Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? Cloudy Film, Gritty Residue & Fixes

Read the symptom first

• Gritty residue or food specks on dishes: the filter, sump or spray arms are clogged, or the arms are being blocked by the load.
• Cloudy white film that wipes off with vinegar: hard water or too little rinse aid or detergent.
• Permanent haze on glassware that will not wipe off: etching, which is surface damage and not a dirty dish.
• Greasy dishes or baked-on food that did not release: water too cold, a weak heater, or a low-power pod or detergent.
• Clean top rack but dirty bottom rack (or the reverse): a blocked or poorly seated spray arm.

Clean the spray arms and filter

Start here, because it fixes the majority of cases. Switch the power off at the breaker or unplug the unit before reaching into the tub, then take out the lower rack.

• Lift out the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub and rinse it under the tap. Scrub away grease with a soft brush.
• Check the sump beneath the filter for glass, seeds, labels or a bit of plastic.
• Spin each spray arm by hand. It should turn freely without catching on a dish or a tall handle.
• Look at the small holes along each arm. Poke out mineral or food plugs with a toothpick, and flush the arm under the tap. Many arms unclip or unscrew for this.
• Reload so no pot, cutting board or tall item blocks an arm or the detergent door.

Water temperature

Detergent works properly when the water entering the dishwasher is about 49 to 60 °C (120 to 140 °F). A cold first fill can leave grease on the dishes and detergent only partly dissolved. Some brands, including Bosch, heat the water internally and say a hot fill is not needed, so check your manual.

Run the kitchen tap until it is hot before starting the cycle. If the water at the tap is hot but dishes still come out greasy, the dishwasher's own heater may not be bringing the wash up to temperature. That needs a technician to test.

Detergent, pods and rinse aid

• Use detergent made for automatic dishwashers only. Hand dish soap oversuds and leaves residue.
• Use fresh detergent. Powder that has clumped from humidity or old tablets, which dissolve poorly.
• Match the dose to the water. Hard water usually needs a full dose, and an under-dosed load leaves film.
• If your model has a detergent door, confirm it opens during the cycle. A door jammed by a tall dish keeps the detergent inside.
• Keep the rinse aid dispenser filled. Rinse aid helps water sheet off the dishes, which reduces spots and film.

Hard water film or etching: how to tell

Soak a cloudy glass in white vinegar for a few minutes, then rinse. If the haze disappears, it is mineral film from hard water, and a full detergent dose, rinse aid and an occasional cleaning cycle with a dishwasher cleaner will help.

If the haze stays after the vinegar soak, the glass is etched. Etching is permanent surface wear, often from soft water with too much detergent or very hot, repeated washing. Reduce the dose and it will stop getting worse, but the cloudiness will not reverse.

When it is the pump, inlet valve or heater

The circulation (wash) pump drives water through the spray arms. If the arms spin weakly, water barely sprays and the tub sounds quiet, the pump or its motor may be wearing out, or the filter and sump may be restricting the flow. A technician checks the pump for a seized impeller, motor draw and wiring.

The inlet valve controls how much water enters. A valve that is slow to open or partly blocked can leave the tub underfilled, so the pump runs with too little water and the wash is weak. A low water level at the start of the wash is the clue.

A weak heating element or a failed thermistor leaves the water too cool even when the tap supply is hot. Dishes feel cool and greasy, and the cycle may run unusually long. A technician tests the element and its sensor for continuity and operation.

Related dishwasher problems

If water is left standing in the tub after the cycle, see our guides on a Bosch dishwasher not draining and a GE dishwasher not draining. If the dishes come out clean but still wet, see dishwasher not drying dishes. If you are unsure whether a leak or fill problem is plumbing or the appliance, read do you need a plumber for dishwasher repair. Those faults have different causes and are covered there.

When to book a repair

Our technicians handle dishwasher repair across Toronto and the GTA, including Bosch, GE and other brands. For a rough idea of pricing, see average appliance repair costs.

• The filter and spray arms are clean, the water is hot and the dishes are still dirty.
• The spray arms barely turn or spray weakly after cleaning.
• Water level looks low at the start of the wash.
• Dishes come out cool and greasy, or cycles run much longer than they used to.
• You hear grinding, humming or a loud whine from the bottom of the tub during the wash.

Safety note

Switch off power at the breaker or unplug the dishwasher before reaching into the tub or removing any panel, and shut off the water supply before disconnecting any line. Water near electrical parts is a shock hazard. Do not test the heater, pump or inlet valve yourself. Those checks are for a qualified technician. This guide is general information and does not replace the manufacturer's manual for your model.