White residue on everything in dishwasher-advice needed!

[fedup21]

I need some problem solving help!

We have a new dishwasher and it’s been ok the last few weeks but we’ve started having problems. First the tablets didn’t seem to be dissolving properly so I moved to powder (Tesco one) and then things weren’t cleaning properly. We’ve cleaned the filter, arms and replenished the salt and rinse aid. Now it’s cover wing everything in a white cloudy film. I googled which suggested doing a long cycle on empty with just a cup of white vinegar in which I’ve done and that seems sparkly now. But I’ve never had to do this before with the old dishwater-why is it doing this now?

Is it because I’m using the short cycle (27 mins) which isn’t cleaning properly?

Do I need different or better tablets?

Should I put vinegar in with every wash even with stuff in there?

When I looked in my manual it said if I used the short cycle not to put the tablets in the dispenser. Instead I had to put them directly at the bottom of the dishwasher so that they dissolved in time. Could it be something like that?

Yes, I was doing that anyway actually.

I just feel like I’m doing something wrong.

ours always needs salt or rinse aid when it does that.

Always a sign I need rinse aid when that happens

I would start using longer cycles tbh. Have you adjusted the salt/rinse aid for the hardness of your water?

I use either finish quantum or fairy platinum tablets which are 3 in 1 tablets and only put salt and rinse aid in about every 4 months or less and everything always comes out very clean. But the shortest wash on my dishwasher is an hour. I would try a Ionger wash if that doesn't work i wonder if you need a better quality tablet?

Thank you for your replies-maybe my cheapy own brand dishwasher powder isn’t doing the job properly.

I did the rinse aid and salt yesterday and that hasn’t helped so it’s either the detergent I’m using or the short cycle?!

Use a dish washer cleaner bottle. They're about;£5.
Worked a treat on ours

That seems like a really short cycle. I think I would run it empty with some vinegar in it to clear things and then put it on a longer cycle once it is full of dishes to see if it is better.

How hot is your 27 minute cycle?

I also found a dish washer cleaner helped with this, I regularly use one now, Wilkos own make one is £1 and seems ok, so I use that. 27 mins seems really short though for proper cleaning and rinsing

Have you closed the salt cap properly and have you set the machine to the hardness of water in your area?

I've had similar when the salt cap wasn't properly closed, although it looked like it was. I didn't realise until the salt levels light came on very quickly after topping up so it must have been leaking out during each wash.

I aso have to use a long and hot wash or tablet doesn't pop out/dissolve.

How hot is your 27 minute cycle?

Ooh, I don’t know-how could I check?!

It’s a pretty hard water area, I’ll try to adjust the machine accordingly.

I had this problem when I switched from Ecover classic tablets to Ecover all-in-one. I think the poncier tablets had more salt in, leaving a residue. Problem quickly solved when I went back to the basic tablets

What dementedpixie said - I had this when I didn’t put the salt cap back on properly 😬

Definitely check the tablets/powder I use Asda own and they are noted as not being suitable for short washes. I'd clean your machine and try a longer cycle or buy tablets/powder specifically for a short wash.

It could be too much rinse aid. We are a soft water area and don't use it. When we did, we got the cloudy mist you are describing. The AIO tablets have enough of RA and salt for us.

Check the dial on your RA dispenser and maybe reduce the dosage.

An egg cup of white vinegar in the machine each time sorts it out !!

This happens to me with some tablets and not others

An egg cup of white vinegar in the machine each time sorts it out

Now then, this is interesting! I have only ever read about people putting vinegar in on an empty wash. Do you do this?

Ring your water company to find out the hardness level for your area. It will be in either French/German/English/Clark degrees or in mmol/litre .
it doesn't matter where your dishwasher was made its just that those are the names of the measurements (rather like both centigrade and Fahrenheit relate to temperature).
The reading the water company give you will relate to a setting on your machine if you cross reference it in the instruction manual.

Look up your manual. The shortest cycle on our dishwasher uses the most water and electricity. The 1h45m hour cycle uses the least (conversely), is you might be better using a longer cycle for economical reasons too.

We've just had this with some Finish Tablets.

We've gone back to the Lidl ones and everything is fine again.