Dishes not getting clean

the unit could be un-level

Check the screen area around the sump right below the lower spray arm if it is built up with lime deposit then the wash pump is starving for water and cannot pump water to the upper spray arm this would also starve water to the drain pump.

Pipe cleaners dipped in full strength Lime-A-Way cleaner. It takes time because you need to do each and every port, but it works.

Hi

If the top rack of the dishwasher doesn't get clean, check your appliance to see if you can fix the problem.
First check the spray Arms to make sure the holes in the spray arms are free and clear of debris. Your dishwasher should have several spray arms, including one at the bottom of the tub, one under the top rack, and possibly a third spray arm on the top of the tub. Sometimes food and mineral deposits can block holes in the spray arms, preventing water from spraying effectively. If this occurs, warm some white vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the holes with the vinegar and dislodge debris with a toothpick or large safety pin.

Then check to see if your dishwasher has clogged filters. Filters generally cover the drain valve area to catch debris as the water drains from the dishwasher. Many dishwashers have maintenance-free filters, but your dishwasher may have filters that need cleaning. Read your owner's manual before you perform any filter maintenance to avoid damaging your dishwasher.

Check your water temperature to make sure it's hot enough. Water that is under 120 degrees Fahrenheit may not be hot enough to clean dishes effectively. Turn your kitchen hot water tap on and wait until the water warms up completely. Fill a cup and measure the water temperature with a kitchen thermometer. If the water is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, turn your water heater up to 120 degrees.

Load the top rack properly. Place cups and bowls upside down in the rack and don't nest dishes because this can prevent water from reaching dishes. Don't overload the top rack. Instead, position each item so the dirty areas of the dishes will receive full contact with water spraying up from the main spray arm located beneath the top rack. Prevent items from hanging below the top rack, which could prevent the spray arm from rotating.

Also check this link for more helpful info:-

http://www.ehow.com/info_7977311_top-dishwasher-not-getting-clean.html

Please get back to us if you have further query else please accept the suggestion.
Thank you for contacting fixya.com

Hi,

I have an older dishwasher also and recently my wife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I am tried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installed them in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also found that if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad... So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to make sure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

Dishwasher Spray Arms not Spinning

How to Buy Appliance Parts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working

Dishwasher Maintenance

Dishwasher Residue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Hello there:
There are 6 areas that could cause this to happen Please follow these simple steps ok
Investigate each of these six areas if your dishwasher is not completely cleaning your dishes:

Water Inlet Valve

A dishwasher's water inlet valve is its most common part to fail. When your dishes are not being fully cleaned, quite often a faulty water inlet valve is to blame. Test your dishwasher's water inlet valve, and if it is no longer functioning as it should, you will have to replace it.

• How to test a dishwasher water inlet valve.
• How to replace a dishwasher water inlet valve.



• Find a dishwasher water inlet valve.

Upper or Lower Spray Arm

Your dishwasher has a lower spray arm. It may also have an upper spray arm at the top of the dishwasher. These spray arms are designed to shoot high pressure, high temperature water at your dishes. It is possible that the holes of the spray arms, where the water comes out, are blocked with debris, affecting wash quality. You should inspect your dishwasher's spray arms regularly. Clean out the spray arms as need be.

• How to check a dishwasher spray arm.
• How to remove and replace a dishwasher spray arm.



• Find a dishwasher spray arm.

Heating Element

Water temperature is a key element in achieving clean dishes. A dishwasher's heating element is not designed to heat the water that enters it. Rather, the heating element is designed to maintain the heat of the water that enters the dishwasher. Its a good idea to run the hot water in your sink for a couple of minutes before you run the dishwasher. Just to make sure the water is nice and hot before it enters the dishwasher. If the water is unable to stay hot, it can adversely affect your dishwasher's cleaning ability.

• How to test a dishwasher's heating element.
• How to replace a dishwasher's heating element.



• Find a heating element for your dishwasher.

Filter/Drain Grate

There is a filter in your dishwasher. Its function is to keep large particles of food and foreign objects away from the pump. Many of the newly-manufactured dishwashers have self-cleaning filters, and routine cleaning isn't a concern. However, some other dishw ashers need to have the filter removed and cleaned regularly. If the filter or grate is clogged or blocked with debris, it may interfere with the normal functioning of your dishwasher. Consult your owner's manual for specific directions for removing your dishwasher's filter and cleaning it.

• Find a filter for your dishwasher.

Detergent or Detergent Cup

It could just be that you aren't using enough soap to completely wash your dishes. Your dishwasher may be designed to dispense soap at two different times during the wash cycle. If you don't fill all of the detergent cups, then the diswasher will lose a cleaning cycle. Also, if you use a gel-type detergent, try switching to a powered kind. Powders tend to dissolve better in hot water. And don't buy in bulk. Detergents are most effective in the first two weeks. After that, they decrease in potency.
Alternatively, your dishwasher's detergent cup could be defective in some way. It is possible that it is gunked up full of built up detergent, and a thorough cleaning may be enough to get it working again. If that doesn't do the trick, you probably need to replace the entire detergent cup assembly. If your cup isn't even opening, please see our section My dishwasher detergent cup won't open.

• Find detergent dispenser parts for your dishwasher.

Cycle Selector Switch

Sometimes a dishwasher's cycle selector switch is the reason why dishes are not coming completely clean. Test your selector switch to determine whether or not it has become defective. If it has, replace it.

• How to test a dishwasher cycle selector switch.
• How to replace a dishwasher selector switch.

Lots of possibilities...

1. the sprayer arm might be sticking and not moving, or moving very little. Check to see if you can spin it by hand. Listen when the machine is running and you should hear the sound of the spray changing as it rotates. Check for items that might be jamming the arm like silverware, cups, jar labels, etc.

2. the little holes in the sprayer arms could be clogged. Need to remove the arms and clean them.

3. If it has a spray arm in the top rack, check to see that the piping for that is not broken or missing any pieces.

4. Any filter screens inside the plumbing could be clogged. This would slow down the spray and result in the dishes not getting rinsed properly. Check the inside of the machine for any foreign objects (see #3 above).

5. The machine might not be emptying between portions of the cycle. After the wash cycle, see if it is draining by either checking for water coming out of the drain hose or by opening the machine before it should start filling up for the rinse cycle.

6. Machine could be overloaded. Or loaded with extremely dirty dishes. Or with foods that are hard to clean like grits or oatmeal.

7. The machine could be improperly loaded. Bowls or platters blocking the spray. Tall objects like glasses and jars should not be loaded into the corners of the racks. The corners do no get a lot of spray and tall items can end up dirty.

try c.l.r. to clean dishwasher check and clean lower and upper spray arms out, run no detergent you can also run vinegar in it as well about a cup full,let the machine start to run then stop dish washer for a few hours then restart see if this works for you use a short cycle.

I had the same problem and fixed it by disassembling the lower spray arm and return filter, and cleaning all the junk out.
Most dishwashers have 'risers' that bring the water up to the top sprayer or arm located under the top rack. If the recirculating pump is plugged even a little there won't be enough volume or pressure to get the water up there.
Test this by putting a dry muffin pan in the top rack, flat, and running the dishwasher for a bit. If there is no water on the top (or the bottom) either the top sprayer or the sprayer arm underneath the top rack is not getting enough volume.
To fix this you need to clean out the screen and filter, where the water returns to be recirculated. If you don't have any confidence to remove the parts and clean it out yourself, get an appliance repair person to do the job.

brittgee, there has been a number of service flashes on this model. One that has to do with the upper spray arm assy. Complaint is poor washability; gritty glasses, food redeposited on glasses, especially in the corners. They redesigned the upper spray arm to improve water spray to all corners of the upper rack. The new part number is 8269022. They also redesigned the third level spinner for more consistant rotation and better washability. This was also under a service flash. Part number.8193768. Other reasons for poor wash would be; low water temperature, rinse aid disp. not working, loading etc. Catriver...post back.