■Odor in the dishwasher
Are dishes washed only every 2 or 3 days? Run a rinse cycle once or twice a day until you have a full load.
Does the drawer have a new plastic smell? Run a vinegar rinse as described in “Spotting and filming on dishes.”
Dishes do not dry completely
■Dishes do not dry completely
Did you use a rinse aid? Your dishwasher is designed to use rinse aid for good drying performance. Without rinse aid your dishes and dishwasher interior will have excessive moisture.
■Dishes are not dry
Did you load your dishwasher to allow proper water drainage? Do not overload. Use a liquid rinse aid to speed drying.
Are the plastics wet? Plastics often need towel drying.
Is the rinse aid low light on? Refill rinse aid dispenser.
Did you select the High Temp Scrub option and allow the dry fan to run for the extended 3¹⁄₂ hours?
Spots and stains on dishes
■Spotting and filming on dishes
Is your water hard, or is there a high mineral content in your water? Conditioning the final rinse water with a liquid rinse aid helps eliminate spotting and filming. Keep the rinse aid dispenser filled. Always use a high-temp option.
Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the dishwasher.
Did you use the correct amount of effective detergent? Use recommended dishwasher detergents only. Do not use less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra detergent.
■Silica film or etching (silica film is a milky, rainbow-colored deposit; etching is a cloudy film)
Sometimes there is a water/chemical reaction with certain types of glassware. This is usually caused by some combination of soft or softened water, alkaline washing solutions, insufficient rinsing, overloading the dishwasher, and the heat of drying. It might not be possible to avoid the problem, except by hand washing.
To slow this process use a minimum amount of detergent but not less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Use a liquid rinse aid and underload the dishwasher to allow thorough rinsing. Silica film and etching are permanent and cannot be removed.
■White spots on cookware with nonstick finish
Has the dishwasher detergent removed cookware seasoning? Reseason cookware after washing it in the dishwasher.
■Brown stains on dishes and dishwasher interior
Does your water have high iron content? Rewash dishes using 1-3 tsp (5-15 mL) of citric acid crystals added to the main wash section of the detergent dispenser. Do not use detergent.
Follow with a Normal wash cycle with detergent. If treatment is needed more often than every other month, the installation of an iron removal unit is recommended.
■Black or gray marks on dishes
Are aluminum items rubbing dishes during washing? Disposable aluminum items can break down in the dishwasher and cause marking. Hand wash these items. Remove aluminum markings by using a mild abrasive cleaner.
■Orange stains on plastic dishes or dishwasher interior
Are large amounts of tomato-based foods on dishes placed in the dishwasher? It may be necessary to use a stain removal product to remove stains from your dishwasher. Stains will not affect dishwasher performance.
Noises
■Chopping, grinding or buzzing sounds
Is the dishwasher in the drain portion of the cycle? This is normal.
■Thumping sounds
Is the spray arm rotating freely or is it bumping an item extended below the rack?
■Snap sound
Does it only happen once during a cycle? This is the detergent dispenser lid hitting the drawer. This is normal.
■Loud during entire cycle
Are all trim strips installed properly? See “Installation Instructions.”
Dishes are not completely clean
■Food soil left on the dishes
Is the dishwasher loaded correctly? Can the spray arm rotate freely?
Did you choose the cycle that describes the most difficult soil in your dishwasher? If you have some items with heavier soils, use a heavier cycle.
Did you use the correct amount of fresh detergent? Use recommended dishwasher detergents only. Do not use less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra detergent.
Is detergent still in the detergent cup? Use fresh detergent only. Do not block the detergent dispenser.
Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the dishwasher.
Dishes are damaged during a cycle
■Chipping of dishes
Did you load the dishwasher properly? Load the dishes and glasses so they are stable and do not strike together from washing action. Minimize chipping by closing the drawer slowly.
NOTE: Antiques, feather-edged crystal, and similar types of china and glassware might be too delicate for automatic dishwashing. Wash by hand.
Dishwasher leaks
■Water drops
Is the dishwasher level? See “Installation Instructions.” Are there items extending above the top edge of the tub?
■Suds
Did you use the proper dishwasher detergent? Did you use the proper amount?
Is the rinse aid cap closed properly?
