#1 Dishes and glasses are not clean. Glasses come out with *** film. #2 Cascade gel soap residue in cup dispenser and on dishes close to it. #3 Not drying glassware in upper rack. #4 Black *** residue on inside of door.

Hi,

The scum, film and white residueproblems have started since the reductionof phosphates in dishwasher detergents.

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

DishwasherResidue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

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!
   

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

//

Hi,
There are three common problems that cause the Soap Dispenser or Cup not toopen. I have a tip that will explain these problems in detail....

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open

heatman101
,.

Try the cascade new soap they have been changing the ingredents due to state requirments for the water treatment. also make sure spray arms and jet are free from food particles,also clean soap dispencer,If you want run CLR through dish washer no dishes to clean machine.Thanks

I have a Whirlpool Gold dishwasher and had the same trouble. I found the solution. Fill the detergent dispenser to the top with Cascade Complete liquid gel - it is in a green bottle, then put a half a cup of white vinegar in the bottom of the tub before you start the dishwasher. I have tried them all and Cascade Complete Gel works best. Don't use powder. It really builds-up on my dishes and only the gel keeps the film off my dishes.

I also add Jet Dry in the rinse-aid dispenser but I have a friend who use vinegar in that too. The dishes come out sparkling clean with no film or white build-up. If they still are filmy after three washes using this method, then you may have some build-up in the dishwasher and you can put a cup or two of white vinegar in the bottom - with no detergent or dishes and wash and rinse well. That helps get rid of build-up.

I think I can help. We have the same dishwasher and we have very hard water. The dry powder detergents don't work well. We have found Cascade All in One Gel detergent works best and we use only a little; don't go beyond the first mark in the detergent dispenser, regardless what the instructions say. We have found using more of any detergent makes white film. Don't fill up the pre-wash side either. The Cascade All in One Gel does both at one time, so no need to put some in the pre-wash side. Also keep Jet Dry in the rinse dispenser and make sure it is set up higher, turn the arrow to 4. Try that and move up if needed. Next, we put half a cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher, just pour it in the bottom each time, right before we wash the dishes. This works GREAT! We used the white vinegar in on our former dishwasher of 9 years and never had any trouble with any film buildup. The vinegar cuts all the film and makes glasses look terrific.

If you are still are having trouble, cut out the Heated Dry at then end. The heat can cake hard water on your dishes. It may not dry the dishes as well, but it seems to stop any buildup. Using the vinegar though, we use the Heated Dry and still have no film buildup. So for us, we use a small amount of Cascade All in One Gel detergent (buy this basic gel, no added anything), 1/2 cup white vinegar poured in the bottom and Jet Dry in the rinse dispenser. We always have sparkling clean dishes with no hard water buildup. If you don't have real hard water, but just a little hard water, you might try decreasing the white vinegar to 1/4 cup and increase it if you start seeing the white film build back up. Also don't overload the dishwasher. Make sure there is space in-between each dish and have all plates face toward the center.

Make sure you turn your sink faucet on to as hot as you can get it and run the water until it is hot, then turn off the faucet and turn on the dishwasher. This helps to keep the dishwasher from running longer, which would mean more hard water swishing around longer if you don't heat the water, and you know what that means, plus the heating element has to work harder to get the temp up and that makes it burn out quicker. Once a month check your jet sprays, that turn around in your dishwasher, because the little holes can stop up with hard water gunk and this will cause film on your dishes to build up. Take a toothpick and crush the gunk in any holes and make it go out of the holes. Hope this helps you!

they must have changed the way they treat the water in your area. those spots are caused by hard water. www.dishwasherfilter.com has a product out for this problem. it filters the water going into your dishwasher leaving them spot free and crystal clear with every load. you will love the way your dishes look.

Hi Dirty Dish gang.
After having 2 appliance repairmen here, I now have the latest scoop on our dishwasher problems, $200 later!
Los Angeles IS currently having hard water issues. Also, all the new cleaning gels etc. are actually a cause of our dishwasher problems.  
So, here is what we need to do:
1. Use Cascade POWDER detergent only.  Make sure is is just "plain" no "scented" or "complete"  or gel, etc. (I have tried a phosphate free powder and gel and this is a cause of our problem as well!) 2. Use Jet Dry in the dispenser (set it to a 2-3 opening) 3. Make sure water is at least 120 degrees 4. Only run dishwasher on "normal" setting.  All others just run it longer, hence causing more water stains. 5. Do not pre-wash dishes! You can knock of chunks with a "non" soapy brush, but don't rinse (the oils actually help to clean the dishes) 6.  Do not wash sponges in dishwasher.
Acid Wash: The repairman just gave my washer an Acid Wash today. It says it is an acid derived from lemon, I got mine from Carters appliance in Torrance, CA for about $19. I am to run a normal cycle with the above mentioned Cascade after this "acid cycle" is finished.
If you are still having problems:
Monthly maintenance: Glass Magic: Buy a box of Glass Magic (near the Cascade)  Use 1 Tbsb in main detergent compartment of dishwasher along with the Cascade, till washer starts working again. White Vinegar: You can run an empty dishwasher with white vinegar once a month.  Fill a bowl with 2 cups vinegar and place on bottom rack.  Then run as a normal cycle...this allows vinegar to disperse slowly.
So far it seems to be working.  Good luck.