Get Cleaner Dishes from Your Dishwasher

Is something wrong with your dishwasher? Why are the dishes coming out so dirty? It may not be your dishwasher at all! Here are tips, when using your dishwasher, for sparkling clean dishes.

Steps

  1. Rinse most or ALL the food off your dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher. Use warm water only, no soap, when rinsing. Even though you think you've rinsed all the soap off, you haven't! This will cause a sudsing effect in your dishwasher and leave a film on your dishes. If you leave food on your dishes, that food usually ends up clogging the pump, spray arms and drain lines. Then you'll need to call someone for a repair!
  2. Do not overload the dishwasher. Leave some room so that water from the spray arms can get to all the dishes.
  3. Do not put large and tall items in dishwasher. Wash these items in the sink by hand (the old-fashioned way). Large items like pots, pans and skillets block the water. Tall items like cookie sheets can block the spray arms from turning.
  4. If your machine has a pop-up tower connected to the lower spray arm, be sure not to cover the opening in the center of the lower rack. This has to be clear so the tower can pop up and clean the top rack. If you have a dish covering this area or even leaning over it, the top rack will not get cleaned properly.
  5. Do not use too much dishwasher detergent. More is NOT better! Fill the first cup (which goes into the tub immediately) completely full. The second cup is not necessary but if you want to put detergent in that one also, only fill it halfway. If you use tablets, don't put the tablet in the soap cup like it says on the box. Put the tablet on the bottom of the dishwasher under the lower rack. This gives the dishwasher more time to rinse out all the soap before the end of the cycle.
  6. When you are ready to start your machine, first turn on the HOT water at the sink and wait till it gets as hot as it's going to get. Then turn the water off and start your dishwasher. This puts hot water into the machine from the start. If you don't do this the tub could fill up with cold water because it's usually a long way from the hot water heater to the kitchen. Cold water will not dissolve the soap or clean the dishes properly.
  7. Clean your dishwasher once a month.

Tips

  • Following these tips faithfully will result in cleaner dishes. If your dishes are still coming out dirty after following these tips, you may need to call an appliance repairman. See Choose the Right Appliance Repair Service in Your Area.

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Sources and Citations

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