Dishwasher Doesn't Rinse??

[Tricky Grama]

No it's not my DH.

Noticed a heavy 'film' on everything, thought it was the cheap detergent, when I switched, same thing.
Stopped using the dry heat cycle b/c that was really baking it on.
Ran about 1/2 c vinegar thru twice, that helped a little.
I'm thinking the rinse 'hole' is plugged?? (I have no idea what I'm talking about)
Anyone have this & solve it?
Tnx in advance.

Patty

[suzyhomemaker09]

Does it have rinse aid added to the machine? I know when I miss that mine's ran empty that I see more *stuff* left on dishes.
Also an inexpensive simple way to clean a dishwasher is to run an empty cycle with a plain unsweetened packet of lemonade mix in there.

[myheaven]

I agree with suzyhomemaker09. I have to clean mine ever other month. We do dishes alot and to add the lemonaid packets realy clean it. if you have just plain lemon juice or lemon it would work also. But lemonaid is cheaper.

[Kris in MI]

do you have hard water that you use a water softener for? The few times my softener has had a salt bridge, I figured it out because the dishwasher wouldn't rinse well (film on stuff, and sometimes 'chunks' inside the glasses). Fixed the softener and the dishwasher 'magically' was fixed too!

[mnn2501]

We just found out that the water temp needs to be at least 140F to avoid filmy dishes.
Didn't find that out til we bought a new dishwasher cause we got fed up with the film on our dishes.

Due to the hard water in the area we also have to use a rinse aid.

[Backfourty,MI.]

We have really hard water so I always use a rinse agent & I put about a cup of white vinegar in the bottom of the machine about once a month as well.

I am going to try susyhomemakers unsweetened lemonaide though, sounds like it works really well & cheaper probly than the vinegar now too.

[Ardie/WI]

About that rinse-aid, I use plain vinegar in mine. works great!

Oh and to clean it, I use a cup of bleach in the first cycle, let it rinse and then use a cup of vinegar (or more) in the second wash and rise again!

[kasilofhome]

One other thing if you have bad water is to check the water supply lines. --the one that is under the sink that goes to the DW. Unhook it and look in the hoses. I have learned to keep a spare set of hoses. the water lines get clogged for the dw and the washing machine.

There is a product we get. I heard that it is cheap at wally world. It is called "THE WORKS" in desparation (no money at the time to replace the clogged hose) I used the works on the hose. I took a funnel and pour a bit of the works in the hose and left hose with the works in it duck tape to the fridge at one end and the end of the hose was in the sink it took a while for it to work its way thur the hose boy what it dirty.

Now, I have a spare hoses. If I do this ever 6 month it is not so bad. so I keep one set ready to go. I told a friend about this she tried it on her washing machine line and saved bucks.

[oregon woodsmok]

Pull the trays out and down by the arms on the bottom, there will be filter screens if your dishwasher doesn't have a food grinder. Clean those screens.

If the dishwasher has a food grinder, the drains can still get clogged. Mine eventually get dog hair pasted across them, so they have to be cleaned off every few moths.

[Timberline]

Originally Posted by oregon woodsmok

Pull the trays out and down by the arms on the bottom, there will be filter screens if your dishwasher doesn't have a food grinder. Clean those screens.

If the dishwasher has a food grinder, the drains can still get clogged. Mine eventually get dog hair pasted across them, so they have to be cleaned off every few moths.

Surely there's a better way to wash your dog than in the dishwasher!

[Mark Twain]

The problem with a film left on dishes might have nothing to do with your dishwasher.
Last summer the EPA and some states got together and banned the use pf phosphates in dishwasher soap for residential use. Proctor & Gamble who makes Cascade and some of the private label soap stopped selling soap with phosphate in retail stores.
You can buy Cascade with phosphate from restockit.com because they supply commercial customers but not in your local walmart. Read the label on your dish soap and see if it does not contain phosphate before you buy a new dishwasher.
Of course, I didn't learn all this until after I bought a new dishwasher and still had the film problem.
Heads up, the EPA's next infringement on your freedom will be the banning of granulated rat poison like D-con in June 2011. They say inner city kids are eating it so they have to take it off store shelves.
The good news is they are supposed to have an exemption for farmers.
What I don't understand is.... does the EPA not care about farm kids or are they just smart enough not to eat rat poison?

The nanny state coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

[10kids]

Mark Twain is right, I just checked my box and it says right on the front in small letters "phosphate free". What a bummer.

[my3boys]

Originally Posted by Mark Twain

The problem with a film left on dishes might have nothing to do with your dishwasher.
Last summer the EPA and some states got together and banned the use pf phosphates in dishwasher soap for residential use. Proctor & Gamble who makes Cascade and some of the private label soap stopped selling soap with phosphate in retail stores.
You can buy Cascade with phosphate from restockit.com because they supply commercial customers but not in your local walmart. Read the label on your dish soap and see if it does not contain phosphate before you buy a new dishwasher.
Of course, I didn't learn all this until after I bought a new dishwasher and still had the film problem.
Heads up, the EPA's next infringement on your freedom will be the banning of granulated rat poison like D-con in June 2011. They say inner city kids are eating it so they have to take it off store shelves.
The good news is they are supposed to have an exemption for farmers.
What I don't understand is.... does the EPA not care about farm kids or are they just smart enough not to eat rat poison?

The nanny state coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

Yep. Laundry detergent too. My dh and I disagree on this one. He is a conservative but has a degree in environmental engineering, is an outdoor guy and likes this change. I just want clean clothes and dishes for my family!

I know people who are using the lemonade mix or Tang. Some are buying citric acid in bulk and adding a tablespoon or 2 in with the dishwasher detergent. Consumer Reports recommends the Gelpacs by Cascade or the Quantum Powerballs by Finish. I believe the later came in first. Seventh Generation already adds citric acid to their detergents.

Thanks for the link. Do they sell to the individual consumer or just to companies?

[MichaelK!]

Originally Posted by 10kids

Mark Twain is right, I just checked my box and it says right on the front in small letters "phosphate free". What a bummer.

I became aware of this a few months ago. I had heard that the detergent was now phosphate free, but various posters suggested adding TSP (Tri-sodium phosphate) they can still buy at Home Depot. I tried it myself, adding half and half detergent and TSP but it seemed not to make any difference.

Maybe I'll try again using pure TSP in the dispenser. Ironic that by banning phosphate containing detergents they push people to use pure phosphate for cleaning. Did that come up in the discussion meetings?

[Mark Twain]

Originally Posted by my3boys

Yep. Laundry detergent too. My dh and I disagree on this one. He is a conservative but has a degree in environmental engineering, is an outdoor guy and likes this change. I just want clean clothes and dishes for my family!

I know people who are using the lemonade mix or Tang. Some are buying citric acid in bulk and adding a tablespoon or 2 in with the dishwasher detergent. Consumer Reports recommends the Gelpacs by Cascade or the Quantum Powerballs by Finish. I believe the later came in first. Seventh Generation already adds citric acid to their detergents.

Thanks for the link. Do they sell to the individual consumer or just to companies?

I just bought some from restockit as a individual with no questions asked, but neither Colorado nor Missouri is part of the ban. I did have to buy the minimum quantity of six boxes but making my wife happy for $50 that's a no brain-er!
My problem with the whole issue is the way it was done. No vote in Congress just twist the arm of the manufacturers so they stop production so you don't have to get nationwide compliance. I only have septic systems so I am not discharging phosphates in any stream or lake. Why not make sewage treatment plants deal with the phosphate problem... oh yeah its cheaper to ban it even for those of us not on public sewage.
I am sick of "Big Brother is watching you" but that's probably why I'm moving back home to Missouri, it will just take longer for them to find me!

[harmonyfarm]

I used a dishwasher for 1 year about 20 years ago. Then one day, I did a comparison by doing a huge pile of dishes by hand or doing a huge pile of dishes with a dishwasher.

1. The huge pile didn't all fit in the dishwasher at one time, but I had plenty of room doing a little at a time in the sink.
2. I could guarantee the cleanliness of the dishes by doing the work myself
3. I used less water washing by hand
4. I let them air dry thus lowering my electric bill
5. I didn't have to listen to the noise the dishwasher made anymore
6. I enjoyed the mindless task as it let me daydream more! Plus if I played my cards right I could watch the sunset while I was washing them.
7. Now I use my dishwasher to store all my plastic food containers and Tupperware

Just my 2 cents worth......
Debbie

[time]

It could be that the washer is not draining the washwater completely before starting the rince cycle.

If the drain is running slow, fresh water will be added to what is left in the washer when the cycle starts.

Check filters as was mentioned. Open door and look at varias stages. Is the pool of water in the bottom clean at the start of the rince cycle?

Could be what others have suggested too.

[Farmerwilly2]

I've had to replace the impeller on occasion (that is the part that will shoot the water up). Once it wasn't sending any water up, next time only a small amount.

[mnn2501]

Originally Posted by Mark Twain

Heads up, the EPA's next infringement on your freedom will be the banning of granulated rat poison like D-con in June 2011. They say inner city kids are eating it so they have to take it off store shelves.
.

I won't make a snarky comment on this.
I won't make a snarky comment on this.
I won't make a snarky comment on this.
I won't make a snarky comment on this.
I won't make a snarky comment on this.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

We buy citric acid in bulk. DW adds a teaspoon with every wash.