WHY is my dishwasher being a prick?

[Eggproducer]

We have a 4 year old Zanussi integrated dishwasher.

Suddenly it has stopped cleaning stuff very well. Plates are left with bits of dried food stuck on. Cups still have ring marks.

I have added salt.

I have cleaned out the revolting filters.

I have wiped down the disgusting door seals.

I have tried cleaning out the rotor arms (lots of sweetcorn stuck inside), but the bastard instructions say I can't remove the bastard rotor arms, so I'm limited about how much I can do here. I spent an hour with two pins and a pair of tweezers and I can tell you I regret my life choices.

I have just slung a load of caustic soda down the filter hole.

It is getting hot. It is filling with water and it is draining.

SO WHY IS IT BEING A PRICK?

Have you done one of those liquid cleaning things you run through an empty machine? Have you changed brand of dishwasher tablets?

Buy a cleaner £shop crystale is what i use see if that helps and do you put it on eco wash

My sisters did this and started using gel instead of tablets and it improved it a bit I think.

I can't believe you can't remove the rotor arm! That's usually the cause of my issues with not cleaning, but on my Bosch you can pull them off, rinse then out and put them back. Not sure what to suggest in your case. I had a Zanussi dishwasher before and it wasn't very good - was glad when it broke!
Can only suggest using premium branded powderrs / tablet / whatever, and not the cheap own brand ones - that does make a difference.

Oh yes @missmouse101 I forgot to say I had done one of the liquid cleany things too, though it was an Aldi one.

We have been using Aldi tablets, rather than premium, so I will try that next.

I had never heard of gel @Simonfromharlow, so I will add that to the list of things to try to appease the massive prick that is my dishwasher.

We do usually use eco wash, but it's never been a problem previously - it's designed to run on that wash mostly.

@Padiana - yes, Zanussi are pricks.

Also try putting it on the longest hottest wash.

I would run in on a long cyclenhot wash will give the pipes and clear through and get a cleaner.

@Mrsjayy Oh God, the number of ridiculously hot washes I have put it on to appease the prick, it's practically been living in a sauna for the last month.

I might try a plunger on the filter hole next. Anyone done that before?

I also might try attacking it in the night with a machete.

Prick.

I once was told by an engineer to always use the hottest wash as using a low temp wash isn't good for the machine. So, that's what I do now. I feel your pain 🙄

You don't mention rinse aid?

Are you certain you can't get the rotor arms off? Any hacks on line fir your model?

Just to add, I use the cheap Aldi tablets and they are fine. I also put DW salt and use rinse aid.

Maybe it needs a good ol' run - hottest and longest programme, gee it up a bit 😎

Ah it sounds gubbed (actual technical term)

@glitterbiscuits I use the 3-in-1 tablets. I add salt because we are in a hard water area, but I've never added additional rinse aid.

Do you think this would make a difference? I would happily buy 30 buckets of the stuff if it would make my fucking prick of a dishwasher actually do its fucking job.

I've got a Zanussi and it's very temperamental. Has to have salt and rinse aid added weekly, only used on the long cycle and only works with Finish Quantum tablets (large bag of 80 on Amazon subscribe and save). Even then I take at least one or two plates out and wash by hand..... . I have a very love hate relationship with it.......

And reading your update YES YES YES to rinse aid. We go through bottles of it. And make sure it's on the maximum dispense level.

I

Yes, my dishwasher won't perform without rinse aid. I also live in a hard water area. On my dishwasher ( Hotpoint) there are settings for hard water to adjust the amount of salt and rinse aid needed. Mine are set to addd the maximum. If yours has these sort of settings maybe they have been turned down by accident?

Have you tried undoing the little grey clips on the top basket and pulling it out. Turn it over and place on a firm surface, take hold of the rotor arm both side of the fitting and pull it towards you it should ping off. If not destroy the bugger

@glitterbiscuits Right. Rinse aid is on the shopping list. Salt dispensing is set to maximum and I will do the same to rinse aid.

I'm not regularly putting it on the long cycle - it takes about 3.5 months to complete.

That might be a slight exaggeration.

I'm not regularly putting it on the long cycle - it takes about 3.5 months to complete

We clearly have the same model OP......... and it seems to be the only fecking button that DH can press

Get some decent dishwasher tablets. Some of the cheaper ones are useless, one of the Finish ones is also crap, but the others seem to be OK.

Before you break the machine. Caustic soda may have already rotted it.

@DontCallMeShitley CAUSTIC SODA MIGHT HAVE ROTTED MY MACHINE?

I thought it was only caustic to flesh!!!

I thought that was what it was supposed to be used for - drains and the like.

Every day's a school day.

@Windygate The instructions specifically say not to remove the rotor arms.

But I mean, somebody must have fitted it, right? How hard can it be?

immediately destroys dishwasher

Caustic soda can dissolve metal 🤦🏻‍♀️, did you get away with it?.

It’s a shit dw, you need a Miele. There’s a factory outlet in Abingdon.