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Original poster

Is my dishwasher for the tip or can it be saved? Cloudy streaky everything

22 replies

Clymene · 01/02/2022 20:05

Yes I know first world problems etc.

My dishwasher is 11 years old so no spring chicken so maybe I have to accept it's at the end of its life. But there's lots of annoying things about modern dishwashers I hate (lying down cutlery in the top rack) so I'd like to revive it if possible.

As title says, everything comes out cloudy and streaky. I only ever use highest wash cycle now, it doesn't need salt or rinse aid (or it's not telling me it does?). I've run one of those dishwasher cleaner cycles which did the trick last time but it's not worked this time.

Amazon sell dishwasher descaling products. Would it be worth trying one of those? The water in our area is ridiculously hard.

Would be grateful for tips and ideas (or just sympathy Grin )

OP posts:
StrangeAddiction · 01/02/2022 20:08

I would use salt and rinse aid even if the tablets say it doesn't need it. I live in a hard water area and definitely need salt and rinse aid.

VeronicaBeccabunga · 01/02/2022 20:16

I ran a descaler through a washing machine and the gunk it shifted blocked its pipes and made it very angry indeed so I had to call out a repair guy....
Deffo give it salt and rinse aid.
Don't put salt in unless you're just about to run a load through it, any slightly spilled salt will begin to corrode the machine.
I have miraculously fixed my daughter's dishwasher in her London flat [horribly hard water, it's practically crunchy with limescale stuff] by getting her to add salt and rinse aid when she thought the 'all-in-one' tablets did the trick.

Good luck!

Original poster
Clymene · 01/02/2022 20:19

Oh I don't rely on tablets, I'm just relying on red lights coming on telling me what it think it needs. Will get some more salt, top up rinse aid and pray to the dishwasher gods.

Thank you. Come on smeg, you unfortunately named thing Grin

OP posts:

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Home improvement
harriethoyle · 01/02/2022 20:22

We had this and realised it was because we were using cheap dishwasher tablets! So try an upgrade if you're using own brand tablets and see if that fixes it...

isthismylifenow · 01/02/2022 20:26

What do you mean by the highest wash cycle? Is this the hottest wash? Perhaps that with the combination of no salt and rinse agent is causing the problems.

I don't think I have ever used the very hottest cycle for any dishes. I'm thinking glasses won't like that too frequently.

onanotherday · 01/02/2022 20:27

Mine wouldn't drain the other day and like you thought I was facing a big bill. But I YouTubed the issue and followed the instructions....felt very clever!😄 it might be worth trying...Good luck🤞

NoodieRoodie · 01/02/2022 20:31

Take its arms off, submerge them in a bath them swish a lot and have a pair of tweezers to get any bits out. Remove the filter and scrub it in the sink. Liberally sprinkle soda crystals in the base of the machine (1kg packets and I throw about half in) then run it on a hot wash.

Original poster
Clymene · 01/02/2022 20:31

@isthismylifenow

What do you mean by the highest wash cycle? Is this the hottest wash? Perhaps that with the combination of no salt and rinse agent is causing the problems.

I don't think I have ever used the very hottest cycle for any dishes. I'm thinking glasses won't like that too frequently.

There is salt and rinse aid. I use finish tablets, not own brand. I moved to the hottest wash because stuff wasn't getting clean on the more basic ones.

Honestly the cloudiness is not due to salt pitting or whatever - it affects everything. The cutlery is all streaky Sad

OP posts:
Dalooah · 01/02/2022 20:31

Probably best to check whether your water is hard or soft.
I was using salt and rinse aid and all my glasses were streaky and became cloudy after a few washes. When I checked the water hardness in my area on the water supply companies website I realised it's rather more soft that I thought it was and according rot the dishwasher manual I didn't need to use salt. Stopped using salt and I use fairy platinum dishwasher tabs and everything has been dandy since.

LadyLazarus40 · 01/02/2022 20:34

Change your tablets - I always used Fairy ones and all was good. Switched to Finish and everything went cloudy and the inside of my dishwasher had white streaks. ChNges back to dairy and the cloudiness has all cleared!

Maggiesgirl · 01/02/2022 20:38

Put a cup of white vinegar in with the cycle fir a few times - things don't come out tasting of vinegar - I put any cloudy glasses in with it. They all come out clean every time.

harriethoyle · 01/02/2022 20:40

I'm a Fairy fan too @LadyLazarus40! It's one of the few household things I don't buy own brand of (others are washing up liquid, bin bags, fabric softener)

Original poster
Clymene · 01/02/2022 21:24

@LadyLazarus40

Change your tablets - I always used Fairy ones and all was good. Switched to Finish and everything went cloudy and the inside of my dishwasher had white streaks. ChNges back to dairy and the cloudiness has all cleared!
Ooh I will try fairy.

And my water is very very hard. Even my water supplier admits it

Is my dishwasher for the tip or can it be saved? Cloudy streaky everything
OP posts:
Arubaa · 01/02/2022 21:33

Have you taken out the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and washed it under the tap? (Should screw off easily) And taken the arms off and made sure none of the holes are blocked? When our dishes go streaky it's normally one of these!

Original poster
Clymene · 01/02/2022 21:48

@Arubaa

Have you taken out the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and washed it under the tap? (Should screw off easily) And taken the arms off and made sure none of the holes are blocked? When our dishes go streaky it's normally one of these!
I've done the filter obsessively but not the arms.

Or soda crystals.

I'm so glad I started this thread. So many avenues that I haven't explored yet. Dishwashers are really bloody simple things so it's irritating me that it's gone wrong. I want to fix it!

OP posts:
airforsharon · 01/02/2022 21:50

I has this happen when the rinse aid ran out. And Finish tabs caused a similar effect.
Make sure your filter is spotlessly clean & try a different tab/capsule - i really like Aldi's Magnum 3-in-1. Pretty cheap & the best in my machine.

Spellfish · 01/02/2022 21:52

We had a bit missing from the filter (no idea how) that caused this issue. Was a simple fix. But expensive for two minutes of engineer time to diagnose the problem, then come back and for the part.

I second poking the arms with a needle. I got quite a lot of rice out once.

StrangeAddiction · 01/02/2022 22:41

I hate finish tablets. I had the same problem as you when I used them. I always use Fairy now.

Boopeedoop · 01/02/2022 23:06

Try putting a dishwasher descaler through.

Our dishwasher engineer said the cleaners are ok but 2 sachets of descaler was far more effective.

Original poster
Clymene · 04/02/2022 12:17

I'm pleased to report that switching to Fairy and a big top up of salt seems to have done the trick!

OP posts:
ButtockUp · 04/02/2022 15:11

When we've had dishwashers fitted we were told to always use salt and rinse aid as we live in a very hard water area.

I agree with others that Finish is not the best and we always use Fairy.

However, not that this will help, but we had a Smeg for a little over a year. Really poor cleaning and bits of black silt .
Returned to Bosch and no problems.

BluebellsGreenbells · 04/02/2022 15:15

Everyone should use the salt, it helps keep the pipes clean.

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