Help with Dishwasher

Check out www.trianglemommies.com! They will offer you the advice that you need!

Have had this happen with several dishwashers - old and new. It always seems to be things in the bottom filter that clog it up and keep it from draining properly. After you empty the next clean load, take off the arm in the bottom and lift off the big circular piece and see if there is any "goop" in there. Clean it out with a rag as best as you can, then run an empty cycle with about a cup of bleach (this will remove any gunk in the lines). If this doesn't work, call Patton Appliance in Chesterfield - nice guy, very quiet and has fixed the problem for me both times. Mine was a small washer that was caught in the line. Something as small that will reak all kinds of havoc :)

Make sure your not overloading it.
Make sure you seperate all the loads. Meaning cups one load, bowls and plates in one load. Pots & pans in a load. Be sure to scrape all food off the dishes b/f loading any of them. Silverware and other untensils can go in with the pots & pans or the bowls & plates.

Hi D.,

I went to K Mart and in the $1 section, I found a dish brush. Before we put the dishes in the dishwasher, we use the brush to rinse off the food. That way, the dishwasher doesn't have a chance to bake it on. It's faster than washing them, but gets the job done. We have recently had 2 brand new dishwashers and neither one of them is very good. Sorry I couldn't have been of more help!

Good luck!!

Hey D
Yes, just rinse off first..no washing needed...cascade is best and don't forget the rinse aide because that is what causes "a static electricity" to help the drying process in the dishwasher. Or, let your dogs lick it off first, my 5 year old swears by this. haha

We rent our house and have a brand new dishwasher in it and it sucks too!! It is one of Whirlpools low end models. It is loud and it has so much pressure that it blows the kids plastic cups and small bowls all over the top rack!!! I feel your frustrations. I've even had the repair guy out twice about it and he says it's just they way it works-I say BS!! I used to work for Whirlpool in the warranty claims department and I had never seen a customer complaint like mine!!! I've tried all sorts of different ways to load it too. If I have a big tupperware bowl on the bottom then what ever is above it on the top rack doesn't get clean either. And my son's bottles would end up sideways and all nasty inside!! I started hand washing those. I just rinse off the stuff really good and I stopped using heat dry so it doesn't bake on. I know a lot of what kind of soap you are using can make a difference. I go between Cascade and Palmolive-liquid only!! Never use powder, all it does is clog up everything over time cause what doesn't disolve will build up.

I really wish I had my Kenmore that was in my last house:(

S.

Here are a few things you can try...I use all these tips myself ;)

1. Rinse used dishes as soon as you can so the food doesn't stick.

2. When putting them in the dishwasher, NEVER stack them on top of each other. The water can't hit the dishes that are stacked on top ;)

3. Run the hot water in your sink for about a minute before running the dishwasher, that way the water that hits the dishes when you start it will be very hot.

4. Make sure you're using enough detergent. I usually over fill mine, Cascade actually reccomends that.

Anyway, I hope these are helpful!

J.
www.brodiegirl.com

have you tried actually washing your dishwasher??? i helped with mine when things weren't getting clean. make sure that you don't have any dishes in there & dump a whole bottle of white vinager in the bottom of the washer. (I know there's a couple sizes, the smallest ones not enough) then run a full cycle! good luck

I would also suggest that you check to make sure that nothing is blocking the water. Especially the thing that spins...not sure what it's called but they also make a dishwasher cleaner in a bottle....you just take of the lid and set in inside of the dishwasher and run a cycle. This worked for me! Good Luck!

Make sure there isn't a build up of gunk (food particles) on the filter/sprayer at the bottom of the dishwasher. You should be able to pull it straight up and clean in by running water over it. Also, JetDry has a dishwasher cleaner. It works great. Just follow the directions on the bottle. Hope this helps.

I know you are getting all kinds of advice but here is some more. Pre rinse and also I have been told to put a cup full of white vinegar into the dishwasher and run it empty. It helps clean the inside including the filters and stuff... worth a shot yuh? Good Luck!

Hey i was having the same problem. Is you dishwasher clean? what i mean is the bottom has no food and all. I ran bleach through mine a few times and used a few diffrent cleaning stuff and mys working now i can get the names if you need me to i just cant remember it off my head.

I would recommend trying the cascade + dawn detergent. That is the only detergent I have found that actually works. Just rinse your dishes, you shouldnt have to prewash with that stuff. Also make sure their isn't any food in the bottom of the dishwasher, that can decrease performance.