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If your dishwasher is not draining, you can perform some quick and easy checks before calling a professional or buying a new machine. Watch our video or read the step-by-step advice below and try to fix it yourself.

Before performing any operation on the dishwasher, make sure it is turned off.

Clogged filters are a common cause of undrained dishwashers, but they are easy to check and repair. 

You will find the filters at the bottom of the dishwasher; they are divided into three parts and are easy to pull out or unscrewed. Remove, clean and replace the filter. If you use the dishwasher frequently, it is best to clean the filter once a week. You can do this by running them under the tap.

If cleaning the filter does not solve the problem, check whether the waste water hose at the back of the dishwasher is squashed or kinked-if it is, this may prevent the waste water from draining. 

If you have a free-standing machine, you and another person will be able to pull it away from the wall. You can then check if there is enough space for the hose to drain properly.

If you have an integrated model, this will be more tricky, and it is worth asking a professional to consult.

If the waste water pipe of the dishwasher is connected to the sink waste, check for blockages. 

If the water drains from the sink slower than usual or does not drain at all, it may be clogged. This may be the reason why your dishwasher cannot drain properly.

To solve this problem, try to pour a small amount of baking soda and vinegar into the drain, wait a minute, and then pour some boiling water to rinse it off. Or, you can try to use a plunger to move the blockage. 

If you have performed these quick checks and still cannot get the dishwasher to work properly, then it's time to ask a professional. 

Which one of our free ones can you use? Trusted Traders website, where you can find recommended traders who have gone through our strict screening process.

You can also use our Trusted Traders search tool below to find reliable local traders in your area.

Also, please check our Home Appliance Repair Guide for the average cost of a series of jobs cited therein? Trustworthy traders come from their many years of experience. 

If you want to give up and buy a new dishwasher, please see our review of the best dishwasher for you.

Inability to drain water is one of the most common problems with dishwashers. In fact, it accounts for more than one-seventh of all failures reported in our investigation of "Which?" member.

This is why we have to ask which of the thousands? Members talk about their dishwashers every year to see which brand's models are the most reliable and which brands are disappointing.

The difference between the most reliable and the least reliable is staggering: 86% of the best brand dishwashers have not failed after 10 years, compared with 71% of the worst brands.

To learn which brands are least likely to disappoint you, read our guide to the most reliable dishwasher brands.