Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly

Dishwasher is one such popular home appliance which is found in most modern kitchens today. We do not have to take the trouble of hand washing the dishes, cooking pans and pots every day, and thus a lot of our time gets saved. It keeps the kitchen countertops and kitchen sink free from dirty dishes and food debris. Dishwasher not cleaning properly is a common problem that really frustrates us. However, there is no need to panic. Most of such problems can be solved without taking any help from repair professionals.

Troubleshooting Poor Dishwasher Performance

Most of the time, the functioning of a dishwasher gets affected mainly because of improper handling of the kitchen appliance. Some common dishwasher problems and their possible solutions have been discussed below:

Problem #1: Sometimes, improper loading of the dishes can give rise to this kind of a problem. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturers in this regard. The plates should be placed in such a way that they face the central part of the machine. Large sized cooking vessels should be kept at the rear of the bottom rack away from the soap dispenser. Never load the machine beyond its capacity.

Problem #2: If you live in one of those areas where you receive hard water, then it could be a possible culprit. As a result, the detergent used in dishwasher will not lather properly, due to presence of high content of minerals in hard water. In this condition, installation of a water softener and using of some extra amount of detergent will be helpful.

Problem #3: Low water temperature can be responsible for the improper dishwasher functioning. The ideal temperature needed for proper functioning of the dishwasher is 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is below that, then the detergent and the grease will not get dissolved and will stay on the dishes. Stop the dishwasher after running for five minutes and check the temperature with a thermometer. If the temperature is less than 140 degrees, adjust the thermostat control of your water heater at a higher temperature.

Problem #4: Use of wrong detergent can trigger this kind of problem. Powdered and tablet detergents are often found to be less effective in dishwashers, particularly, if the water is hard. Gel detergent or thick liquid detergents clean more effectively and is good for both, dishes as well as the dishwasher.

Problem #5: Residues of soap and hard water on the heating element of the dishwasher and spray nozzles can affect its performance. As a result the water may not get heated and soap may not get distributed properly within the dishwasher. Take some lemon juice, using a toothbrush, apply it over the heating element and spray nozzles of the dishwasher and wait for 5-10 minutes . Repeat this if the layer of deposit is too thick. Thus, cleaning up of these deposits can restore the normal functioning of a dishwasher.

Problem #6: Food debris often clog up the drain pipes and filters of a dishwasher, due to which dirty water backs up during rinsing. You can avoid this problem by rinsing the dishes with running tap water before loading them in the dishwasher. If some foreign particles have already clogged the filter, remove the trapped food from the filter and rinse off the remains with running water. Wipe of the vacated trap with dry sponge and put it back on the dishwasher.

When you fix the problem of dishwasher not cleaning properly on your own, you can save a lot of your money. However, if all these steps, that are mentioned in the article, do not help then the problem could be something more serious like clogged pump, jammed impeller or fault in the motor. In that case, you must hire a professional for repair.