How to Clean the Filter & Spray Arms on a Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ Dishwasher, Step by Step Instructions
Step by step instructions for the Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ (built in dishwasher, third rack, 47 db). Parts and access points can differ a little by production year. The steps below cover the common layout for this platform, and the model notes flag its quirks.
You can clean a dishwasher filter and spray arms on a Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ yourself in 15 to 30 minutes. Difficulty is easy.
- 5 steps, 15 to 30 minutes, easy difficulty.
- Tools you need are old toothbrush, toothpick or wooden skewer, sink with hot water.
- Parts to buy are none, monthly maintenance.
- Unplug the machine before you start.
None. This is the single highest value 20 minutes you can spend on any kitchen appliance.
Tools
- Old toothbrush
- Toothpick or wooden skewer
- Sink with hot water
Parts
- None, monthly maintenance
Step by step
-
1 Pull the bottom rack and find the filter
The cylindrical mesh filter sits in the tub floor, usually with a quarter turn arrow marking. Twist counterclockwise and lift out, many have a flat coarse filter beneath that lifts out too.
-
2 Rinse and scrub
Hot water and a toothbrush on the mesh until water runs through freely. The grime you’re removing is what’s been respraying onto your glasses.
-
3 Check the sump while it’s open
Feel the exposed sump area for glass shards, fruit stickers, and pit fragments, remove anything that isn’t machine.
-
4 Pop off the spray arms
The lower arm usually lifts or unscrews. The upper arm unclips from the rack. Poke every jet clear with a toothpick and rinse the arms through.
-
5 Reassemble and run a cleaner cycle
Filter locked back in (it must click, a loose filter lets debris reach the pump), arms clicked on, then run the hottest cycle empty with dishwasher cleaner or citric acid. Repeat monthly, non negotiable in Arizona hard water.
Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ notes & error codes
A flashing Clean light is Whirlpool’s way of reporting a stored fault rather than a random blink. Running the diagnostic cycle reads the actual code and saves a lot of guesswork on a machine the customer describes only as "acting up".
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| F8 E4 | Flood or overfill condition |
| F9 E1 | Drain fault |
| F7 E1 | Heating fault |
| F6 E4 | Water inlet fault |
| Clean light flashing | Stored fault, enter diagnostics to read it |
Full details for this machine, common problems, causes, and costs, are in the Whirlpool WDT970SAKZ repair guide. The general version of these instructions is here.
If cleaning doesn’t restore wash quality, water temperature or the circulation pump is next in line, a quick professional diagnosis beats replacing parts on a hunch. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a dishwasher repair pro near you
What this repair costs professionally
Find a dishwasher repair pro near you.
Browse independent appliance repair companies by city, ratings, hours, and phone numbers, no middleman.