DIshwasher not washing well. Help!

NamasteMama · #1 02/08/10, 11:14 PM

Our 1 year old dishwasher has just stopped cleaning dishes, it is not getting water to the top sprayer and the bottom is barely getting pressure either. I have cleaned out the bottom parts, but still no luck. With working 60 hours a week and 8 people in our family I need my dishwasher! Can anyone help?

suzyhomemaker09 · #2 02/08/10, 11:17 PM

Go to the grocery market and pick up a couple of plain packages of lemonade...run the cycle with it empty.

DENALI · #3 02/08/10, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzyhomemaker09

Go to the grocery market and pick up a couple of plain packages of lemonade...run the cycle with it empty.

My dishwasher wasnt working to well either. The lemonade didnt work for me.... but a dozen roses, a back rub and a box of chocolates got the dishes looking much better

Denise K. · #4 02/08/10, 11:32 PM

Saw this just after I reminded youngest son at 9:15pm he was on dish duty tonight and I expected them to be done before he went to bed!! (he is a college student living at home) He grumped, said he would.

NamasteMama · #5 02/08/10, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzyhomemaker09

Go to the grocery market and pick up a couple of plain packages of lemonade...run the cycle with it empty.

Hmm, I'll try it tommorrow and see if it works. My Dh is amazing and wonderful and I love him dearly. Sadly he is amazingly bad at fixing things. I am Mrs. FixIt in our home.

William G · #6 02/09/10, 12:02 AM

is the dishwasher filling up slow may not be enough water to get to the top sprayer that is what mine is doing a screen is clogged up i pour water in the machine and it works better

js2743 · #7 02/09/10, 12:31 AM

sounds like the pump is clogged take the lines loose and see if they are clogged up with gunk.

Bearfootfarm · #8 02/09/10, 12:42 AM

Check the strainer to see if it's clogged, then run it with a gallon of white vinegar and the hottest water you can get

SweetwaterClyde · #9 02/09/10, 12:42 AM

At least she is not a sleeping bag like mine...

I am sorry I couldn't help it.

naturelover · #10 02/09/10, 01:03 AM

Are you using powder detergent or gel detergent? Powder detergents leave a residue that can cause it to get clogged up.

.

Sanza · #11 02/09/10, 01:18 AM

I'm having trouble with my dishwasher also, but I also have trouble with water pressure in the whole house. Sil says pressure is good on the pump so could that mean that the main line to the house is plugged up? How would I go about checking that?

**Cabin Fever** · #12 02/09/10, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NamasteMama

Our 1 year old dishwasher has just stopped cleaning dishes...

My dishwasher is 51 years old and is still doing a great job of cleaning dishes.

#13 02/09/10, 08:24 AM

I had the same problem and was told to put a half a gallon of white vinegar in the washer and run a hot water load.

UUmom2many · #14 02/09/10, 08:26 AM

When ours starts doing that I use lemonshine and run it basically empty. It works but this is after hubby had to take apart the screen thing in it and clean out the gunk. I try and stop the need for that by running it through when it starts to get lazy.

NamasteMama · #15 02/09/10, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

My dishwasher is 51 years old and is still doing a great job of cleaning dishes.

EXACTLY! What happened to good old american made stuff? Oh wait mines from China,

Ok I tried the lemonaid, didn't work, neither did the vinager.
Took apart the sprayer arms, nothing.
Took apart the screen and nothing there, clean too.
So I am assuming its the pump clog? I see a 2 inch thick black line that runs from my dishwasher to my garbage disposal, is this what I want to take apart?

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU KIND HELP!!!!

Bearfootfarm · #16 02/09/10, 09:38 AM

Quote:

I see a 2 inch thick black line that runs from my dishwasher to my garbage disposal, is this what I want to take apart?

That's the drain line
It could be the impellers in your pump are worn /damaged.

3ravens · #17 02/09/10, 09:40 AM

Yeah, you can try that.... Mine's been clogged with grease before. Yuck! But a lot of appliances also have a tiny little filter on the water INTAKE hose. Either built into the hose, or built into the connection on the machine. First of all, make sure the water to that hose is SHUT OFF! (Don't ask me how I know this...... *ahem*) Then pull the dishwasher out, disconnect the hose, and see what's in there.It should be a little round metal thing that looks like metal window screen. Pull it out, scrub it with an old toothbrush, then put everything back together and see how it works! HTH!

Jenn · #18 02/09/10, 09:46 AM

We had junk clogging the sprayers and the lines. Now we run the dishwasher empty on hot and try to remove a bit more food debris anytime the dishes aren't doing so well. I also wipe off the debris around the edge of the door when it's damp every time I think of it.

Joshie · #19 02/09/10, 11:23 AM

Vinegar in the final rinse can help remove hard water deposits.

ronbre · #20 02/09/10, 11:44 AM

run a dishwasher cleaner through it (found by dishwasher supplies)..and then stop using any cheap dishwasher detergents !!! I switched (on recommendation) to cascade all in ones..and you won't believe the difference..never have to scrape..all the food is gone gone gone and they shine like you wouldn't believe !!!! cheaper detergents even left the dishwasher LOOKING grungy as well as the dishes..but this stuff works wonders