White residue left on dishes after automatic dish washing?

Question

Recently my dishes have been coming out like c**p with white film all over everything. What is it, is it soap, do I need jet dry, is it the soap. Any suggestions on how to remedy this situation

Answer 1

Several possibilities:

You're water has become harder - that can actually ruin your dishwasher.  I learned that the hard way.

You could be using too much soap.

You could have a blockage in the drain.

You may need some drying agent.

You may just need to run a cleaning agent through it.  I have used one that you can find in most grocery stores where the dishwasher detergent is.  You put it in the empty dishwasher and run the dishwasher on high.  It cleans things out well and it will clear up the problem for a while.

Answer 2

I have the same problem - i live in an apt. and  it's not the best dishwasher in the world.  we like to add jet dry to our dishwasher and also we switched from store brand soap to name brand gell packs and it got a little better, but no cigar.

Answer 3

"Recently" makes me wonder if there hasn't been a change in your municipal water. The recent US floods have forced some cities to change their source of water, and some have changed to a harder source. Solid detergents don't dissolve well in harder water - the same thing happens with solid laundry detergent too.

Answer 4

Does the film come off if you hand wash?  If it does then check the drain  or your water source as the others have suggested. If it doesn't then you are using too much detergent and it is etching your dishes.  The Jet dry is too expensive for me so I use vinegar as a rinse aid and my dishes sparkle.  Just put it in the rinse aid dispenser that is on your machine.  It doesn't matter if it is white or cider vinegar; and it doesn't make the house smell like vinegar.  Use a cupful when you run your dishwasher on empty for a couple times and it should help rid  it of any residue in the washer itself (besides that all repairman suggest that you do it once a month).

Answer 5

Same thing happened to me.

I was putting too much soap in.

Also, you may have a gob of soap or grunge in some nook or cranny around the shelves, edges etc, that it coming loose a bit at a time.

Also, if your dishwasher is not that great, use the gel rather than the powder

I always use jet dry.  It really helps

Answer 6

Check the drain at the bottom of the inside of the unit, right below the spinney thing (whatever you call it). It could be clogged. Also, run the unit a couple of times without dishes or soap in it, which may clear up any blockages. Jet Dry would also be a worthy investment, as long as you don't have any gunk interfering with the operation of the unit.

Answer 7

it sounds as if the dishwater is not draining properly in between cycles. check the strainer on the bottom for debris and if possible make sure the unit is draining completely between cycles. ( this might require pulling the dishwasher out and checking the drain line or just listening for the water being pumped out through the kitchen disposal , most common place, or sink waste line.)