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I noticed mine started sticking even though I thought it was still pretty new - lime deposits can build up faster than you'd think, especially if you live in a hard water area. The annoying part is: sometimes you don't even realize it's slowly clogging because water still gets through somehow, just weaker. If you notice the water pressure at the inlet dropping or it's making weird noises, flushing it out or replacing it if needed is the way to go - don't put that off too long, otherwise you'll end up with problems down the line with the pressure regulator or the hoses.
You can flush out the solenoid valve every one to two years, depending on how much limescale is in your water - with hard water, do it more like annually, with soft water you can get away with it less often. Signs that it's time are weak water flow or weird noises when it's filling. Just unscrew it, take the valve out and scrub it under running water or with an old toothbrush - you don't need any chemicals for that. If it still doesn't work afterwards, a lime filter on the inlet line might be worth it too, then you won't have to deal with cleaning it as often.
Most solenoid valves at the water inlet only need cleaning when they start acting up - so when the water stops flowing properly or makes weird noises. With good water quality, that can take years; with hard or silty water, it happens faster. There's no fixed maintenance schedule like an oil change, it's more of an "if needed" kind of thing.
To check if it's time: watch for weaker flow or the valve starting to hum or vibrate. If that happens, you can usually take it out pretty easily (don't forget to turn off the water supply 😅), rinse it, and check the filter insert - small particles tend to collect there. Depending on the model, it's straightforward, though some appliances are a bit fiddlier.
Generally I'd say: with normal tap water, maybe take a look every two or three years, but don't take it apart just for the sake of it. When you notice it getting sluggish or not working properly anymore, that's when it's time. Some people also flush the thing preventatively without taking it apart - just let water run through it briefly in the opposite direction, and sometimes that's enough to help.
Don't just start flushing it while it's still running - that's a waste of time and risks breaking something. The thing the others missed: A lot of people think they can just pull out the valve and rinse it quick, but if you don't reseat the seals properly, you'll end up with water where it shouldn't be. Better to wait until it's actually causing problems - weak water pressure, noise, or the machine not filling normally - that's when cleaning makes sense. And if you're unsure, check your manual first to see how to do it on your machine before you start experimenting.
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