If a dishwasher has started leaving grit on glasses, cleaning the top rack badly or smelling stale between cycles, the cause is usually maintenance rather than a fault. Two components handle nearly all of it, and both come out by hand.
The Filter
Switch the dishwasher off at its breaker first, then pull out the lower rack. Most Maytag machines use a cylindrical filter that twists out, sitting in a flat mesh screen that then lifts away. Rinse both under a hot tap and use a soft brush on the mesh. Expect grease, food debris, seeds and bits of paper label, which glue themselves flat across the screen and choke it.
Refit the flat screen first and seat the cylinder until it locks. A filter left loose lets debris straight into the pump, which is a much larger problem than a dirty screen.
The Spray Arms
- Spin each arm by hand. It should move freely. If it catches, something in the rack above is fouling it.
- Most arms unclip or unscrew with a retaining nut. Check the manual before forcing anything.
- Hold each arm up to the light and look through every jet. Clear blocked holes with a toothpick or a straightened paperclip, then rinse the arm through.
- Refit and check rotation again before closing the door.
A Realistic Schedule
Filter: monthly for most households, fortnightly if you rarely scrape plates or run the machine daily. Spray arms: every few months, sooner in a hard-water area. Run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner every month or two, and wipe the door edge and the seal, where grime collects out of sight.
One habit prevents most of it: scrape plates properly but do not pre-rinse them spotless, since modern detergents and soil sensors work better with something to detect. If cleaning stays poor after a thorough filter and arm clean, the next suspects are the wash pump, the water inlet valve or heating, so book a Maytag dishwasher repair.