Not cleaning dishes

Problem Possible Cause What to do Dishwasher will not start. No power. Ensure the dishwasher is plugged in and the power supply is turned on at the wall. The door is not properly closed. Close the door. Start/Pause button has not been pressed. Press the Start/Pause button . Water tap not turned on. Ensure water is connected and turned on. Blocked strainer in water inlet hose. Check the strainer and clean if necessary-it is located where the water inlet hose screws into the tap. Keylock is activated. Cancel Keylock by pressing and holding until the keylock indicator goes out. Lower spray arm rotates with difficulty. Spray arm holes are blocked by small items or food particles. Clean the spray arm. See 'Care and cleaning' for instructions. Cover of detergent dispenser cannot be closed. Detergent compartment has been overfilled. Remove detergent until the cover can be closed. Detergent dispenser is clogged with remnants of detergent. Wipe dispenser out with a damp cloth. Dry the dispenser before adding detergent. Remnants of detergent stuck inside dispenser. Compartment was damp when filled with detergent. Wipe dispenser out with a damp cloth. Dry the dispenser before adding detergent. Buttons beep and do not respond. Keylock is activated. Cancel Keylock by pressing and holding until the keylock indicator goes out. Water remains inside dishwasher after wash has ended. Drain hose is crimped, bent, or blocked. Check the drain hose and straighten if needed. Pump is jammed. Call your Fisher & Paykel Authorised Service Centre or Customer Care. Filter(s) blocked. Clean the filter(s). See 'Care and cleaning' for instructions. Foaming. Incorrect amount or type of detergent used. See section 'Adding detergent' or consult the detergent manufacturer's instructions. Too much egg in the wash load. Increase the amount of detergent. Rinse aid dosage level too high. Decrease the rinse aid dosage. Rinse aid spills not wiped up. Ensure that all rinse aid spills are wiped up when they occur. Water tap not turned on. Ensure water is connected and turned on. The dishwasher stops suddenly during the wash. Power or water supply has been interrupted. Check the power and water supplies. Knocking or rattling sound during wash. Spray arm knocking against dishes. Pause the wash and rearrange dishes. See sections 'CH and CHP models - Controls and starting a wash' or 'CK models - Controls and starting a wash', and 'Loading'. Dishes have been stacked incorrectly. Unclean dishes. Wash programme unsuitable for load. See section 'Wash programmes and detergent quantities' and select a suitable programme. Soils were too heavily baked on. Dishes may need soaking. Spray arm(s) unable to rotate. Ensure no items are obstructing the spray arm path. Dishwasher overloaded or incorrectly loaded. See the 'Loading' section. The filters are incorrectly inserted. See section 'Care and cleaning'. Detergent put in the wrong compartment. See sections 'Wash programmes and detergent quantities' and 'Adding detergent'. Excessive food not removed from dishes before loading. Scrape all food scraps off dishes before loading. Unsuitable detergent. Only use powdered or tablet detergent designed for domestic dishwashers. Not enough detergent. See 'Wash programmes and detergent quantities' for recommended quantities. You may need to adjust these to suit your particular load and the hardness of your water supply. Spray arm holes are blocked. Clean the spray arm(s). See 'Care and cleaning' for instructions. The filters are blocked. Clean the filters. See 'Care and cleaning' for instructions. Plastic items are discoloured (e.g. stain left by tomato sauce). Not enough detergent, not pre-rinsed. Pre-rinse plastic dishes before placing in the dishwasher and/or add more detergent. Alternatively, using the Rinse programme after adding dishes may minimise staining. Display flashing while Keylock is on. This is normal. The display remains on although the buttons are disabled. No action required. White stains are left on dishes; glasses have a milky appearance. Not enough detergent. See section 'Wash programmes and detergent quantities' for recommended quantities. You may need to adjust these to suit the hardness of your water supply. Rinse aid dosage too low. Increase rinse aid dosage. See 'Using rinse aid'. Dishes, cutlery have not dried. Rinse aid dosage too low. Increase rinse aid dosage. See 'Using rinse aid'. Items removed too soon. After the end of the wash programme, leave the door ajar and wait for several minutes to help drying. Rinse aid dispenser empty. (The rinse aid indicators are lit.) Add rinse aid. See section 'Using rinse aid' for instructions. Glasses have dull appearance. Rinse aid dosage too low. Increase rinse aid dosage. See 'Using rinse aid'. Tea stains or traces of lipstick have not been completely removed. Not enough detergent. See section 'Wash programmes and detergent quantities' for recommended quantities. You may need to adjust these to suit your particular load. Wash temperature too low. Select a wash programme with a higher temperature (see section 'Wash programme data' for information). Traces of rust on cutlery. Cutlery is not sufficiently rustproof. Wash by hand. Glasses clouded and discoloured; milky coating Hard water situation. Increase detergent quantities. Glasses are not dishwasher proof. Wash by hand. Water marks left on glasses and cutlery. Rinse aid level or dosage setting is too low. Ensure there is rinse aid in dispenser. If necessary, increase the rinse aid setting or try using a wash programme with a higher temperature. See sections 'Using rinse aid' and 'Wash programme data'.

DISHWASHER NOT CLEANING WELL??
Here are 5 common reasons why not.
Here are Improper Water Temperature
I can tell you from personal experience that water temperature has a direct impact on how well your family's dishwasher operates. If the water entering your dishwasher is not hot enough, your dishes are likely to come out coated with grease and dish detergent residue. As such, you will want to make sure that the temperature of the water inside your dishwasher is somewhere between the range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's not it could be a faulty heating element.
Dirty Pump
Based on my experience, a dirty dishwasher pump will also cause your dishwasher to produce less than stellar results. Therefore, you may want to consider cleaning your dishwasher's pump every six months. In many instances, it is an easy task to complete. In order to clean your dishwasher's pump, you'll most likely have to remove the dishwasher's spray arms. Once the spray arms are removed, you'll want to clean and inspect the pump's impellers, blades and pump guard. I should also mention that there are appliance companies that sell dishwasher pump repair kits should you notice that a part needs to be replaced. A basic dishwasher pump repair kit will tend to cost you $20 to $60 depending on your dishwasher's unique needs.
Dirty Spray Arm
Dirty spray arms may also be to blame. After all, if the spray arms' holes are clogged, the hot water won't be able to reach the dishes properly. A dishwasher's spray arms are very simple to clean. In order to clean them, you will need an old toothbrush and a bread twist tie that has been stripped of its paper. Use the toothbrush's bristles and the wire from the bread twist tie to unclog all the holes.
Broken Dish Detergent Dispenser
A broken dish detergent dispenser is another likely culprit when it comes to dish cleanliness problems. Sometimes the dish detergent dispenser's door will not open or shut properly, which prevents the dishes from getting nice and soapy. The good news is that most dish detergent dispenser problems may be solved relatively inexpensively. The cost of a replacement dish detergent dispenser will vary based on the make and model of your dishwasher. There are also instructional videos online that will help you with the installation of your dishwasher's new detergent dispenser.
Dirty Filter
A filter has an impact on a dishwasher's effectiveness as well. Hence, you will want to inspect your dishwasher's filter for obstructions. The location and type of filter will vary based on your dishwasher's make and model. I would recommend that you check out your dishwasher's operator's manual. It should contain instructions on how to clean your particular unit's filter as well as where you can order a replacement part if need be.

Instructions Things You'll Need:

• Vinegar or lemon juice
• Gel dishwasher detergent

1. dishwashers have a rinse aid dispenser. If your dishwasher has this dispenser, fill it up periodically and it will release the appropriate amount of rinse aid automatically at the right time during the wash cycle. This will help your dishes rinse more cleanly.
2. Rinse aid in solid form
   Some older dishwashers or basic models do not have an automatic rinse aid dispenser. In this case, you can buy rinse aid in solid form that attaches to your dishwasher rack. Solid rinse aid can be hard to find in stores because it is not commonly used, but it can be purchased online.
   
3. Vinegar or lemon juice
   Appliance repairmen will tell you that one of the common problems they see with dishwashers is the buildup of excess detergent. If there is too much detergent in your dishwasher, your dishes will not rinse cleanly, no matter how good the dishwasher is or how much rinse aid you use. To clean the excess detergent that has built up inside your dishwasher, put 3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice (concentrate is fine) in the empty dishwasher and run the dishwasher through a complete cycle with no dishes. Do this twice, for two complete cycles of the empty dishwasher with only vinegar or lemon juice added. The acid in the vinegar or lemon juice will break up the detergent that has built up in your dishwasher's interior.
   
   After you have cleaned the detergent buildup from the inside of your dishwasher, follow the steps below to keep the buildup from happening again and to help your dishes rinse cleanly and prevent residue from accumulating on the dishes.
   
4. Gel dishwasher detergent
   Switch to a liquid or gel dishwasher detergent. Any brand will do.
   
5. Fill one compartment half full Dishwashers will effectively clean dishes with much less detergent than manufacturers often recommend. The bleach in the detergent, combined with the extremely hot water used in the dishwasher wash cycle, will clean and sanitize your dishes completely, even in small amounts, and using less detergent helps prevent buildup and residue from accumulating on your clean dishes.
   
   Fill only one detergent compartment(the one that snaps closed) half full with gel detergent. Snap the opening closed and run your dishwasher as you normally would. Your dishes will come out sparkling clean with no buildup or residue, plus you'll save money by using less detergent!
   

First of all, don't pre-rinse the dishes. Check the water temperature, it should be between 120 and 140 degrees. Be sure you are not partially blocking the dispenser door so that it isn't opening.

Hi,

The scum, film and white residue problems have started since the reduction of phosphates in dishwasher detergents.

Here is a tip that will help you to solve the problem of films, residue, and scum in your dishwasher.

Dishwasher Residue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Most likely the solenoid that operates the lever on the detergent door is faulty. Only solution is to replace the whole dispenser, unfortunately. It is possible that the controller is not activating the dispenser but less likely.

If you have a water softener, you should use about half the recommended amount of soap. Never use a wet or paste detergent. As mentioned before, this unit should be under warranty.

Gene, in AZ

I've been told we can replace the dispenser. See AppliancePartsPro.com. Part AP2834000

hi there,

sounds like the detergent dispenser is not working properly.

are the rest of your dishes clean? in other words, is there any food residue on them?

check the dispenser and make sure that there is nothing visibly wrong with it.

if the problem still persists, replace the dispenser.