oh no, help, what do I do with my...

[bluetortoise]

(nothing exciting really, just my) dishwasher that is refusing to work properly. There is water stuck at the bottom of it that does not want to move. The machine seems to run but it is not able to drain all the dirty water [lovely ]. Anyone had anything similar happening to their dishwasher and did you manage to fix it? Just had to wash a whole load of dishes all by myself... grrrrrrrr

[SayItWithWine]

Have you checked your filter and cleaned it all through. Do you use a dishwasher cleaner that removes all the fat and muck in the pipes. If it has a pump to drain the water away this may have gone. Washing machines have pumps, not sure... about dishwashers tho. Isnt handwashing dreadful!!!!

[bluetortoise]

handwashing is horrible, what is the dishwasher cleaner that you use? thanks for your helpful reply

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

I've had that a few times - it'll be the filters. They'll need a rinse and a poke - there'll be some food that's got caught. Easy to solve usually.

[bluetortoise]

I have washed the filters but it doesn't seem to have solved the problem. I am just a bit scared it is some problem with the machine itself, maybe as SayIt suggested could be that the pump is gone... what a nightmare

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Or there could be a blockage further down. Maybe a call to a dishwasher repair person...

[SayItWithWine]

Think it has to be dishwasher repairer as a diswasher cleaner (Finish is good) only works if your diswasher is!
Sleeves rolled up Im thinking.

[KickArseQueen]

Last one I pulled apart had the plastic tag from an Item of clothing stuck in the impeller of the pump. Once I pulled it out it ran fine.

It could be several things..

What make is it?

[bluetortoise]

oh my, oh my, that is not what I need at the moment. Had to do another load of dishes today, not feeling very happy at the moment

[KickArseQueen]

What... Make... is...it...?

[OliviaMumsnet]

This happened to me this week.
I had to call the repairman out for the very same thing. Called on Monday and he was busy until today (all that handwashing!!) - I paid him nearly £30 for 20 mins work and I gave him a cuppa.
There was a blockage in the drainage pipe - of old food etc. Repairman cleared it. Job done.

[KickArseQueen]

I have only ever called out a repairer when something was in warranty, I'm skint so that hasn't happened very often!

One of the best things to clean a washing machine/ dishwasher with is white vinegar - stops the greasy food blockages de-scales and doesn't harm the seals - also helps to remove the soap scum in the pipes in your washing machine and doesn't damage your clothes afterwards. Once a month half a cup in both, if you have a hotpoint dishwasher click the knob round until it stops pumping out then pour in the white vinegar and run a normal cycle. All others wait till it starts filling and then open the door ( before the blades start spinning and pour it in) hth :)
BT, what make?:)

[DiscoSquish]

Try taking the filter etc out of the bottom then using a sink plunger to try to shift the blockage. I mopped up as much of the water left in the bottom as possible with towels then did this. If it doesn't work the first time try emptying a bottle of vinegar into the pipy bit at the bottom, leave for a couple of hours then try again.

Worked for me, it turned out to be a hairgrip

[bluetortoise]

sorry Kick for not replying earlier, the make is Tricity Bendix DH103. Would love to save money by not calling a repair man, I am skint too. Will try the vinegar thing right now and see what happens. Kick I have been tempted to pull it apart, but I am not sure if I could put it back together again, where is the impeller located, is it hard to work out where it is? I have a strong feeling it is something that got stuck but husband thinks it may be a problem with the pump mechanism... Anyway, will try the vinegar and see what happens. Thank you so much for all your help, even getting your messages is helping me not to get so down about the whole thing grrrrr

[bluetortoise]

just poured white vinegar in, waiting anxiously for a GOOD result

[bluetortoise]

hurrrrraaaaayyyyy, dishwasher working again thanks to the fantastic white vinegar poured earlier, and washed out with some boiling water. And obviously also thanks to fabulous KickArseQueen. Thank you ever so much for the advice, love, love, love Mumsnet

[KickArseQueen]

LOL! Glad you got it sorted! Now! once a month chuck in a cupful when its empty and run it, hopefully it won't happen again! and do your washing machine while your at it!(obviously not when you have clothes in it) Good Luck. :)

[bluetortoise]

very good idea Kick, thanks for your help