My dishwasher is not cleaning properly!

If you’ve opened your dishwasher expecting to see gleaming, shimmering dishes, but instead see greasy and dirty plates, you don’t have to worry about a sky-high dishwasher repair bill – we’ll repair the appliance if you have protection cover with us, and cover all subsequent repairs.  Nobody likes it when your dishwasher is not cleaning properly so we’ll even replace your dishwasher with an equivalent model should it be irreparable, and if you have a no-excess plan, you won’t have to spend another penny on it!

But you might not even need a professional to repair the dishwasher – you could get your dishwasher cleaning properly in hardly any time at all!

Why do dishwashers stop cleaning properly?

Clogged spray arms

If your dishwasher is not cleaning dishes, it could be due to hard water deposits and substances in your dishwasher detergent that can clog up your spray arms. This reduces the efficacy of the spray jets and can even result in the jets spraying grimy water on your dishes.

Because this is a common issue in dishwashers, most models allow you to remove the spray arms and manually clean them. You may need to use a spanner or screwdriver to remove your spray arms, depending on your dishwasher model.

Once you have removed the spray arms, visually check them for clogs, and remove the clogs with whatever is at hand—perhaps a piece of wire or a needle? To remove any debris you have been unable to budge, soak the spray arms in white vinegar.

Obstructed spray arms

Is your dishwasher not rinsing? It could be that something is blocking the movement of your spray arms—a piece of cutlery may have fallen through the tray, or some old food may have accumulated around its base. Check that your spray arms can move properly and remove anything that may be getting in their way.

Dirty filters and dishwashers

If you want your dishes to sparkle, then you need to clean the interior of your dishwasher and clean out the filters regularly—perhaps once a month. Foodstuffs, broken glass, and a huge range of other debris can accumulate at the bottom of the dishwasher, making it almost impossible for the appliance to clean your dishes.

You can clean dishwasher filters without dismantling the appliance or removing the dishwasher cover; simply slide them out and wash them in the sink. While you’re at it, give the interior of the appliance a good scrub.

There are a huge range of dishwasher cleaning products on the market; these allow you to forgo cleaning your dishwasher for significantly longer than you would otherwise have to, and are very good at getting rid of limescale and grease. However, you’ll still have to give the appliance a manual clean occasionally to get rid of any bulky debris the dishwasher cleaner cannot shift.

Other minor problems

• Are you using the same detergent you normally would? Not all detergents are equal, and some might not have enough cleaning power for your requirements.

• Is your detergent old or damp? Detergent can degrade over time, especially if it is stored incorrectly and comes into contact with water.

• Are you loading your dishwasher properly? Some items may be blocking the spray jet.

• Did you put the dishwasher on the right cycle? A quick low-temperature clean might not be enough for dozens of greasy pots and pans and may simply spread the grease around.

Is your dishwasher still not cleaning your dishes?

If all else fails, the problem is likely due to a fault with the internal components of your dishwasher, such as damage to the drive belt or a broken motor.

Don’t forget, we offer cover for a range of household appliances to ensure you have peace of mind should yours ever suffer a breakdown. Please contact us via our website or on 0345 3192 247 to find out more. Or call us today for urgent assistance. Our technical teams will run through some simple diagnostics to see if it can be fixed over the phone and if not, they’ll send a manufacturer engineer where possible to take a look.

We’ve looked into other common dishwasher issues, too – do you need to know what to do if a dishwasher stops draining?