Powdered soap residue (cascade) sticks in the dispenser after dishwasher has completed wash cycle. I have tried the new gel pacs and they also seem to stick to the dispenser even after the the dispenser door has opened. What needs to be done?

Try using the pods. Make sure the soap door can open freely. Make sure you are getting very hot water to the dishwasher.

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,

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

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.

Hello. I can illuminate this issue for you and offer a couple of choices. Dishwashers have a soap dispenser located on the inside of the door. When the timer cycle calls for the soap to be emptied into the dishwasher, it either sends electricity to a bi-metal switch that opens it, or it mechanically opens the soap dish.

I always recommend to my customers that they go with a product like cascade 2 in 1 action pacs. These little pacs are merely tossed into the machine before you close the door with no concern about the soap dispenser at all, and they work better than any powder or liquid alone.

Use gel run a few cycles and help clear and then don't overfill w gel soap

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.

hi
the dispenser will always open when the washer goes through it's regular cycle. I would recommend to only use powdered soap, that is what the washer was designed to work best with.

ok, either a spring, trigger prob, on the latch, or a electronic prob. ok so to see if the latch is ok (or not) look closely for soap residue and scum, that may be hindering the latch or spring under. use metho, and warm water to clean this part. secondly go down to a white goods repair place and take your electrical component, button, lights its all one unit, simple unscrew it, i do think you will need a set of torque screws for that tho... anyhow ask the guy to get you a new or second hand one and install it. the timer will run, and the clip will release. good luck!