Why is my dishwasher not cleaning dishes properly?

Cloudy glasses

In hard water areas, mineral deposits – mainly calcium and magnesium – can build up over time leaving a film on glassware. Hard water can also damage your dishwasher, so, to protect both your glassware and your appliance from limescale, use Finish Salt to increase the effectiveness of Frequent washing can also cause corrosion on glassware and add to the cloudiness.

Salty taste

If you notice that your cups taste salty, you may have overfilled your machine’s salt dispenser. If you spill any dishwasher salt when you’re refilling, make sure you flush it away. Always check that the lid of the dispenser is on tight and that nothing is leaking during the wash. Finally, if the problem persists, you may need to call an engineer as a valve that allows water into the machine’s softener could be blocked.

Food residue

If your dishes feel gritty and are mottled with specks of food, this may be because of a stacking issue. Have you overloaded the machine, stacked your plates too close together or put items on top of one another, preventing them from getting washed? Think about how to load your dishwasher to allow maximum water circulation, as without it, it can be particularly difficult to clean greasy and dirty dishes.

Also, you may want to check that the spray arms are not blocked. To do so, run some water through them to see if any of the small holes are compromised by dirt and food debris. If they are, simply use a toothpick to clear them. Next, give the filter a wash to ensure that the dirty water can drain away properly. Before you use the machine again, use Finish Dishwasher Cleaner to get rid of any grease and limescale which may have been building up in your appliance. Always remember, a clean dishwasher means clean dishes!

White spots on your glasses and dishes

There is nothing more frustrating than when you’re trying to clean glass and other dishes that continue to come out of the dishwasher with white spots. This is due to the minerals found in hard water. To prevent this,  make sure you check your appliances salt levels, top up your rinse aid and use Quantum Ultimate detergents which offer built-in protection against spots and marks while delivering a sparkling shine.

Please note, these solutions will not protect from mechanical damage or restore already damaged items. If you have tried these tips and your dishwasher still doesn’t clean dishes, you should consult a maintenance professional.