A dishwasher helps in the kitchen by eliminating hours of scrubbing and making your dishes sparkle. Some housewives are lucky and their dishwasher works properly without any problems. Other owners of this equipment complain that the dishwasher does not wash dishes well. The reasons for the latter may be different, in this article we will look at them.
Causes of poor dishwashing
The cleanliness of washed dishes is influenced by several factors, which are described in the instructions for use. But some housewives do not consider it necessary to adhere to it. Of course, at first the equipment will work properly and show good results. However, over time, after such careless use, stains will begin to remain on the dishes, white coating or even leftover food.
So, the reasons for poor dishwasher performance may be the following:
- lack of timely cleaning of equipment and its parts;
- lack of special detergents when washing utensils in the car or their small dosage;
Important! It is very important to use quality detergents, so be sure to check out our.
- improper operation of equipment.
Delayed cleaning of the dishwasher
Any kitchen appliances requires constant care and mandatory cleaning after use. If this care is not carried out, the equipment will very quickly become unusable and cease to function.
The following parts of the dishwasher should be cleaned regularly:
- bulk filter for coarse cleaning from large particles of impurities - once every six months;
- filter at the bottom of the equipment from existing food residues - at least once a week;
- water sprinklers against possible blockages;
- anti-scale heating element;
- internal casing from plaque.
Important! The holes in the rocker arms, heating elements and tank of the machine are cleaned at least once every six months by starting an empty machine using special detergents.
Errors during operation
When answering the question why a dishwasher doesn’t wash dishes well, we cannot rule out typical housewife mistakes, which include:
- improper placement and placement of plates and cutlery in the basket;
- a large amount of loaded dishes;
- wrong mode selection.
The main focus of the dishwasher instructions is on the correct placement of dirty dishes. Therefore, it is very important to familiarize yourself with it before using the technology, and also read our following articles:
Important! The most important rule for washing pots and plates in the machine is to arrange the dishes so that the water flows downwards, that is, upside down. In addition, you should not place objects too close and overload the machine; you must leave enough clearance for water to enter.
Here's what else to pay attention to:
- When placing dishes in the basket, make sure that the spray arms and detergent compartment are not blocked by kitchen utensils. A compartment with a tablet that does not open during the process causes dirty dishes.
- An incorrectly selected washing mode will also not give you good result. For example, a dishwasher does not wash dishes with dried food in the quick wash mode. A description of all modes and their corresponding degrees of contamination are also set out in the instructions for using the equipment.
Quality of dishwasher detergents
Another reason for the poor quality of washing dishes and pots in the machine is the small dosage of detergents. Most often this happens due to a change or purchase of a non-original tablet or powder. IN in this case An effective cleaning agent is selected simply by trial and error.
If there was no change in products, and the dishwasher began to wash dishes poorly, then this could be the reason:
- A small amount of rinse aid, the consequences of which are manifested in stains on kitchen utensils. To fix the problem, you need to slightly increase the supply of the product in the settings.
- The presence of salt in the tank of the machine, which can leave white streaks on pots and plates. Check that the dishwasher's salt compartment lid is tightly closed.
Important! Remember that completely refusing to use salt is dangerous due to equipment failure. The presence of salt is necessary to soften hard water, which can clog the ion exchanger.
It takes a lot of time and effort to wash dishes perfectly by hand. That is why a dishwasher is one of the most desirable household appliances for every housewife; its presence makes life much easier.
But how frustrating is the fact that your favorite “helper” began to perform her main task poorly and began to wash the dishes poorly! Why does this happen and how to restore it normal functioning dishwashers?
An unsightly picture in the form of a dirty, with food remnants, napkins and soap bubbles, dishes at the end of the wash cycle is most often the result untrue operating the dishwasher. Therefore, if your machine seems to be broken, do not rush to panic!
Before calling to your home experienced craftsman Read everything again instructions To her! Check whether you are doing everything correctly and following the manufacturers' instructions.
Most common mistakes owners of dishwashers, leading to the machine not washing well:
- Food residues are not removed from dishes before they are loaded into the machine.
- Too many dishes are being loaded into the dishwasher.
- Insufficient or excessive amount of detergent. The problem may also be the low quality of household chemicals.
- Incorrect mode selected. The dirtier the dishes, the longer the hot water wash cycle should be carried out. It is better to choose economical washing programs only if the dishes are not very dirty.
If you have removed all remnants of food and other debris, loaded exactly as much dishes and detergent as required, selected the washing mode correctly, and as a result the dishes are dirty again, first of all, check if they are clogged. coarse and fine filters.
Did you know that dishwasher manufacturers recommend checking and, if necessary, cleaning these filters every time a wash cycle is completed? How long have you been doing this?
If you always do everything correctly and, in principle, do not make the mistakes described above, it means that malfunctions are caused by other negative factors. And the main one is “hard” water.
Even with regular use of special water-softening rinses, it negatively affects machine parts, leading to the formation scale on them.
As a preventive measure, and also in order to rid the machine of scale, you need to clean it from time to time citric acid. To do this, acid is poured into the detergent compartment and the washing mode is started at maximum temperature. Naturally, the dishwasher should be empty at this time.
However, it may be that the scale has already done its job and has completely damaged some parts of the dishwasher. In this case, you definitely cannot do without the help of a specialist!
So, a dishwasher that doesn't wash dishes well may need the following: types of repairs:
- Replacement sprinkler impellers. An impeller is a mechanism that rotates a rocker arm with sprinklers. If the spray arms do not rotate, the water does not reach the entire surface of the dishes and they do not wash properly.
- Replacement temperature sensor. The temperature sensor or thermostat measures the water temperature and transmits information to the software module. If the temperature sensor is broken, the information is not transmitted and the water does not heat up; therefore, remaining cold, it does not wash the dishes.
- Replacement circular pump. This pump pumps water into the dishwasher. When it is faulty, there is no water in the dishwasher, and accordingly, washing does not begin.
- Replacement heating element. The heating element is a water heater, the element most susceptible to scale formation. At a certain point in time, the heating element may simply “burn out”, the water will stop heating, and the dishes will not be washed properly.
- Replacement or “reflashing” software module. The software module is the “mind” that sends all commands to the technical components of the dishwasher. If it is not working, washing is carried out incorrectly or does not occur at all.
If your dishwasher belongs to the expensive category, it is probably equipped with sensor for monitoring water turbidity. A malfunction of this sensor can also lead to the machine not washing well. In this case, the water turbidity sensor needs to be replaced, which will be carried out quickly and efficiently by the VseRemont24 technician, just like replacement any other detail described above:
- heating element,
- module,
- temperature sensor,
- impellers,
- pump
Instead of the old, broken one, you will have exactly the same, “original”, but new and properly working dishwasher part installed. The master of VseRemont24 will provide you with a guarantee for it, just like for all types of work performed by him.
The cost of repair depends on the complexity of the repair, as well as the make and model of the dishwasher.
Masters of VseRemont24 have great experience working with dishwashers various brands and models. Therefore, within a couple of hours after the master arrives at your home at any time convenient for you, the whole necessary repairs will be implemented. Your irreplaceable “assistant” will once again wash the dishes until they are sparkling and squeaky clean!
The quality of washing depends on several factors. But usually users do not pay attention to the operating rules, which is why the device begins to work worse and worse. Among the reasons why your dishwasher has become difficult to wash dirty dishes:
- untimely cleaning of parts;
- errors during operation;
- poor-quality cleaning products or their incorrect dosage.
Dishes may remain dirty if the machine is not used correctly.
If your dishwasher does not wash dishes, first of all, analyze how you use the unit. Among the most common mistakes you can note:
- loading more dishes than allowed;
- choosing the wrong mode;
- improper placement of plates and glasses in cages.
Before turning on the dishwasher, you should carefully read the instructions. Dishes should be placed so that they do not interfere with the operation of the spray arm or block access to the detergent. In addition, the plates that are located on the lower level should not interfere with the passage of water to objects higher up.
Place dishes in the dishwasher correctly
The more dishes you put in the dishwasher, the worse they will clean. If you overload the machine, you will have to wash the dishes again after washing. Another mistake is setting a mode that does not correspond to the type of pollution. If you need to wash a frying pan and you turn on the glass mode, the utensil will remain dirty. A quick wash will also not remove grease remaining on pots and plates. If your dishwasher is having trouble cleaning dirty dishes and you don’t know what to do, first read the instructions. It describes all types of possible downloads, modes and other useful information.
If stains appear constantly on plates that have been in the dishwasher, the unit most likely needs to be cleaned. Any model must be regularly inspected and the condition of the following parts checked:
- sprinklers;
- mesh filter for food;
- heating element and tank;
- filling filter.
Check the instructions to understand where the filter is located to collect food particles. If the appliance does not wash dishes, it is most likely dirty. Usually the element is located at the bottom of the unit and looks like a fine mesh. It needs to be washed every ten days.
Washed utensils in the dishwasher and by hand
If the water is hard, keep an eye on the filter core - it can be seen at the inlet of the unit. When the filter becomes clogged, the water pressure weakens. This is another reason why the machine does not wash dirty dishes.
The heating element and tank may suffer from scale. To prevent its occurrence, buy the appropriate product. It is important that it matches the type of dishwasher you have. Periodically turn it on in idle mode, adding a composition that removes scale.
To internal elements not rusted, after all procedures wipe them with a dry cloth.
If your dishwasher has become difficult to wash dirty dishes, one of the ways to fix it is to check the detergent used. If you changed the composition, and plaque and stains begin to appear on your kitchen utensils, the reason is obvious. Buy another one and your machine will work much better.
If you always add the same product, but the plates remain dirty after washing, the reasons may be different:
- The machine does not wash away stains from coffee, tea and lipstick well - not enough bleach. To solve the problem, buy the necessary supplements or change the product.
- Gray plaque and unsightly stains are a sign of a lack of rinse aid. To solve the problem, adjust its flow.
- Plastic plates remain greasy - there is not enough grease dissolving agent. To correct the situation, change the composition or add additives yourself.
- White streaks are observed on the pots - salt powder ends up inside the machine, resulting in a coating.
The cause of problems may be the use of a composition produced to solve other problems. At first everything will be fine, but over time performance characteristics the unit will begin to deteriorate, and then it will fail.
The reason may be poor quality dishwashing detergents.
If there is a residue on the plates, you may have added special salt a long time ago. In such a situation, the ion exchanger breaks down due to hard water, as a result of which the detergent particles dissolve poorly. If you reapply salts, the operation of the dishwasher will quickly return to normal.
If the above measures do not have an effect, the problem may be significant. One possible reason is the failure of some parts:
- The heater burned out. This element comes into contact with water, so scale forms on it. Over time, the heating element simply burns out. In this case, the water does not heat up, and it is impossible to wash the plates with cold liquid.
- The sprinkler does not function - as a result, water does not reach all places, and the dishes remain dirty.
- Broken water turbidity sensor - used only in new models. It controls the quality of the water: if it is cloudy, the washing continues, if it is clean, the process ends. When the device does not work, the machine does not understand exactly when to end the cycle.
- The thermostat has burned out - it detects the temperature of the water and gives the command to heat it. If there is no signal, it remains cold and the dishes are not washed.
- The recirculation pump has failed - it provides. If damaged, the device will not work.
- The control module is malfunctioning - this element is responsible for everything. If it fails, the machine will work poorly or stop completely.
Master repairing a dishwasher
To eliminate the listed faults, you should call a technician or take the dishwasher for repair.
How to wash dishes in the dishwasher
To achieve the desired result, place the dishes loosely so that the water flows down easily. Before loading, remove any leftover food from plates and soak pots and pans first. Regularly check the condition of the sensors, keep all the necessary tools in stock. After each cycle, wipe down the internal elements, and do a thorough cleaning once a week.
When choosing a dishwasher model, be sure to consider the load size. If a lot of dirty dishes accumulate in the house, a compact device will not suit you - an overloaded machine will not be able to wash the dishes.
Treat your dishwasher with care, carefully select detergents, do not violate operating rules and regularly clean it of dirt, and it will never let you down.
A dishwasher (DMM) is a wonderful assistant for the housewife in the kitchen. It can work flawlessly for years and delight its owners. impeccable quality washing utensils and its functionality. Sometimes during operation you begin to notice that the dishwasher does not wash dishes well.
Some housewives are dismissive of various factors that influence quality washing, explaining this attitude by the fact that the device does its job well. But if you begin to notice white stains, food residues or plaque on your plates, then the cause of the trouble may be:
- untimely preventative cleaning PMM parts;
- improper operation of the machine by the user;
- incorrect dosage or substitution special means for washing by third parties;
Dishwasher, like any other Appliances, requires careful care and timely cleaning of individual parts and assemblies. The following elements in the unit are subject to regular cleaning:
Washing the PMM using special means should be carried out once every six months. And this does not depend on the frequency of use of the unit.
After each completion of the utensil washing program, the appliance should be checked for leftover food, which may be in the machine's tank or under the door, especially if it is a Bosch dishwasher.
Incorrect operation
The reasons that the dishwasher does not wash dishes well may be: typical mistakes use of the unit by the owner:
- the user loads a very large amount of dishes and cutlery;
- utensils in baskets are not stacked correctly;
- Wrong washing program selected.
The instructions describe in detail how to properly arrange dishes in baskets. PMM manufacturers (Electrolux, Siemens, Bosch) pay great attention to this issue. Therefore, it is recommended that you carefully read these tips before using the device.
One of the most important rules arranging utensils in a basket is to arrange it in such a way that there are gaps between them, and water can flow down without remaining in the plates.
You should also pay attention to ensure that the dishes in the lower basket do not block the flow of water to the upper basket. Placed utensils should not interfere with the opening of the compartment with the tablet, as well as the rotation of the rocker arms. The more content is loaded, the denser it is arranged. This dense placement interferes with good circulation of water and soap solution, and it may remain unwashed.
Another reason why a dishwasher does not work well is the choice wrong program, for example, for washing heavily soiled utensils. This starts a quick wash (in this mode, heating water is coming up to a temperature of 45-50 C °). In this case, if the contents are heavily soiled with dried food residues, you should not expect high-quality washing (it would be more correct to choose a washing program with soaking). This is also described in the instructions for the unit, which few people read.
To ensure that the filter of the machine becomes less dirty, before loading the utensils into the machine, thoroughly clean them of food residues.
Replacing detergents or incorrect dosage
Next possible reasons The fact that the Electrolux dishwasher and similar ones - Bosch, Hansa and others - do not work properly can be directly related to the use of detergents. More often this problem occurs due to changing the detergent to low quality or fake. This nuisance can be easily eliminated if you return to the previously used product. You can also try to select a detergent until the best quality one is found. effective option. If you have not changed the detergent, and the dishwasher sometimes begins to wash dishes poorly, the problem may be wrong dosage facilities.
If the user refuses to use a special salt that restores the ability of the ion exchanger to soften water, then over time (if the hardness of the water in the main line is high) it becomes clogged and fails. Using complex “3 in 1” tablets with very hard water cannot replace salt and it still needs to be added to the unit.
When to call a professional
The reasons were discussed above bad washing dishes in the dishwasher, which are obvious and can be fixed without contacting a service center. But there are times when you can’t do without calling a specialist.
These faults should only be repaired by a qualified technician with knowledge and experience in this type of equipment. Only a specialist can diagnose and repair the device. If you try to do this on your own, you may get disastrous results, and even a specialist will not be able to correct the consequences of your actions.
Many dishwasher users encounter a strange problem: the machine seems to be working, the washing program is running, but it either does not wash the dishes at all, or washes them completely unsatisfactorily. It would be easier if the machine generated some kind of system error, but it turns out that the dishwasher “does not know” about the breakdown and continues to work. In this case, the user’s task is to figure out the reason for this behavior of the equipment and find a solution to the problem - this is what we will do, and we will describe the result in the article.
Let's understand the symptoms and causes of failure
It is quite difficult to draw a line between symptoms when or when you stopped washing it altogether. We will consider them together, since the nature of such errors is often the same. What happens in this situation with the dishwasher?
- The washing program starts, runs and ends, and at the end the dishes not only remain dirty, they are almost never wet.
- After completing the program, the dishes are wet and completely dirty.
- The dishwasher operates in a specific mode, but the dishes are not washed satisfactorily.
Important! If the above symptoms appear repeatedly, you should definitely observe how the dishwasher executes the washing program and note any oddities.
In this case, the main negative factor will result in the dishes remaining dirty. But you need to understand that time is wasted, electricity, water, and your nerves, in the end. As a result, it turns out that this breakdown is even worse than if the dishwasher simply did not turn on - there are more harmful consequences. So, what causes the above symptoms?
- These or other user errors, we will talk about them a little later.
- Various problems associated with water supply.
- Impossibility of normal water circulation inside the dishwasher.
- Difficulty collecting dishwashing detergent.
- Breaking heating element, if the car does not have a temperature sensor.
- Breakage of the spray rocker (impeller).
The reason lies in user error
As noted by master presenters service centers world, the main reasons that a dishwasher does not wash dishes are various user errors that they make while operating the dishwasher. The most common errors are as follows.
- The dishwasher is not cleaned on time, or the user does not clean it at all.
- The user places dishes in baskets incorrectly.
- The user pours detergent into the wrong compartment of the cuvette or uses inappropriate detergents.
Much has been said on the pages of our website about the need to periodically clean the dishwasher, but users stubbornly do not do this. Cleaning must be carried out at least 2-3 times a year, and if the machine is used intensively, once every 3 months.
For your information! The dishwasher is cleaned not only using chemicals, but also manually, if cleaning only one way will be of little use.
You can find out in the operating instructions for your dishwasher or in the article of the same name on our website. In addition to cleaning, it is important to place dishes in baskets correctly. Experts note the following mistakes people make when placing dishes in the dishwasher:
- the dishes are not placed correctly in the basket;
- put large items in the upper basket, and small ones in the lower one;
- place individual items at the bottom of the dishwasher tank, next to the rocker arm;
- Place the dishes so that they touch the detergent dispenser.
Each of these errors leads, at a minimum, to poor quality of dishwashing, and at most to a breakdown of the moving element or valve of the detergent cuvette. It is also a serious mistake to use unacceptable means. Some people, in an effort to save money, pour all sorts of rubbish into the machine, thinking that it will help wash the dishes. In our opinion, the use of homemade powders and rinses is acceptable, but they must be prepared in accordance with proven recipes and safe chemicals must be used.
In particular, it is not permissible to use it instead of detergent. mustard powder. After the first wash, the nozzles of the rotating rocker will become clogged with mustard and dry out. After this, if they are not cleaned, the next dishwashing will be more than unsuccessful. 
Problems with water filling
Another reason why your dishwasher won't clean dishes is a problem with the fill valve. Everything is simple here; washing is impossible without water. But why does the machine continue to execute the program if it has not taken in water, why does the error not trigger and the washing does not stop? The fact is that on some dishwasher models, water level sensors do not work correctly, or the connection between the control unit and the sensor is broken. As a result, the machine washes dishes without water.
Important! If the machine operates without water, this is fraught with consequences for the heating element, because it can simply burn out.
If you suspect something similar is happening to you, listen to the car while it is running. Usually it is difficult not to hear the filling and draining of water, because a characteristic murmur is heard. If you notice that water is not getting into the dishwasher, take action immediately:
- interrupt the washing program;
- check if there is water in the water supply;
- check that the water supply tap to the dishwasher is not closed;
- Check the functionality of the electrical and mechanical parts of the fill valve.
To check and repair a valve, you must first locate it. Usually the fill valve is located in the front left corner of the dishwasher, but sometimes it is placed on the right or even at the back.
Unscrew the front decorative panel dishwasher, we find the inlet hose, which is screwed to the valve. Let's do the following.
- We turn off the water and unscrew the hose, and then the valve itself.
- Take a multimeter and set the toggle switch to the minimum Ohm value.
- We connect the multimeter probes to the contacts of the filler valve.
- If the multimeter shows a value from 500 to 1500, the valve is working; if 300 or less, the valve must be replaced.
- If the valve's electrics are OK, but it still doesn't work, check to see if the float switch is clogged with dirt - this often happens.
- Having corrected or replaced the valve, screw it into place along with the hose and turn on the water.
For your information! The valve can be cleaned of dirt by soaking it in alcohol.
Problems with water circulation and product intake
Water may fill normally into the dishwasher, but this does not mean it will come into contact with the dishes. In order for powerful jets of water to hit plates, glasses, forks and other utensils, it is necessary that the circulation pump works properly. It is thanks to him that water under pressure enters the rocker arm, and through its small holes rushes onto the dishes, knocking dirt off them. If the circulation pump stops working, a problem occurs. a big problem, in which the machine does not wash dishes.
What we can do? First of all, we must get to the circulation pump.
- We disconnect the dishwasher from the electricity, unscrew the hoses and pull it out of the niche in which it was built.
- We spread several rags on the floor to absorb water from the machine.
- We put the car on rags back wall down, we need to get to the pallet.
- We disconnect the front decorative panel, and then all the wires connecting the tray and the main body.
- Pull the pan towards you and remove it; in the very center there will be a circulation pump.
- We check its contacts with a multimeter in the same way as described above, but if the winding is broken, then it will be difficult to do anything - you will have to change it.
Important! Circulation pump The dishwasher is a rather expensive element, so to avoid risks, entrust it to a professional to diagnose it.
Quite often, the quality of dishwashing deteriorates sharply due to the fact that the machine cannot remove the product from the cuvette. This problem may arise not through the fault of the user, but through the fault of the manufacturer. Often, on Chinese-made machines, the tablet compartment valves are not adjusted as needed. From hot water The plastic expands and the valve jams. As a result, the tablet does not dissolve and the dishes are difficult to wash. To solve the problem, you can either replace the detergent compartment or adjust the edges of the valve using fine sandpaper.
Broken impeller or heating element
All modern dishwashers are equipped with temperature sensors, but older dishwashers did not have this element. If you have just such a machine, then keep in mind that if the heating element fails, it will not give an error, but will continue to wash the dishes cold water. The problem is solved by replacing the heating element.
Also, the dishwasher will stop washing dishes if its arm breaks. If the rotating rocker touches any object (positioned incorrectly in the dishwasher tank), it may fly off or even burst, because it is made of flimsy plastic. The rocker arm cannot be repaired, especially if the fastening is broken, it needs to be replaced.
In conclusion, we note that if the dishwasher refuses to perform its main function - washing dishes, then this means that you need to immediately start looking for the cause of such a “disgrace”. There are several main reasons and we tried to talk about all of them at least a little. Happy renovation!
