July 25th, 2023 by Shauna Hammond

Dishwashers are more common in the home now more than ever with about half of the homes in Britain owning a dishwasher, for those with lots of dishes or large families then owning a dishwasher is a fantastic way to save time on cleaning so it can be incredibly frustrating when you begin to notice that your dishes are no longer coming out clean, from a slimy film, murky glasses or food residue there are many times when your dishes just don’t come out as clean as you had expected too. The good news is that this doesn’t usually mean that your dishwasher is damaged and the problem can be easily resolved. So, if you are struggling with dirty dishes here are some of the most common causes and how you can fix them.

Incorrect Stacking

The first and surprisingly most common issue that can lead to dishes not being cleaned correctly is incorrect stacking – while it may seem like you should be able to place your dishes in any order and they should come out clean there is in fact a method and logic behind stacking your dishwasher to ensure that they are getting cleaned correctly. You may find that altering how you stack your dishwasher can help to resolve the issue of food residue remaining on dishes.

When stacking your dishwashers, plates and bowls should be stood up between the prongs and angled downwards, this way the water jets will be in a better position to blast the dirt away. You should also be sure not to overfill your dishwasher there shouldn’t be too much overlap between dishes as this can result in the water being unable to circulate around the machines. When it comes to loading cutlery into the dishwasher then be sure to use the designated compartment, and mix your cutlery together in order to avoid nesting – that is when the cutlery may slot too closely together preventing the water from reaching all areas of the surface.

Making simple changes to how you stack your dishwasher and how many dishes your place in one load can have a huge impact on the efficiency of your dishwasher, so give it a try before calling out for expensive repairmen.

Too Much Product

If you are noticing a problem with dishes looking clean but coming out of the machine with a slimy film-like residue then the problem may lay with how much detergent you are using. While it may seem more products will make your dishes sparkling cleaner, it can in fact have the opposite effect while also leading to a wide range of other issues. This is why it is important to ensure you always follow the manufacturer's instructions and use the right amount of detergent.

As we have already mentioned using too much detergent can result in a residue forming on your dishes that will then require rewashing to ensure all product is removed in order to not taint food or drinks, however, that is not the only problem that can result from using too much product. You may also notice that your dishwasher is producing more suds than normal that linger after the cycle has finished and can then require an extra rinse cycle to remove them this not only wastes water but uses more energy too. Excessive suds can also affect the jets and arms from functioning correctly which will have further effects on your dishwasher cleaning efficiency, too much product can also lead to corrosion on the more delicate parts of your dishwasher too which can ultimately lead to some very expensive repairs. So, if you now suspect that you may be using too much product we would recommend completely a cleaning cycle on your dishwasher and then being cautious to follow the recommended dosage on your detergent of choice.

Pro-Kleen Dishwasher Detergent 5L

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Not Enough Product

On the other hand, not using enough products can also have a direct effect on your dishwasher's cleaning efficiency. Not using enough detergent will obviously affect how well it is able to remove the dirt and food residue from the surface of your dishes. However, the absence of or not enough of other important products such as dishwasher salt and rinse aid can also result in your dishwasher being unable to correctly clean. 

Rinse Aid

Rise aid is an important product for your dishwasher as it works as a surfactant that will reduce the water tension so it can easily slide across your dishes reducing watermarks, and scratches and making it so debris and residue can easily glide off the surfaces of dishes once it has been broken down by detergent. So, it is an integral part of your dishwasher's cleaning cycle – however, just like with detergent, it is important to ensure you are using the correct dosage as too much product can lead to residue forming on dishes. There should be a maximum fill line present in your rinse aid compartment that you should be sure to stick to.

5.5L Pro-Kleen Dishwasher Rinse Aid, Lemon Fragrance

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Dishwasher Salt

Another important part of your dishwasher cycle that can be easily overlooked and forgotten is ensuring there is enough salt. The salt that is used in your dishwasher cycle is designed to soften water in your machine which will improve the overall cleaning power of your dishwasher by preventing the build-up of white marks that can be caused by the presence of limescale which is more commonly found in hard water.

Limescale Build-Up

As mentioned above dishwasher salt is a key component to keeping limescale at bay, this is especially important in hard water areas where limescale is more likely to build up. Limescale can have adverse effects on your dishwasher, both on the internal components and its cleaning efficiency.

The presence of limescale in your machine can result in corrosion of the pipes, and the presence of limescale deposits on the heating elements can also result in your dishwasher being unable to reach full temperature which will result in the dishwasher being unable to clean your dishes to the best of its abilities. These deposits can also lead to the eventual breakdown of the machine too which will lead to expensive replacements. Limescale deposits in your dishwasher can also result in white marks on your dishes and cloudy residue on your glasses and cutlery.

In order to prevent limescale from becoming an issue it is important to take the time to descale your machine every 3 months using a descaling product this will break down any limescale that has begun to build up, dishwasher salt should also be regularly used in between as this will soften the water which will also help to prevent the build-up of limescale and ensure your dishwasher is operating at full capacity.  

Pro-Kleen Multi-Purpose Descaler 5L

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Regularly Maintain Your Machine

It is understandable that you might consider dishwasher self-cleaning due to their nature, however just like with washing machines and sinks they build up dirt and grime over time and if you do not take time regularly clean and maintain your dishwasher it will a direct effect on how well it is able to perform its job. That is why you should be cleaning your machines once a week to ensure that you are removing and building up dirt that may be getting circulated around the machine during a cycle and spreading bacteria and dirt onto your dishes, it will also help to prevent foul odours from building up in your machine too. You can easily clean your machines with white vinegar and running a hot cycle, this will remove bacteria and deodorise any odours.

You should also be making it part of your routine to check the filter of your dishwasher if you have access to it. The job of the filter is to grab dirt and debris from the machine's water and hold it to ensure your dishes are coming into contact with clean water. If your filters are not cleaned or become clogged then they are no longer able to filter out dirt and debris which in turn will then remain in the water resulting in dishes not being correctly cleaned, you should clean your filter once a week in order to avoid this it will also help to prevent your filter from becoming damaged in the long run also.

So, if you notice that your dishes aren’t coming out as clean as they used to then before you hurry to call the repairman take a look at your habits and make sure that you are doing everything you should be – if not make some simple changes and you should see a huge difference in your dishwasher's performance.