Dishwasher troubleshooting

Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes

Simple loading, filter and spray checks for dishes that come out dirty, cloudy or with food residue.

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When dishes come out gritty, spotty or cloudy, the dishwasher is usually still running. It just isn't getting enough hot water, spray force or detergent action. Most causes are quick to check yourself; a few point to a pump, heater or valve that needs professional testing.

Safe first checks

Start here before scheduling service.

01Remove and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub. A clogged filter is the most common cause of gritty dishes.
02Spin the spray arms by hand and look for clogged holes. Rinse out any food or mineral scale you can see.
03Run the kitchen tap until the water is hot before starting a cycle, so the first fill isn't cold.
04Make sure the rinse-aid dispenser is filled and the detergent is fresh. Old powder clumps and dissolves poorly.
05Load so that tall items and large pans don't block the spray arms or the detergent door.

Safety note

Switch off the dishwasher's power before reaching into the bottom of the tub. The filter area can hold broken glass, and the heating element may still be hot after a cycle.

What usually causes it

How to tell which part is failing.

Match what you see or hear to the most likely cause. A technician confirms the failed part with testing before recommending a repair.

Clogged filter or spray arms

Grit on upper-rack dishes and a dirty film in the tub usually mean water is recirculating through a clogged filter or blocked spray holes.

Water too cool or a failed heater

Greasy residue and detergent left in the cup point to water that isn't hot enough. The heating element or its thermostat may need testing.

Hard-water scale and no rinse aid

A white, chalky film that wipes off with white vinegar is mineral scale, not dirt.

Weak circulation pump

If the motor hums but dishes are barely wet, the circulation pump or its impeller may be failing.

Low water fill

Very little water in the bottom of the tub mid-cycle can mean the inlet valve or float switch is restricting the fill.

Glass etching

Cloudiness that won't wipe off, even with vinegar, is permanent etching from too much detergent or very soft water. It is wear on the glass, not a dishwasher fault.

South Florida note

Much of South Florida has hard water, so scale builds up on spray arms, filters and heating elements faster than in many areas. Using rinse aid and running an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner about once a month keeps wash performance steady.

When to call for repair

Schedule professional diagnosis when the symptom persists.

✓ Spray arms are not moving

✓ The dishwasher sounds different than normal

✓ Water does not appear to circulate

✓ Cleaning remains poor after basic maintenance

Need dishwasher repair?

MSA provides residential dishwasher repair for homes in Broward County from Davie north and throughout Palm Beach County, with a $79 diagnostic credited toward an approved repair.

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