KitchenAid produces some of the best, most efficient dishwashers on the market. But, there are some tips and tricks that can help you keep your KitchenAid dishwasher in the best condition for the longest period of time possible. 

  • Use detergent tablets
  • Clean the filter regularly
  • Remove the top dish rack 
  • Get some wine glass attachments

Use Detergent Tablets 

It can be difficult to tell how much liquid dishwashing detergent you’re adding to the cup. 

Add too much and you’ll need to buy detergent every week, and add too little and your dishes won’t get very clean at all!

That’s why I love using dishwasher tablets instead.

All you need to do is grab a tablet, place it in the detergent cup, and close it like you would with liquid detergent. You never need to worry about overfilling or underfilling.

Some of the best detergent tablets to use in your KitchenAid dishwasher include:

Detergent tablets have been shown to clean dishes faster and more effectively than liquid, powder, and gel detergent. 

Clean the Filter Regularly

There are a lot of people who don’t even realize that their dishwasher has a filter. 

But, after many dishwashing cycles, your dishwasher’s filter will start to get dirty and clogged. 

This not only means your dishes won’t be as clean as they could be, but using a dirty filter can also impact your KitchenAid dishwasher’s performance and wear it down faster than usual.

To keep everything working properly, cleaning your dishwasher filter regularly, and replacing it when necessary, is essential.

Here is how you can remove and your dishwasher’s filter:

  • Carefully remove the bottom dish rack.
  • Gently lift up the filter door located at the bottom of the dishwasher.
  • Remove the old filter by turning it counterclockwise and lifting it out.
  • Remove anything clogging the filter and throw it in the trash.
  • Using warm water and dish soap, gently clean the filter with a dishwashing brush.
  • Dry the filter and put it back in your dishwasher
  • Replace the filter door and bottom dish rack.

With regular cleanings, a dishwasher filter can last up to five years. If you’ve had the same filter for a while, or if it’s especially dirty or damaged, it’s time to replace it.

How to Replace a KitchenAid Dishwasher Filter

Replacing your dishwasher’s filter when necessary will keep the dishwasher in peak condition for as long as possible.

To replace your KitchenAid dishwasher’s filter, follow the steps below:

  • Remove the old filter.
  • Grab your new filter and remove the protective plastic from the O ring.
  • Insert the new filter into the filter slot. Be sure the arrow is pointed up.
  • Push the filter door closed until it snaps into place.
  • Run a rinse cycle (without any dishes in the dishwasher) before running a wash cycle. 

It’s best to replace your dishwasher filter once every five years.

Remove the Top Dish Rack

If you’re washing something like a large pot or cookie sheet, there’s a good chance it won’t fit inside your dishwasher with both the top and bottom dish rack installed.

Luckily, all KitchenAid dishwashers have a removable top dish rack to make washing larger dishes easier.

Carefully follow the steps below to remove your dishwasher’s top rack:

  • Pull the dish rack out until it clicks into place at the edge of the tracks. 
  • Flip the track stops to the outside.
  • Carefully begin to slide the dish rack off the tracks.
  • Close the track stops.
  • Slide the tracks back into the dishwasher.

Now, you can easily wash taller dishes in your dishwasher without worrying whether or not they’ll fit.

Get Some Wine Glass Attachments

I spent years handwashing my wine glasses. Even though most wine and champagne glasses are dishwasher safe, it can be scary to put fragile glassware in your dishwasher.

But, I recently purchased some wine glass attachments and installed them in my dishwasher, and now, I can confidently wash all my fragile glassware without worrying that it’ll break.

These silicone holders clip onto the edge of your dish rack and fit around wine glass stems. 
They hold my glasses securely in place and all but guarantee that they won’t break during a wash cycle.