Dishwasher not cleaning properly: causes and what to do
If dishes come out of the dishwasher dirty, greasy or with white streaks, it is usually not a fault. Bosch lists the main causes: the tablet did not dissolve, the spray arms or filters are blocked, or the dishes were loaded wrongly.
A white film on glasses is usually down to hard water: the machine has run out of dishwasher salt or rinse aid. Below is what to check, in order.
Likely causes
- the tablet or powder did not dissolve — for example, dishes blocked the dispenser lid;
- blocked spray arm nozzles or spray arms that do not turn;
- blocked filters at the bottom of the machine;
- dishes packed too tightly or blocking the spray arms;
- a programme too cool for burnt-on food;
- hard water: the salt or rinse aid has run out — a white film on glasses;
- the machine does not heat the water or the circulation pump is faulty — this needs a repair.
Safe steps you can try
- After a programme, check the dispenser: the tablet must have dissolved completely. Load dishes so that they do not stop the dispenser lid from opening.
- Check that the spray arms turn freely. Remove them (the upper one usually unscrews, the lower one lifts off), clear the nozzles with a cocktail stick or tweezers, rinse them and clip them back in.
- Take out the filters and rinse them under running water, with nothing abrasive.
- Load correctly: heavily soiled pots and pans in the lower basket, glasses and cups in the upper basket with space between them. Scrape off large food remains, but there is no need to pre-rinse.
- For burnt-on food, choose a hotter programme. Bosch notes that switching from tablets to powder sometimes helps.
- Check the salt and rinse aid indicators and top them up. To tell a hard-water film from etched glass, Samsung suggests wiping a glass with lemon juice or vinegar: if the film comes off, the cause is hard water.
When to call a technician
Call a technician if the dishes are still dirty after all the checks, the water in the machine stays cold during the wash, the spray arms do not turn even with clean nozzles, or the machine hums but does not wash. These point to a faulty circulation pump, heater or sensors; Bosch advises calling a specialist if the machine does not heat the water at all.
A MasService technician will test the pump, the heating and the sensors and name the price before the repair.
Error codes for this fault
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a white film on my glasses?
Usually it is a hard-water film: the salt or rinse aid has run out. Check their indicators. If the film does not come off even with vinegar, the glass may be etched — that cannot be cleaned off.
Do I need to rinse dishes before loading?
No. Scraping off large food remains is enough — Bosch and Samsung both say pre-rinsing is not needed.
Why does the tablet stay undissolved?
Usually dishes stop the dispenser lid from opening, or the water in the machine is not hot enough. Load so that the dispenser is clear and choose a suitable programme.
Other faults
Dishwasher repair — Brands
Could not fix it yourself? A technician comes to your home in Baku, finds the cause on site and names the price before the repair: Dishwasher repair