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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Why is my dishwasher leaving a coating on everything?

26 replies

Southmouth · 04/12/2019 13:23

I’ve never had a dishwasher before and recently got given one so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong here. But when I first got it things were coming out really shiny and clean, now everything is coming out feeling dirty still and glass things and cutlery all have a white coating to them.

I’ve topped salt and rinse aid up and cleaned the filter. Any other suggestions?

I’ve just had to wash up pretty much everything which kind of defeats the point of having a dishwasher in the first place!

OP posts:
jessicama · 04/12/2019 13:26

I'm also having this issue... so can't offer any advice, but following in the hope you get some elsewhere! Blush

DragonontheWagon · 04/12/2019 13:30

We had a dishwasher that needed a heating element go after six months, everything came out grim being washed in cold water so check it's still heating up.

stripeypillowcase · 04/12/2019 13:30

what detergent are you using?
how hard is the water in your area?
are you stacking correctly (so that the arms can move well)

Original poster
Southmouth · 04/12/2019 13:36

It’s still heating up fine as that was my initial thought.

I’m tried so many dishwasher tablets thinking maybe it was that at first but it didn’t make a difference. I’m currently using fairy platinum.

I’m stacking everything correctly as well, as I made that mistake after I first got it as a stupidly didn’t think about the arms moving Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Southmouth · 04/12/2019 13:46

I’m in a hard water area

OP posts:
wowfudge · 04/12/2019 13:50

What temperature washes are you using? How old is it and has it previously been used in a hard water area?

Original poster
Southmouth · 04/12/2019 13:51

I’m not sure the temperature? I have it set to ‘intensive’ and yes was previously used in hard water area.

OP posts:
katmarie · 04/12/2019 14:16

We have this problem, we're also in a hard water area. Every few weeks I run the dishwasher empty with a good dose of citric acid, and that seems to stop the white powdery film on everything. You can get citric acid online, we buy 10kg tubs at a time because we have to descale things a lot.

PigletJohn · 04/12/2019 14:26

You'll have to read the instructions for this, but the machine will have a way to set "water hardness"

The harder the water, the more the softener has to be regenerated.

I am guessing the coating is limescale. Wipe it with water, and with vinegar. If the vinegar is quicker, it's limescale.

Check the filter and the arms are clean as well.

ThisIsSunrise · 04/12/2019 14:28

You only need intensive if you are cleaning grill pans eg or deeply dirty saucepans. A mid temp eco wash should be fine. You will damage your crockery if you keep washing in intensive - it is just too hot.

Original poster
Southmouth · 04/12/2019 16:30

I found if I didn’t use intensive then they were coming out with even more build up on them and still dirty.

I’ll have a look into the setting for water hardness, I hadn’t realised about that thanks

OP posts:
P1nkHeartLovesCake · 04/12/2019 16:35

Mine does this when it’s rinse aid is running low

Is your salt and rinse aid topped up?

Startoftheyear2019 · 04/12/2019 16:45

How about salt? Mine has a salt dispenser which needs topping up a few times each year (with special dishwasher salt not table salt).

Mumski45 · 04/12/2019 18:12

I put a teaspoon of citric acid in with every wash.
Also check the spinning arms to make sure they are not blocked with bits of dirt.

gerbo · 04/12/2019 18:25

My dishwasher recently died, and the repair man told me I wasn't putting in nearly enough salt.

Unbeknownst to me, you have to put salt in the compartment until the salt is at the very top, whereas I had thought it was just until the water in there reaches to top.

So you keep pouring salt in, with water overflowing, until the salt is completely at the top.

May help. My washed are better now, without doubt. (Hardwater area too)

gerbo · 04/12/2019 18:26

He said you need salt and rinse aid, no matter if you use an 'all in one tablet.' Really helps.

GrandmaSharksDentures · 04/12/2019 18:27

Have you run a cleaning cycle? If the machine doesn't have one, run it with a specific dishwasher cleaning product on the hottest setting. Worth a try

Outsomnia · 04/12/2019 18:31

I realise that OP has only recently got the DW. So it sounds like s.he could contact the shop or manufacturer.

But just to mention, my 24 year old (yep) Ariston did the same two years ago, and looking online it mentioned cleaning out gunge from the "arms" that swish around. Had to do it with a safety pin and a screwdiver but hey.

Worked a treat.

TellItLikeItReallyIs · 04/12/2019 18:40

As PP has said if you have salt and rinse aid, it's most likely to be the water hardness setting.

When I bought a new dishwasher, it came with a water hardness test strip so you could work it out

What you are looking for is the equivalent in your manual of p.10 - 11 here.

ttps://media3.bosch-home.com/Documents/9000889353_H.pdf

TellItLikeItReallyIs · 04/12/2019 18:41

media3.bosch-home.com/Documents/9000889353_H.pdf

inwood · 04/12/2019 18:43

You need new salt.

FairNotFair · 04/12/2019 18:48

Mine did this. The only thing that solved it was to switch from tablets to dishwasher gel.

s17ian · 06/12/2019 08:10

This is caused by too much rinse aid, either use all in one tablets only or use the separate rinse aid, salt and dishwasher detergents. Never fill salt, rinse aid and then use all in one tablets. Most modern machines have a way to alter how the machine doses these depending on which methods you prefer, separates or all in one tablets. ☺️👍

theneverendinglaundry · 08/12/2019 15:36

You shohld also be able to adjust the water hardness setting on the dishwasher, this will tell the machine how much salt to use. Have a good for instructions for your machine (you'll also need to google the water hardness in your area).

SummerintoAutumn · 08/12/2019 22:39

Take the spray arms off and see if any of the holes are blocked.
A single grain of rice can cause chaos!