One detail that surprises new DishDrawer owners: because the top and bottom drawers each have their own self-contained wash system, they also each have their own filter basket. Cleaning one drawer’s filter does nothing for the other, so a proper maintenance routine covers both.
Step 1: Slide Out the First Drawer Fully
Open the drawer all the way and look toward the back corner of its base for the filter basket, usually marked with a small twist-lock indicator.
Step 2: Remove, Rinse, Repeat
Lift the basket out and rinse it under warm running water, using a soft brush on anything stuck in the fine mesh. Do the same for the coarser outer piece if your model separates the two.
Step 3: Don’t Forget the Second Drawer
Because it’s a completely separate wash circuit, the second drawer’s filter fills with its own debris at its own pace — sometimes faster than the other if that drawer handles most of the household’s daily loading. Repeat the same process there.
Step 4: Reseat Both Firmly
Twist each basket back into its locked position until it stops. A loosely seated filter in either drawer can cause that drawer specifically to wash poorly, even though nothing else is wrong with it.
A Realistic Schedule
Check both drawers monthly, more often if you don’t pre-rinse dishes before loading. For anything beyond the filters, visit our Fisher & Paykel dishwasher repair page.