Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly

This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.

Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair.

What Is Available To Help Keep Your Dishwasher In Top Condition?

The salt is used to allow the detergent to work correctly. It acts by softening the water in your machine which will then mean that the detergent can be at its most effective. One thing to be certain of though is that you need to be using dishwasher salt and not table salt. If you use table salt you will be damaging the machine.

To get to where the salt is located, you need to take the bottom rack out, and you will see where the salt is situated. Proceed to unscrew the top and fill it up to the top. There is a chance that when you do this you will have some salt and water spill out – but you can easily clean this up. Once completed you just need to place the cap back on the top.

Salt - eSpares Top Tip

It is a good idea to only put salt in your dishwasher when you’re planning to use it, as this will help reduce the possibility of salt spilling out and sitting on the metal components. If this were to happen then the metal could corrode.

As we are sure you are aware there are many different types of detergent available, starting with the basic type such as the one we first show you here in this video, going up to products that offer an all-in-one service. The all in one products not only are a detergent, but will also contain the salt and rinse aid too. 

Detergent – eSpares Top Tip

Even if you have chosen to use one of these all-in-one detergents, it is still a good idea to top your machine will salt separately if you live in an area that has particularly hard water. For your detergent to work at its best, you need the water to be really soft. See our Finish dishwasher cleaning range.

If you have decided to use a detergent that does not contain rinse aid, then no problem – most dishwashers nowadays will allow you to add rinse aid yourself, where you are able to change the amount of rinse aid being used during a cycle.

The purpose of rinse aid is to help the water run off the glassware and crockery, helping to stop those horrible streaks that you might have sometimes noticed being left on your favourite drinks glass. The rinse aid is added into a small compartment, and there will be a small dial allowing you to adjust how much rinse aid is being used during the cycle.

If you still find that you are getting the streaks being left on your glassware, it will mean that you do not have enough rinse aid in your machine – in this case you just need to turn the dial up. If you are getting a milk-like or blue film appearing on your glasses, then that is a sign that you actually have too much rinse aid in your machine – so you just need to turn the dial down.

The filter assembly is designed to stop any large bits of food from getting into the pipes or from re-circulating around the dishwasher. Proceed to unscrew the top of the assembly, and take the filter cover off – you will then be able to see the filter and the filter mesh.

You will find that there are lots of different bits of food trapped in here, so just simply give it a rinse under the tap to clean it – making sure any blockages are cleared away. If there are any tears or holes in the mesh then that will make the filter less effective – so it would be best to have it replaced.

When putting the bottom rack back in to the dishwasher, you need to ensure that the top spray arm  is not obstructed, so is able to spin completely in the machine. If there is something sticking up from the basket in to the area of the upper spray arm, it is going to make it much less effective. Most dishwashers actually allow you to raise the height of the top rack to help give a bit of extra clearance for the spray arm to be able to move freely.

Spray Arms – eSpares Top Tip

Make sure there are not any cracks in the bottom of the cutlery basket, as if there is it could allow cutlery to fall through and block the spray arm in the bottom of the dishwasher.

The cause for a lot of damaged parts within dishwashers is limescale. We actually have our very own eSpares Limescale & Detergent Remover to help you avoid the build-up of limescale, and so help prolong the life of the internal components of the machine. It is easy to use, and you only need to apply it once a month. Simply empty a sachet into your empty machine and then place it on a hot cycle. For an alternative, and really effective cleaning method, you can dissolve the powder into a spray bottle and proceed to spray the solution on any area that is really badly affected. You can always then pour the rest of the solution into the dishwasher and then put it on a hot cycle.

Need To Replace Parts?

If you have checked your dishwasher and found that some of the parts are beyond repair or rescue, and simply want to replace them, you have certainly come to the right place. Here at eSpares we have a wide range of dishwasher spare parts  and cleaners for you to choose from. Not only that, we also offer an excellent variety of advice articles on the eSpares website to help you (in some instances) fix the part yourself – see our advice centre.

Final Comment

We hope you have found this article useful and (if you didn’t already know) realize that maintaining your dishwasher is important to getting the best possible results. You can see the eSpares website for our full range of home and garden appliance spare parts – along with many advice articles to help you keep your appliances running as they should at home.