Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes
Likely causes
- ✓Clogged or blocked spray arm holes
- ✓Failing water inlet valve limiting how much water fills the tub
- ✓Worn wash pump or motor
- ✓Hard water and mineral buildup coating the interior
- ✓Wrong detergent or expired rinse aid
The short answer: dirty or cloudy dishes are almost always a water-flow problem, not a soap problem. Clogged spray arm holes and a dirty filter are the usual causes.
Las Vegas hard water also leaves film on glasses.
What usually causes it
- Clogged spray arm holes. Food and scale block the small holes, so water doesn’t reach the dishes.
- Dirty filter. A blocked filter lets grime recirculate.
- Weak inlet valve. The tub doesn’t fill with enough water.
- Worn wash pump or motor. Water pressure is too low to clean.
- Hard water film. Las Vegas water leaves a cloudy coating on glass and interior parts.
What you can check yourself
- Clean the filter. Remove the bottom rack, lift out the filter and rinse it.
- Unclog the spray arms. Clear the small holes with a toothpick, since scale often blocks them.
- Load for water flow. Don’t let tall items block the arm or crowd the dishes.
- Run the hot tap first. This gets the first fill up to temperature.
- Use fresh detergent and rinse aid. For cloudy glasses, run a hot empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar.
How to prevent it
- Clean the filter monthly.
- Run a hot vinegar or dishwasher-cleaner cycle every few months.
- Use fresh detergent and keep rinse aid filled.
When to call a technician
Call us if:
- The arms spin and the filter is clean, but dishes stay dirty
- The tub doesn’t seem to fill with enough water
- You hear the pump struggling or humming
These repairs involve live voltage, gas or hidden parts, so we recommend leaving them to a professional.
Service call: $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Warranty: 90 days on every repair.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my dishes coming out dirty?
Water isn't reaching them well, or the filter is clogged. Spray arms and the filter are the first things to check.
Why are my glasses cloudy in Las Vegas?
Often it's hard water film, not a faulty dishwasher. Vinegar, rinse aid and a cleaning cycle can help.
Is the detergent the problem?
Sometimes. Old, clumped or wrong detergent can leave residue, but spray arm and filter problems are more common.
This is one of the issues covered under our Dishwasher Repair service.