Water
temperature that is too low is usually the culprit behind dishes
failing to get clean. Check the temperature of the water as it leaves
the faucet. It should be between 120 and 140 degrees. If not, adjust
hot water heater
accordingly.
If
your dishwasher preheats the water, let's check its temperature.
First, remove the bottom rack, then start the washer. After a bit,
the washer will start running. Stop it, open it, and reach down
and scoop out a cup of water. Quickly, check the temperature of
the water. If it's not in the proper range, then suspect a bad heating
element a faulty timer or a bad solenoid.
Be
sure to select the proper wash cycle for each load to match the
amount of soil on your dishes.
Check
for clogged spray arms. They are held on a by a small hub cap. Using
a small wire, fish out any food remnants and then reattach.
A clogged
filter screen can cause food to be thrown back on the dishes. To
clean, remove the spray arm and then the clips holding the strainer.
Clean and reattach
Cloudy
glassware can be causing by etching or hard water deposits.
Etching
is permanent but can be reduced by using less detergent or switching
to a liquid gel detergent, that has less abrasives.
Hard
water deposits can eliminated by running 2 cups of white vinegar
through a complete dishwasher cycle. Put 2 cups of vinegar in a
bowl and place on the bottom rack. Now run dishwasher as normal.
Only
pre-rinse dishes to remove large globs of food, not so much as to
remove all of the food. Dishwashing detergents use enzymes to clean,
and these enzymes need a decent amount of soil for them activate.
Using
a higher quality detergent can help.
