Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly? Fixes for Gqeberha Homes

Start with the basics

Before blaming the machine, check these. They solve most cleaning problems.

1. Clean the filter

At the bottom of the tub, under the lower spray arm, there is a cylindrical filter and usually a flat mesh. Twist the cylinder out, lift the mesh and rinse both under the tap. Use an old toothbrush on stubborn grease. A clogged filter means dirty water is recirculated over your dishes.

2. Clear the spray arms

Lift out the lower spray arm and unclip or unscrew the upper one. Hold them up to the light and look through the holes. Use a toothpick to clear any blocked by seeds, labels or limescale. Rinse and refit, and check they spin freely.

3. Do not overload

Water needs to reach every surface. Large pots, trays and boards can block spray arms and shade other dishes. Leave space between items and angle bowls and cups downwards.

4. Check the detergent

Detergent tablets and powder absorb moisture once opened and lose effectiveness. Keep them sealed and dry. Make sure the detergent compartment opens fully during the cycle and is not blocked by a tall plate or board.

5. Choose the right programme

Eco programmes use less water and lower temperatures over a longer time. They work well for normal loads but may struggle with heavily soiled pots. Use the intensive programme for those.

Low water pressure

Parts of Gqeberha have experienced low or variable water pressure during supply problems and restrictions. A dishwasher fills to a set level. If pressure is low, it may fill slowly, run with less water than designed or stop with an error. Make sure the tap to the dishwasher is fully open, and clean the inlet filter where the hose connects to the machine. If pressure is a persistent problem in your area, running the dishwasher at times of lower demand can help.

Cloudy glasses: scale or etching?

This is the key question, because the fixes are opposite.

Test

Soak a cloudy glass in white vinegar for five minutes, then rinse.

• If the cloudiness disappears, it is scale or residue from hard water minerals.
• If it stays, it is etching, permanent micro-damage to the glass surface.

Fixing scale

• Fill the salt compartment with dishwasher salt (coarse salt made for dishwashers, not table salt).
• Set the water hardness setting on the machine to match your water. Your manual explains how. Test strips from a pool or hardware shop give you a rough hardness reading.
• Keep the rinse aid dispenser topped up. Rinse aid helps water sheet off glasses rather than forming droplets that dry into spots.
• Run a descaling cycle with dishwasher cleaner every month or two.

Preventing etching

• Use less detergent. Many people use more than needed.
• Avoid the hottest programmes for glassware.
• If your water is soft, reduce or stop adding salt and lower the hardness setting.
• Wash fine crystal by hand.

Etched glasses cannot be restored, but you can stop it getting worse.

Gritty film on dishes

A gritty or sandy film often means:

• The filter is clogged and food particles are being recirculated
• The drain is slow, so dirty water stays in the machine
• Sediment from the water supply is coming in through a damaged inlet filter

Clean the filter and check that the machine drains completely at the end of the cycle.

When it is a fault

Call a technician if you have done all of the above and:

• Water does not get hot during the cycle (heating element or sensor)
• The spray arms do not spin even when clear (weak wash pump)
• Water stays in the bottom after the cycle (drain pump or blockage)
• The machine shows error codes
• The detergent compartment does not open