Dirty Dishes

The type of result after a clean cycle can point to a possible cause. Below are common poor results and possible causes for them.

Unremoved Food

Poor draining
Improper wash water level (should be just below heating element)
Wash arms not moving properly
Leak in internal wash system resulting in poor wash arm motion
Improper loading
Water temperature too low (*starting* water temperature should be 120°F to 140°F)
Incorrect amount of detergent for water hardness
Use of stale powder or granular detergent
Detergent dispenser not opening properly

Sand-like grit deposits

Improper loading
The shape of items being washed
Water temperature too low (*starting* water temperature should be 120°F to 140°F)
Use of stale powder or granular detergent
Wash arms not moving properly
Leak in wash system
Incorrect amount of detergent for water hardness

Cloudy Glassware

To help identify the cause of cloudiness soak affected glassware in undiluted white vinegar for up to 5 minutes. Rinse then dry. If filming is removed it is due to hard water filming. If the filming is not removed the affect is from etching. Etching is not reversible. Etched glassware may show shades of blue, purple or pink when held at an angle to a bright light.

Water spotting

Incorrect amount of detergent for water hardness
Water temperature too low or too high (*starting* water temperature should be 120°F to 140°F)
Not using a rinse agent like JetDry©

Etching

Manually prerinsing glasses before washing
Incorrect amount of detergent for water hardness
Water temperature too high (*starting* water temperature should be 120°F to 140°F)
Using 'Pots and Pans' or 'Normal' setting when only 'Light' or 'China' setting is appropriate

Water Temperature

Wash water temperature is critical to good cleaning. Dishwasher detergents are designed to activate at specific temperatures. That temperature is 120°F to 140°F. When you start the dishwasher the water in the pipes leading to the dishwasher will likely either be just luke warm or possibly even cold! Only by the end of a fill might the incoming water be up to the proper temperature, resulting in cooler overall water temperature. It is important that you run a nearby sink tap until fully hot before starting the dishwasher.

Water Hardness

Taking into account the 'hardness' of the wash water being used is important for effective cleaning. Generally speaking the harder the water you have, the more detergent is needed. Below is a list of approximate amount of detergent needed for various degrees of water hardness.

Soft water (0-3 grains of hardness) - 3 tsp. of detergent
Medium hardness (4-9 grains) - 4 to 9 tsp. of detergent
Hard water (10-13 grains) - 10 to 12 tsp. of detergent
Very hard (14+ grains of hardness) - get a water softener or a European dishwasher model with built-in water softener feature