Why doesn't your dishwasher clean properly?

Try the tips below if your dishes are still dirty when you take them out of the dishwasher.

• Tip 1. Load your dishwasher correctly
• Tip 2. Check the spray arm nozzles
• Tip 3. Top up salt and rinse aid
• Tip 4. Clean the dishwasher
• Tip 5. Make the dishwasher pre-rinse
• Tip 6. Choose the right dishwasher cycle

Loading the dishwasher correctly will go a long way. Place large pans or oven dishes in the lower rack and put coffee cups in the upper rack. You should also position your dishes as an angle, so the water can reach the dirty spots more easily. Don't overload the dishwasher, because the spray arm nozzles won't be able to reach every part of your dishes.

The spray arm nozzles spray the water in different directions through the holes. If the spray arm is stuck or dirty, the dishwasher can't distribute the water effectively. Before you start a cycle, check if the spray arm nozzle doesn't hit your dishes. Are the spray arm nozzles dirty? Prick the clogged holes with a pin and rinse the part under the faucet.

Most tablets contain salt and rinse aid, but this is not enough. When the salt or rinse aid come into play during a dishwasher cycle, the tablet has already been flushed away. That's why you should top up your dishwasher with extra salt and rinse aid. You can check how to do this and how much you need in the manual.

Your dishwasher needs to be cleaned regularly, so the device keeps working properly. Clean the filters, rinse the door seal, and descale the appliance. As a result, your dishes will turn out cleaner.

Some dishwasher have a pre-rinse cycle or function. This cycle rinses your dishes more effectively. Use the cycle or function with extra dishwasher detergent or dishwasher powder. You can check how to do this in the manual.

With a dishwasher cycle, you choose automatic settings for your type of dishes. For example, there's an intensive cycle for dirty dishes or a short cycle for mugs and cups. Do you often use a cycle with a low temperature or a short duration? Choose a cycle with a higher temperature every now and then. This way, the interior, water pipes, and filters get a good clean as well. Some models also have a special cleaning cycle for this.

Did you try all the tips, but are your dishes still coming out of the dishwasher dirty? Your dishwasher may be ready for replacement. At Coolblue, we have a large selection of different appliances that are suitable for your kitchen. Make sure to check the niche dimensions when you order a built-in dishwasher. That way, we're sure the appliance fits in your kitchen.