Dishwasher

Dishwasher Issues Cloudy Glasses White film or cloudiness on washed dishes First, to determine whether the film/cloudiness is removable, soak a glass in white vinegarfor approximately 5 minutes. Rinse and dry.1.  If the film is removed, it was due to hard water minerals & the following recommendations should improve your results: Adjust the detergent amount being used to the degree of water hardness.  The general rule is 1 teaspoon of detergent per grain of water hardness, minimum 3 teaspoons.  Fill both cups with the recommended amount of detergent for normal or longer cycles. If the cycle being used is shorter than the normal cycle, use the Main Wash cup only. Water Hardness Level Recommended Detergent Usage Soft (0-3 gpg) 3 teaspoons   Medium (4-9 gpg)  4-9 teaspoons  Hard (10-17 gpg) 10-12 teaspoons  Your local water utility or a water quality company such as Culligan can tell you about the water hardness level in your area.Use a high quality, granular detergent. Assure that the incoming water temperature is hot enough. If it is below 50°C (120°F) the water heating options (Maytag has them) should be selected.  Always use a rinse aid. If the above steps do not correct the problem, the film is due to a different, unique set of factors, req uiring a completely different approach.
CALL J & B APPLIANCE SERVICE Try the following:   – Decrease amount of detergent used in Main Wash cup to 3 teaspoons, regardless of water level hardness.   – Change brand of rinse aid to Cascade Rinse Aid* and be sure to use it all the time.   – Select the Pots and Pans cycle on the control panel or touch pads.2. If the film/cloudiness is not removed after the vinegar soak, the problem is most likely what is called etching. Etching is a permanent pitting or eroding of the surface of the glassware.  The beginning stages can be identified by a ‘rainbow’ effect in the glassware (different shades when the glass is held at an angle to the light). In advanced stages, the surface appears frosty, spotted, or cloudy. Etching can happen in any dishwasher, to any glassware, regardless of quality. It is caused when too much detergent is used in soft water, when items are pre-rinsed, or if the water temperature is too high.To prevent further etching & to keep other glassware from becoming etched, we recommend the following:Adjust the detergent amount to the appropriate level of the water hardness (see above chart).Check the incoming water temperature by turning on the hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher.Let the water run into a glass in the sink. Place a thermometer in the glass and note the maximum temperature. If the temperature is greater than 60°C (140°F), it is recommended that the water heater be adjusted so that the incoming temperature is in the range of 50-60°C (120-140°F). Discontinue pre-rinsing. The detergent needs the food soils to act upon, instead of the surface of the glassware.
CALL J & B APPLIANCE SERVICE Dishwasher Issues Detergents There are many more kinds of dishwashing detergents available today than in the past. The brand, type, & amount of detergent used can significantly affect the performance of the dishwasher. Here are some general guidelines about today’s dishwashing products. For best results, dishwashing detergents need to be fresh and they need to be stored correctly. Time, heat, & moisture can zap the cleaning ability in many of these products so they should not be stored in areas that are too warm or too humid (such as under the kitchen sink). Be sure to keep containers closed tightly. Dishwasher detergents have a shelf life so it is best not to buy large quantities at one time. A good rule of thumb is to only buy about a month’s supply at one time. Premium, national, name brands are recommended for best results. These products contain high quality ingredients, which are consistent from one purchase to the next.To help you choose which type of detergent is best for you, here are some descriptions of what is presently available in the marketplace:Powdered or Granular Dishwashing Detergents provide excellent cleaning performance & have been around the longest. They are the best choice i n hard water situations because they are better at tying up hard water minerals. They are also the best choice in soft water situations because of their suds suppressing capability. Most powdered dishwashing detergents contain chlorine bleach. Some new formulations also include enzymes to help remove baked, dried on, foods. Cascade Plus® is an enzyme based dishwashing detergent. Powdered detergents are moisture sensitive, so a moisture resistant package that contains a foil barrier is important. If a powdered detergent is found to have caked or clumped up, it has probably lost much of its cleaning ability & will not perform well. Gel Dishwashing Detergents also do a good job of cleaning. This type of detergent has been dramatically improved since its introduction around 1990. Gels are easier & neater to pour into the dishwashing detergent cup, are more soluble & less susceptible to moisture problems than powders. They have a higher propensity to suds up in soft water & are not a good choice in soft water situations. Since gels contain fewer water softeners that powders, they don’t perform as well in hard water as powders. Their performance is best when water is of average hardness. Tablets are the newest type of dishwashing detergent. The tabs are pre-measured, & individually wrapped for protection against moisture, making them very neat & convenient. One tablet is usually placed in the main detergent cup for each load. If the water su pply is exceptionally hard, or the load is above average in soil, an additional tablet placed in the bottom of the dishwasher prior to starting will improve performance. Currently there are two types of tablets on the market. One contains enzymes in addition to other cleaners. The other contains chlorine bleach in addition to other cleaners. Regardless of which type of detergent is chosen it is important to set the incoming water supply temperature to between120 F and 130 F to assure the best performance of the detergent. This is necessary to assure that the chemicals & cleaning agents are activated & can dissolve greasy food soils. None of the detergents discussed here will perform very well if water temperatures are too low.Dishwasher Issues Gritty Substance Occasionally, after a dishwashing load is completed you may find a gritty residue stuck in the bottom of your drinking glass, or in the recess of a cup. There are several conditions that might cause this problem, some of which have to do with usage practices. Here are some areas to check: Detergent Usage  Old, clumped or low quality detergent can cause this by not completely dissolving, oversudsing, or not providing proper cleaning action. Use a fresh high quality, name brand detergent, & be sure to store it in a cool dry place between uses. Avoid buying more than you will use in a month’s time because detergents have a short shelf life.Water Temperature&n bsp; Detergents require a minimum water temperature of 120 F in order to dissolve & become chemically active. For optimum results, dishwashers which heat their own water should have a minimum inlet water temperature of 120 F, while dishwashers which do not have water heat settings need 140 F inlet water. Run the water at the nearest sink before starting the dishwasher in order to clear the line of cold water. Degree of Water Hardness  The amount of detergent used should be based on the hardness of the water. A general rule of thumb is one teaspoon of detergent per gpg of water hardness, with a minimum ofthree teaspoons when the water is soft. Water above 15 gpg in hardness requires a mechanical water softener to achieve acceptable results. Loading  Glasses should NOT be placed over the tines. Tines interfere with the wash action & may inhibit proper washing & rinsing. Items should not be nested, should not interfere with the rotation of upper or lower wash arms, should not be stacked on top of one another, & should be loaded so that water may pass freely from the wash arm through each rack & back again. Soiled surfaces should face the center. Odd Shaped  Items with narrow openings may not wash or rinse correctly in a dishwasher. If changing the position of the item doesn’t seem to help, the item may need to be washed by hand.Mechanical Problems  If all of the items listed above have been checked &a mp; the problem remains, it is possible that the dishwasher has a mechanical problem. Something may have prevented the dishwasher from filling with enough water, some other device may have used the available hot water supply, or something may be happening to cause the dishwasher to lose water during the wash. It is also possible that something may have lodged in the pump inlet, wash arm, or something may have obstructed the jets which spray water. If none of these suggestions seems to explain the poor cleaning you observe you may need to contact a professional servicer to help you solve the problem.
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