My dishwasher is making everything white? Greasy film!

[alabasterangel]

Siemens 8 year old and till now very reliable machine.

It's started leaving a puddle of water in the bottom at the end of every cycle and what comes out is covered in a thin, white film which almost feels greasy. It's different from glass 'clouding' and comes off when rubbed. I've attached a photo, the stripe is where I've run my finger.

Cleaned out filters thoroughly and now as a last ditch attempt I'm running through an empty intensive cycle with a strong cleaner in it.

Anyone got any ideas? Given it's almost 9 I'm wondering if a repair is a prudent move or whether it's fatally doomed 😕

[didireallysaythat]

Mine does that when it needs salt.

[alabasterangel]

Thanks. Salt is full as is rinse aid. I've blasted it twice, empty on the hottest wash. The puddle of water internally has gone and my glasses are coming out squeaky but still this nasty layer of yak all over plastic stuff, I've attached another photo. Everything else is clean?!

[Previously1488218868]

Have you checked the hoses and the holes in the arms? Removed the filter and given it a scrub?

Our filter collects grease now that most of the tablets are phosphate free and I have to clean it more often.

If your outlet is clogged the goo might be backing up. Google the make and model and you should find out how to clean the pipes on Youtube.

[mybrainhurtsalot]

I swapped from the classic finish powder in the yellow bottle to all in one max finish power ball tablets and since then no white film and everything - especially glass - comes out sparkling clean. I bought the tablets from Amazon and I don't think they are any more expensive that way (though I'm sure they cost a lot more in the supermarket).

[alabasterangel]

Thanks. I've been using Lidl w5 tabs but I think I'll go and get some finish ones just to see if that makes a difference.

Yes, I've pulled out the mesh plate at the bottom, cleaned all that, cleaned the nylon cylindrical filter under that. I can't check the hoses without help to pull the machine out but I can do that at the weekend. I topped up salt on Sunday (so that should be okay) and the rinseaid light isn't on and that was topped up Sunday too.

Arms are flowing freely, no blockages, and the gunk is on both upper and lower shelves and all over the plastic cutlery basket (which I've left soaking today in washing up liquid). It's like it clings to plastic.

I can find loads of anecdotal google stuff about chalky or salty films but this really does feel greasy. Might chance another super hot cleaning cycle as that has seemingly improved things at least a little.

[Previously1488218868]

It might be some gunk in there somewhere but I was going to say that ours gets a lot of gloop in the filter when we use the Lidl tablets, they wash a lightly used load OK but aren't great on greasy pyrex and baking trays and leave them with spots on.

The problem with them is that they are phosphate free, changed them a while ago, they used to be good before that. If you can find any that still contain phosphates your problem might go away but they are not easy to find.

I believe the phosphates that used to be used (which have since been removed from laundry and d/w products) were made of sodium tripolyphosphate (not sodium triphosphate which is a paint cleaner), that is what kept the grease at bay and kept laundry looking bright.

You do seem to have a build up which is what made me wonder about the pipes because usually a cleaner or a hot wash with vinegar or washing soda (not bicarb) would clear ours.

[Thinkingblonde]

I switched from Finish to Fairy Premium tablets six months ago. They are much better imo, my dishwasher no longer smells and the dishes are much cleaner.
I read the instructions for my d/w recently (only had it eight years😄) I discovered I could adjust how much rinse aid is pumped in according to water hardness. I live in a soft water area, the softer the water the lower the setting needs to be. My machine was set at four so I turned it down to two. It's got rid of that blue haze on the glass ware and the crockery is still gleaming.

[stacyvanwho]

Did you ever get this problem figured out? We are starting to have the same issue and have cleaned out everything we can see. I haven't changed my detergent. It even left a film on a single dish when we did a cleaning cycle with a cup of vinegar and some comet sprinkled in.

[rgwent]

Hooray, After login in five times I finally get to add to this stream. I have a Kenmore dishwasher with a plastic tub. Maybe ten or twelve tears old. No real problems until about a year ago I started to get a white sticky buildup on glasses and the inside of the DW. I suspected too cold water, 120F so jacked the temp up to 140F. I also suspected the dishwasher capsules that we were using and the film being undissolved plastic. I dumped the whole lot and switched to Finish liquid. While the buildup is no worse it is still a problem. My filters were so clogged it took a scrubbing brush, near boiling water and Fantastic with bleach to clean them. I have just taken a scraper to the inside surfaces I can reach and used a shop vac to suck up the gunk so loosened. I then ran it without spinners, racks or filters for a "quick rinse" after liberally spraying the inside with Fantastic. I have soft water so its not lime. I tend to pre rinse plates especially if potato is involved. Its finished its cycle and it still feels and looks grubby. Any ideas. Has anyone tried CLR. I've tried vinegar and I regularly use a half cup of bleach to clean the tea cups which get a bit of a stain. Help. I'm just a mere lone male!!