowly . He just removed the dirty filter from the dishwasher with all the debris from the dishwasher. He wash and sprayed the dirty filter with some solution and replaced the filter back into the dishwasher. That solved the problems.

Now I’m cleaning our dishwasher filter after years of use.

 

[Luanne]

Thanks for the reminder. I keep forgetting to clean our out at home. Will go do it after the dishwasher is done.

 

[Passepartout]

It's one of those 'Out of sight, out of mind' things. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[BM243923]

I showed the housekeeper at our timeshare the filter in the dishwasher. She was unaware that it had to be cleaned periodically. When we took it out it was filled with all kinds of food particles etc.

 

[Passepartout]

I showed the housekeeper at our timeshare the filter in the dishwasher. She was unaware that it had to be cleaned periodically. When we took it out it was filled with all kinds of food particles etc.

We were at a TS in Puerto Rico. The A/C wasn't effective.. Maintenance came, I took out the air filter. The pleated paper filter was packed, and almost flat. As soon as a new filter was installed it worked as expected. Housekeeping can't (and shouldn't) have to change and clean filters.- And of course, neither should guests.

Write 'em up with your reviews. The resorts BEG us for 5* ratings, make 'em earn it.

Jim

 

[moonstone]

I have told so many people about dishwasher filters, doesn't anybody read the owners manual when they get a new appliance anymore? When we kid, house & dog sat for our DS & DiL years ago, our granddaughter said we had to rinse the dishes because the dishwasher did a terrible job. I opened it up and pulled out the filter and showed her how 'gunked up' it was. She was shocked, 1; that there was one, and 2; how bad it was. I cleaned it and re-installed it then we ran the dishwasher without rinsing any of the dishes, including a messy casserole dish. Everything was sparkling clean. The first thing she told her mom when she walked in the door was that Nana fixed the dishwasher!
When I run all the dishes, glasses and cutlery through the dishwasher when we check-in to a timeshare, I always pull the filter (if there is one) and clean it when necessary, but I am finding more and more are already clean. I also bring a small bottle of rinse aid to put in the dishwasher as I often find it isn't filled or used.


~Diane

 

[jp10558]

I have told so many people about dishwasher filters, doesn't anybody read the owners manual when they get a new appliance anymore? When we kid, house & dog sat for our DS & DiL years ago, our granddaughter said we had to rinse the dishes because the dishwasher did a terrible job. I opened it up and pulled out the filter and showed her how 'gunked up' it was. She was shocked, 1; that there was one, and 2; how bad it was. I cleaned it and re-installed it then we ran the dishwasher without rinsing any of the dishes, including a messy casserole dish. Everything was sparkling clean. The first thing she told her mom when she walked in the door was that Nana fixed the dishwasher!
When I run all the dishes, glasses and cutlery through the dishwasher when we check-in to a timeshare, I always pull the filter (if there is one) and clean it when necessary, but I am finding more and more are already clean. I also bring a small bottle of rinse aid to put in the dishwasher as I often find it isn't filled or used.


~Diane

This sort of reminds me of a friend of ours who's a chef who always says "Right, I can use your knives. You're like the only normal person who keeps their knives sharp". He's always impressed, and I don't really keep up with it like I ought to - once a year or two I sharpen the knives - really I should hone them all the time but I'm lazy. But all the people who have horrible knives because they never sharpen them... like WTH. What's even more sad is you don't have to go get really skilled or pay someone and send them off - a chefs choice XV sharpener runs you like $150 once for years of dead easy sharpening for all your knives. You can do it while watching TV if you sit at a table! Again, it's like once a year. The difference is amazing.

EDIT: But then again - no one does maintenance. I usually end up convincing the car shops to change my air filters yearly, and tried to and lost with Subaru to change the transmission fluid. Joke was on them, they replaced it under an extended warranty - lots of cost.

Simple maintenance and even if stuff doesn't always last longer (though it usually does) it almost always WORKS BETTER.

 

[WinniWoman]

My husband’s job at home. I also wipe/dry around the inside of the door after I empty it because mold/ guk accumulates in those crevices. One in a while I’ll run a cup with white vinegar through it.

 

[WinniWoman]

This sort of reminds me of a friend of ours who's a chef who always says "Right, I can use your knives. You're like the only normal person who keeps their knives sharp". He's always impressed, and I don't really keep up with it like I ought to - once a year or two I sharpen the knives - really I should hone them all the time but I'm lazy. But all the people who have horrible knives because they never sharpen them... like WTH. What's even more sad is you don't have to go get really skilled or pay someone and send them off - a chefs choice XV sharpener runs you like $150 once for years of dead easy sharpening for all your knives. You can do it while watching TV if you sit at a table! Again, it's like once a year. The difference is amazing.

EDIT: But then again - no one does maintenance. I usually end up convincing the car shops to change my air filters yearly, and tried to and lost with Subaru to change the transmission fluid. Joke was on them, they replaced it under an extended warranty - lots of cost.

Simple maintenance and even if stuff doesn't always last longer (though it usually does) it almost always WORKS BETTER.

True. Never have sharpened our knives and we even had a knife sharpener.

 

[Patri]

Through several houses, I was not aware of the dishwasher filters so of course, never cleaned them. However, the dishes always came out fine. I was lucky. Now I know (probably from TUG!) and clean mine regularly. However, to remove the screen requires a small screwdriver, so I understand why some people would never think to do it. Now I screw it in place by hand, tight enough to stay in place, but able to be removed without a tool.

 

[pedro47]

We were at a TS in Puerto Rico. The A/C wasn't effective.. Maintenance came, I took out the air filter. The pleated paper filter was packed, and almost flat. As soon as a new filter was installed it worked as expected. Housekeeping can't (and shouldn't) have to change and clean filters.- And of course, neither should guests.

Write 'em up with your reviews. The resorts BEG us for 5* ratings, make 'em earn it.

Jim

I was under the impression that changing air filters was part of the semi annual preventative maintenance.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I like our dishwasher displays a message when the filter needs to be cleaned.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I have told so many people about dishwasher filters, doesn't anybody read the owners manual when they get a new appliance anymore? When we kid, house & dog sat for our DS & DiL years ago, our granddaughter said we had to rinse the dishes because the dishwasher did a terrible job. I opened it up and pulled out the filter and showed her how 'gunked up' it was. She was shocked, 1; that there was one, and 2; how bad it was. I cleaned it and re-installed it then we ran the dishwasher without rinsing any of the dishes, including a messy casserole dish. Everything was sparkling clean. The first thing she told her mom when she walked in the door was that Nana fixed the dishwasher!
When I run all the dishes, glasses and cutlery through the dishwasher when we check-in to a timeshare, I always pull the filter (if there is one) and clean it when necessary, but I am finding more and more are already clean. I also bring a small bottle of rinse aid to put in the dishwasher as I often find it isn't filled or used.


~Diane

Love what you do but iMHO I would avoid the rinse aid. Just like plastics, rinse aid puts chemical residue on your dishes which can put toxic chemicals into your body when you eat off of them.

 

[jp10558]

Through several houses, I was not aware of the dishwasher filters so of course, never cleaned them. However, the dishes always came out fine. I was lucky. Now I know (probably from TUG!) and clean mine regularly. However, to remove the screen requires a small screwdriver, so I understand why some people would never think to do it. Now I screw it in place by hand, tight enough to stay in place, but able to be removed without a tool.

my BOSH has a part that is a cylinder that sticks up. You can turn it easily by hand to pull it out, and it clicks back in easily too. I wouldn't expect it to need a screwdriver TBH so I see how I'd miss that.

 

[easyrider]

doesn't anybody read the owners manual when they get a new appliance anymore?

I admit I don't. It was after reading a tug thread that I finally looked at the controls of our dishwasher and found the heated dry button. I had complained for three years prior that the dishwasher couldn't dry dishes, lol. It helps if the dishwasher knows it's suppose to dry the dishes.

I did figure out how to clean the dishwasher filter decades ago but it's one of those things that I wait for it to tell me it needs attention. We came back home after a month and the dishwasher reeked. I took out the filter and had some smelly dark gell growing in the filter so I cleaned it.

Bill

 

[Snazzylass]

Love what you do but iMHO I would avoid the rinse aid. Just like plastics, rinse aid puts chemical residue on your dishes which can put toxic chemicals into your body when you eat off of them.

Ugh! Agree. I just learned this, and boy, was I disappointed.

 

[Snazzylass]

okay, okay, maybe I need to go online and find the owner's manual. My house came with a wonderful dishwasher and lots of other great things. I did learn a lot when I searched online for the refrigerator manual. So, many appliances and such to learn...but, it could be worse!

 

[jp10558]

Love what you do but iMHO I would avoid the rinse aid. Just like plastics, rinse aid puts chemical residue on your dishes which can put toxic chemicals into your body when you eat off of them.

Rinse aid is necessary to not double my dishwasher run times. I have doubts that there's much left to get to you after washing forget about via normal eating. I think it's got to be close to homeopathy amounts.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Rinse aid is necessary to not double my dishwasher run times. I have doubts that there's much left to get to you after washing forget about via normal eating. I think it's got to be close to homeopathy amounts.

I was surprised until I learned this. I doubt using infrequently will matter but over time it could add up. Google for more DPs

Gut epithelial barrier damage caused by dishwasher detergents and rinse aids - PubMed

The expression of genes involved in cell survival, epithelial barrier, cytokine signaling, and metabolism was altered by rinse aid in concentrations used in professional dishwashers. The alcohol ethoxylates present in the rinse aid were identified as the culprit component causing the epithelial...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gut epithelial barrier damage caused by dishwasher detergents and rinse aids​

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674922014774

 

[jp10558]

I was surprised until I learned this. I doubt using infrequently will matter but over time it could add up. Google for more DPs

Gut epithelial barrier damage caused by dishwasher detergents and rinse aids - PubMed

The expression of genes involved in cell survival, epithelial barrier, cytokine signaling, and metabolism was altered by rinse aid in concentrations used in professional dishwashers. The alcohol ethoxylates present in the rinse aid were identified as the culprit component causing the epithelial...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gut epithelial barrier damage caused by dishwasher detergents and rinse aids​

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674922014774

Yes, this is one study. I wasn't able to find any others via a public web search, so I'd just caution that this is at best an extremely preliminary indication of an area of interest. It's also really important to parse what they actually did from the abstract (I am not skilled at reading all the details of a study, nor am I sure I have full access, but there are more info not reported in the abstract that will matter a lot):

A disrupted epithelial barrier, particularly by rinse aid, was observed in liquid-liquid interface cultures, organoids, and gut-on-a-chip, demonstrating decreased transepithelial electrical resistance, increased paracellular flux, and irregular and heterogeneous tight junction immunostaining. When individual components of the rinse aid were investigated separately, alcohol ethoxylates elicited a strong toxic and barrier-damaging effect. RNA-sequencing transcriptome and proteomics data revealed upregulation in cell death, signaling and communication, development, metabolism, proliferation, and immune and inflammatory responses of epithelial cells. Interestingly, detergent residue from professional dishwashers demonstrated the remnant of a significant amount of cytotoxic and epithelial barrier–damaging rinse aid remaining on washed and ready-to-use dishware.

Note none of this was shown even in animal studies, forget about humans. They had some in vitro tests with what I would hope are obvious differences from your actual gut. These were applied directly to the cells in various ways. It just assumes that their dilution amounts track what would actually touch cells in your digestive tract - but provides no experimental evidence of how much rinse aid makes it from a dried plate into your mouth, forget about into your gut via eating off the plate. It also shows specific "markers" of problems, but isn't really clear to me that we know those markers are a "real issue". I.e. cell death - it sounds like that's bad, but what's the baseline cell death? You always have some cells dying, and I'd be surprised if the rates aren't different in these various synthetic configurations than in your gut. Does their measure show "actual bad effect in a human"? I'm not sure.

Then they are talking about professional dishwashers - i.e. not the kind you have at home. The study down below shows for detergent (not rinse aid) the professional dishwasher dilutes 1:250 to 1:667 but home ones dilute to 1:80,000. Perhaps there's a difference in effect here - dose makes the poison and all. They also don't mention the home dilution for rinse aids so says about 0 for home use of Jet-Dry from my reading. But if we take the professional ratio - 1:2,000 to 1:10,000 for rinse aids and apply the worst case of 667:2,000 and scale from the home ones at 1:80,000 I get a rinse aid likelyhood of 1:239,880. Of course, I don't think it scales like that - but I have no idea how to work out home rinse aid deposit dilution after a cycle. I'm not in a place to do that research.

From their graph, they're using HT-29 cells, which a search shows is a cancer cell line from 1964. I have no idea how well this ought to map to normal cells in your gut, but ...

My main point is there's one study using P<= 0.05 for significance - which means by chance there's a 1 in 20 possibility this result would come up. I know scientists like the 0.05 likely hood from chance, but TBH I tend to think something that would come up 5% of the time just by chance isn't that unlikely across huge numbers of studies. The study isn't in animals even, forget about humans. And their own graph shows the line of cytotoxicity hitting 0 at 1:40,000 dilution, which at least in a home dishwasher + eating, plus getting into the gut seems like it's plausible given the starting point for detergent was 1:80,000.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@jp10558 You can always make your choice relative to your tolerance of risk.

Everyone thought plastics and teflon were safe too. Now we have forever chemicals and microplastics infiltrating our bodies. I am erring on the side of caution because I have gut issues and an episodic but chronic cough in which no doctor has been able to diagnose the cause.

 

[jp10558]

@jp10558 You can always make your choice relative to your tolerance of risk.

Everyone thought plastics and teflon were safe too. Now we have forever chemicals and microplastics infiltrating our bodies. I am erring on the side of caution because I have gut issues and an episodic but chronic cough in which no doctor has been able to diagnose the cause.

Sure - everyone should make choice relative to tolerance of risk - I'm just pointing out that we often have media blow up what are basically nothingburgers so you could (likely with the same likelyhood of risk) avoid getting out of bed each day. Actually, I'm pretty sure the evidence that getting out of bed is more dangerous is way more solid. I tend to try and compare to driving and if the risk is below driving (which this almost certainly is by a LOT) I accept it. Otherwise I'm not really being that rational IMO.

 

[WinniWoman]

@jp10558 You can always make your choice relative to your tolerance of risk.

Everyone thought plastics and teflon were safe too. Now we have forever chemicals and microplastics infiltrating our bodies. I am erring on the side of caution because I have gut issues and an episodic but chronic cough in which no doctor has been able to diagnose the cause.

I have chronic cough also and mucus but my husband doesn’t and we use and eat the same stuff.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I have chronic cough also and mucus but my husband doesn’t and we use and eat the same stuff.

Same with DH. He coughs at times but not like I do. FWIW...I have not noticed any worsening of our dish cleaning or glasses shining since eliminating the rinse aid. So at worst we are saving some $$ by not buying it. We have a Bosche DW so it cleans very well.

My next target to get rid of after we run out is the plastic pods. That plastic melts in the DW. Where does it go? Will go back to old fashioned powder soap if I can find a safe and fragrance free version.

 

[ScoopKona]

Sure - everyone should make choice relative to tolerance of risk - I'm just pointing out that we often have media blow up what are basically nothingburgers so you could (likely with the same likelyhood of risk) avoid getting out of bed each day. Actually, I'm pretty sure the evidence that getting out of bed is more dangerous is way more solid. I tend to try and compare to driving and if the risk is below driving (which this almost certainly is by a LOT) I accept it. Otherwise I'm not really being that rational IMO.

Scorched teflon kills birds dead. You can look it up. It's one of the leading killers of pet birds. "Canary in a coal mine" seems a very apt idiom for teflon. And I agree with @CalGalTraveler that all this plastic simply cannot be healthy.

I do my bit by growing much of my own food. I don't buy very much at all that is wrapped in plastic. I'm surrounded by ranchers -- and their prices are far better than Wegman's/Safeway/etc. So, "wrapped in paper" or "not wrapped in anything at all, just chuck it in the cooler" is how I tend to go food shopping.

We've also taken to canning -- which is a money-maker besides being a great preservation scheme.