Friday, December 10, 2010

Dishes are not coming out clean

The dishes are not coming out clean. I have tried different brands of detergents
with no results. All the glasses have a white film rather than being clear and
the dishes have stains on them. Tonight I sat in front of the dishwasher and
checket it out after each cycle. It seems to me that it just sits there during
the washing cycle for the longest time and there were lots and lots of suds in
dishwasher. I am guessing about the cycle as the dishwasher panel does not not
have anything but "pots and pan", "normal" "dry" and "rinse and hold". Could the
soap be sticking the the dishes too long?
It is a kitchen aid about 15 years old. When problem started I changed the
tablets I was using to liquid, for a while it got better but now is even worse.
What form of detergent is best to buy?
I am not ready to buy a new one, especially when I hear the bad experiences
friends have had with fairly new dishwashers.
Any help would be appreciated. Don't want to go back to washing dishes by handl
Thanks
RSL

My response to RSL


Dishwashers are similar to automatic clothes washers. They apply three kinds of energy on
the things to be washed. These forces are:
• Mechanical energy: Water that is sprayed on to the dishes to remove the food
particles.
• Heat energy: Using hot water to liquefy the fats and greases on dirty dishes.
• Chemical energy: Detergent dissolve the fats and greases off the dishes.
Dishwashers perform four basic functions that are modified and put together in different
ways to create the various cycles. The four functions are:
• Fill
• Wash/rinse
• Drain
• Dry
As with clothes washers, the only difference between the wash and rinse cycles is the
presence of detergent in the wash water. The mechanical activities that make up a wash and
a rinse cycle are basically the same function.
Unlike clothes washers, most dishwashers fill and begin to wash (or rinse) at the same
time. The functions are put together in various ways to make up different cycles

The temperature of the incoming water is critical to the operation of a dishwasher. Most
dishwashers have heaters, and some have delay periods that extend the time during which
water is heated to a specified point, but this does not fully compensate for low temperature
of the water supply. You can check the temperature of hot water at the sink nearest to the
dishwasher with a thermometer. Open the hot water faucet. Let the water run until it is as hot
as possible, and then insert the thermometer into the stream of water. On some models, if the
thermometer reading is below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, you will have to raise the water heater
thermostat setting. On other models, the dishwasher was designed to operate with water
temperatures as low as 120 degrees Fahrenheit. These models have longer detergent wash
periods that allow 120-degree Fahrenheit supply water to be heated up to a temperature that
gives good washability results. The dishwasher delay periods occur in only one, two, or three
of the water fills, and do little for the remaining rinses. Except during delay periods, the water
is not in the dishwasher long enough to be heated adequately.

The kind and amount of dishwasher detergent that is used is an important part of getting
the dishes clean. Different brands of dishwasher detergent contain different amounts of
phosphorous, which works to soften water and prevent water spots. If the water is hard,
you will have to instruct the customer to use a detergent with a higher phosphorous
content—above 12 percent. If the water is soft, the customer can use a low-phosphorous
dishwasher detergent. Some areas restrict the phosphate content to 8 percent or less. This
means that the customer will have to increase the amount of detergent used in those areas
where the water is hard. This is done by adding 1 teaspoon of dishwasher detergent manually in the main wash cycle for each grain of water hardness above 12 grains (water
hardness is measured in grains):
• 0 to 3 grains for soft water
• 4 to 9 grains for medium-hard water
• 10 to 15 grains for hard water
• Over 15 grains for very hard water.
If the hardness of the water supply is unknown, contact the local water department.
Always instruct the user to use automatic dishwasher detergent only. The use of soap,
hand dishwashing detergent, or laundry detergent will produce excessive suds and will
cause flooding and damage to the dishwasher.

Poor Washability on the Upper Rack
1. Is the upper spray arm turning?
a. Are the holes in the spray arm plugged?
b. Check to see if the spray arm is split.
c. Is there uneven loading of the dishes?
d. Check the filter assembly for blockage.
e. Check the lower impeller to see if it is defective or blocked with debris.
f. Are any objects protruding down that might prevent the upper spray arm from
rotating?
2. Is the water charge okay?
3. What is the temperature of the water entering the tub? Is the temperature at
140 degrees Fahrenheit?
4. Is the user using the proper amount of detergent?
5. Is the detergent dispenser functioning properly?
6. Are the dishes loaded properly? Ask the user to load the dishwasher so that you
can observe whether he or she is loading the dishwasher properly.
Poor Washability in the Lower Rack
1. Is the lower spray arm turning?
a. Are the holes in the spray arm plugged?
b. Check to see if the spray arm is split.
c. Is there uneven loading of the dishes?
d. Is the spray arm binding on the housing?
e. Are any objects protruding down that might prevent the lower spray arm from
rotating?
2. Is the water charge okay?
3. What is the temperature of the water entering the tub? Is the temperature at
140 degrees Fahrenheit?
4. Is the consumer using the proper amount of detergent?
5. Is the detergent dispenser functioning properly?
6. Are the dishes loaded properly? Ask the user to load the dishwasher so that you
can observe whether he or she is loading the dishwasher properly.

Etching occurs when the glass is pitted or eroded. It appears as a permanent film on the
glass. The beginning stages of etching can be identified by an iridescent look—shades of
blue, purple, brown, or pink when the glass is held at an angle to the light. In the advanced
stages of etching, the glass surface appears frosted or cloudy.
Possible cause: Certain types of glass will etch in any dishwasher with the combination of
soft water, the alkalinity of dishwasher detergents, and heat.
Solutions: There is no way to remove the filmy appearance caused by etching; the damage
is permanent. There is no way to predict what glassware might be affected—it is not
related to the cost or quality of the glass.

RSL,let me know if that worked for you.

Please send me your how-to questions (eric@erickleinert.com) and I'll answer them in this forum, helping you decide if you can fix your appliances yourself or if you need to call a professional.

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