Dishwasher (or Top Rack) Not Cleaning
Before calling for a repair you may want to check the following yourself:
Overfilling or Improper Stacking
Rinsing Problems
Water Temperature
Clogs
Water Inlet Valve
Overfilling or Improper Stacking
- It is very tempting to put as much in a single load as possible, however, to get a proper clean the water and detergent need room to circulate. Most dishwashers jets are mostly on the bottom and, therefore, gaps between the dishes are necessary for it to function fully. Also, in some cases there is a piece which raises and juts up during the cycle. In the case you need to make sure that the area above that raising nozzle is clear to allow it to raise. With all dishwashers please refrain from stacking dishes on top of each other and use pegs and slots int he racks as a guide to stack your dishwasher efficiently. Also, make sure front of heavily soiled items face the center where the water sprays the hardest.
Rinsing Problems
- Please rinse your dishes. Some models advertise that pre-washing is not required, however, it is still beneficial to rinse off the dishes to allow the dishwasher to clean the dish surface itself instead or working to relive the debris first. (The bottom of dishwashers usually has stronger jets and failure to rinse adequately may not be as noticeable on the bottom rack). Also, rinsing will help prevent clogs that can lead to more complex problems.
Water Temperature
- A key ingredient of dishwasher functionality is hot water. (Top rack suffers the most as there are usually fewer and weaker jets). Your hot water should be 130-140 degrees. Check its temperature at the closest faucet. Also, if your dishwasher has a temperature setting then select the highest one. Also, you may want to run the faucet closes to the dishwasher unit its hot to make sure the dishwasher is getting a feed of hot water from the beginning of the cycle.
Clogs
- Overtime the jets (holes in the spinning arms) are likely to become clogged (especially if you are not adequately pre-rinsing). Check these jets closely for any blockages ad then gently scrape out any clogs with a toothpick (or something of similar size). Also, use a dishwasher cleaning product which can be purchased from a grocery store in the detergent section.
Water Inlet Valve
- If none of the above solutions work then the problem may be the water inlet valve. A bad vale can restrict or completely cut off the water to the dishwasher and thus prevent it from cleaning. The value is located behind the lower panel of the dishwasher and can be identified by the hoses (water supply inlet and rubber hose) attached to it along with wires. We recommend hiring a professional appliance repair person to replace this valve.