Dishwasher giving you trouble? It can be frustrating to run a dishwasher cycle only to find that your dishes aren’t getting the sparkling clean you expect. If your dishwasher is not cleaning, we’re here to help.
Typically, dishwasher problems can be traced to a few main culprits. You may need to adjust the settings on your dishwasher, use detergent products differently for best results, or there may be a problem with your dishwasher itself. In this guide, we’ll help you navigate common dishwasher issues with simple troubleshooting tips.
Q: How do you fix a dishwasher that’s not cleaning properly?
A: There are a number of reasons that may cause your dishwasher to not clean properly. You may not be loading it correctly or you could be using an ineffective detergent.
Here are a few ways to troubleshoot:
- Improper loading: There’s a right and a wrong way to load your dishwasher. Overcrowding your dishwasher prevents water from getting between dishes, causing your dishwasher to not clean your dishes properly. Additionally, blocking the sprayer arm can prevent water and detergent from dispersing, resulting in your dishwasher not cleaning the bottom rack or at all.
- Ineffective detergent: Not all dishwashing detergents are built the same. It’s important to select a premium dish detergent to achieve a virtually sparkling clean, no matter how soiled your dishes are.
- Mechanical problems: If your dishwasher is not working at all, it could be a mechanical issue that needs to be addressed by a professional. Consult your dishwasher’s manual for more information.
Q: Why are my glasses coming out cloudy?
A: If your dishes are not getting clean in the dishwasher, it could be due to hard water. Water is considered “hard” if it contains a high level of minerals. These minerals can build up on your dishes and leave a cloudy film known as limescale.
If your water rates high on the hard water scale, consider installing a water softener to soften all water coming into your home. You can also explore dish detergents designed for use with hard water, like Finish® Ultimate.
If your water isn’t hard, it may be too hot. Dishwashers run at a fixed temperature to make sure each cycle is as efficient as possible. Water should be hot enough for the detergents to dissolve properly and at the right time within the cycle. If the temperature is too hot, it could encourage limescale build-up within your dishwasher, causing your dishes to not get clean.
Your dishwasher’s manual will have guidance on what temperatures will perform best for each dish type. Check your settings and ensure you find the right dishwasher cycle for your dish load.
For a sparkling clean every time, consider using a rinse aid. This will prevent water from forming into droplets and leaving those stubborn mineral stains.
Q: Why is there still food residue on my dishes after running a cycle?
A: If you’re finding that your dishwasher isn’t cleaning your dishes, it might be that your dishwasher filter needs a proper clean.
When your dishwasher runs, spray arms situated below each rack spray your dirty dishes with clean water. As the water drains away, it runs through a filter to clean and recirculate water into the wash. If the filter itself is clogged with a buildup of food particles, dirty dishwater may be cycling back into your dishwasher and depositing food particles onto your dishes.
Your dishwasher’s manual will tell you how to locate and remove the filter. Remove the filter and rinse well under hot water.
Q: My dishes have an unpleasant taste–what should I do?
A: Dishwasher issues could cause your dishes to come out of the dishwasher tasting off. Oftentimes, you may find the unpleasant taste is accompanied by an unpleasant smell.
If you find that your dishes don’t taste or smell clean after coming out of the dishwasher, look for excess food that might have gotten stuck in the machine’s various parts. Once you’re done giving the appliance a thorough once over, run a cycle using a dishwasher cleaner like Finish® JET-DRY®. The cleaner will help power away any remaining grease and grime and give your dishwasher a much-needed freshening up.
Q: Why aren’t my dishes drying properly?
A: Your dishes might be coming out wet because you’ve overfilled your dishwasher, not leaving enough space for the items to air dry properly. Alternatively, it could be because there’s a problem with the heating element on your machine. After all, your dishwasher needs to be able to heat up in order to dry the dishes properly.
Keep your dishwasher maintained through regular cleaning and address issues with a professional as needed. Find out more about the optimal temperatures for operating your dishwasher in our article on the topic.
Q: Why does my dishwasher take so long to complete a cycle?
A: If you’re not asking yourself, “why is my dishwasher not cleaning my dishes?”, but you are finding that it takes longer than usual to complete a dishwashing cycle, it could be due to several factors.
Did you know that there are a variety of cycle lengths to choose from – and each offers a specific type of cleaning. Refer to your dishwasher’s manufacturing information to determine which cycle settings you should be using.
If it’s still taking longer than it should for the cycle type, consider reaching out to a maintenance professional.
Q: How come there are still suds on my dishes after running the dishwasher?
A: If you’re finding suds (or soap bubbles) when you open your dishwasher door, shut the door for a couple of hours until the suds dissipate.
Suds usually occur because you’re either using the wrong type of detergent or because you’re using too much of it. Make sure you’re always using high-quality dishwasher detergents and follow the instructions carefully so you’re always using the right amount.
Q: How do I get rid of my dishwasher’s bad odor?
A: If the scent that hits you when you open your dishwasher door doesn’t remind you of clean and shiny plates, you may have dishwasher issues. Fortunately, there are ways to solve it.
One of the main causes of a smelly dishwasher is because of a filter issue or clogged drain. Spend some time cleaning out your dishwasher and use a good quality dishwasher cleaner to give it some much-needed TLC.
Q: Why isn’t my dishwasher draining?
A: Finding water at the bottom of your dishwasher after a cycle could be a sign that your machine is struggling. If your dishwasher isn’t draining, you’ll need to check that the machine’s drain isn’t clogged. Food, grease and grime are bound to build up over time unless you keep up a regular maintenance schedule.
Consult your dishwasher’s manufacturing information to locate and clean the filter so that you can unclog your dishwasher.
Q: Why is my dishwasher leaking?
A: If the area around your dishwasher keeps looking suspiciously wet, or if you’ve had a mini tsunami of water leaking out from your dishwasher, there could be several reasons for it.
Once again, a clogged drain or filter could be the culprit. Or, the door seal may have gotten damaged or worn, causing water to seep out. Take a good look around your dishwasher for any abnormalities, but keep in mind, it might be more than one issue causing the problem!
Q: Why is my dishwasher so loud?
A: If the gentle hum of your dishwasher is replaced by a loud, clanging, ‘something sounds wrong’ kind of noise, there could be several reasons for it. Your dishwasher could be very loud during a cycle if you haven’t loaded it correctly, causing items to move and crash into each other.
You might also want to have a maintenance professional check the water pump or circulation pump motors for damage. As always, make sure you’re keeping up general maintenance so your dishwasher stays in good health.
Q: Why isn’t my dishwasher detergent dissolving?
A: If your detergent is not dissolving, you may want to check your settings and your dishwasher manual to make sure the temperature stays between 40-65°C (120-150°F). It’ll need to be this hot for the tablet to dissolve.
You may also want to check that the spring on the detergent dispenser door/clip is working. They can get stuck and prevent tablets from releasing at the proper time during the wash.
Additionally, check to make sure your detergent dispenser is completely dry when you insert the dishwasher tablet. If it’s wet, the tablet could stick to the dispenser and not release when needed.
Dishwasher Not Cleaning: When to Consult a Professional
There are some dishwasher issues that are beyond basic troubleshooting tips. Sometimes, the reason your dishwasher isn’t cleaning is due to electrical or plumbing issues (ie. your dishwasher is not spraying water) which should be addressed by a professional.
Before performing any home repairs, make sure to reference your dishwasher manufacturer’s information. It may inform you of repairs that should be handled by a professional and offer some additional fixes specific to your machine type.
It’s also a good idea to reference the terms of any warranty you have on your machine before troubleshooting dishwasher issues. Not only will this help you avoid anything that could void your warranty, but your repair may be covered, too!
Wrapping Up
It can be frustrating when your dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly. Fortunately, there are many dishwasher troubleshooting steps you can take before calling in a paid professional.
For optimal dishwasher performance, explore rinse aids, detergents, and dishwasher cleaners from Finish®.
