Dishwasher Issues - Grand Rapids,MI

Back off on the quantity of dishwasher soap. You are using too much.
You only need a teeny tiny bit. I use 1 tsp. in mine. If I use more, I get the film.
YMMV
LBC

Hi Jennifer,

I don't think it's your dishwasher, I think your water and/or your detergent residue is simply showing. Most dishwasher soaps leave a residue but it is clear or almost invisible. If your detergent contains phosphates or chlorine bleach this will happen. Make sure you clean as much off as you can as this can be dangerous if ingested. There are natural dishwasher cleaners that will remove the residue in the rinse cycle if you're interested. I use a phosphate free dishwasher detergent that works well.

Regards,

M.

It's either

- dirty plumbing (washing empty with vinegar will help)

- soap issue (like momma11, cascade complete is the only one I've found to work in every machine in every water district)

- water issue (as in you have hard water, and you're seeing the mineral residue left over from the water... again, cascade complete has always "fixed" that problem for us, hard or soft water).

Gee... I sound like a commercial.

I think it could be the water too. We have hard water in my neighborhood. Even with a water softener, we get a chalky white film on things from time to time (not always good about checking the softener salt!). If you're getting the film on everything, including glassware, I think it's probably a water problem.

Another clue is to check your bathroom and kitchen plumbing fixtures. Do you get a calcium buildup on the faucets, in the sinks, etc? If yes, then it's most likely hard water that you're dealing with.

To fix your ruined dishes and utensils, try filling your sink with 1 gallon water and 1 cup vinegar. Soak the "dirty" dishes in the solution for 20 - 30 minutes, then wash by hand.

This may or may not remove the film, but it has worked for me in the past.

Use less soap and see if that corrects the problem.

Good luck.

C..

We went thru this with our dishwasher when we moved into a new house as well. I tried everything, like you, for 5 years. Eventually, we just bit the bullet and bought a new dishwasher. That worked. :)

they make dishwasher cleaner try that italso can be the detergant. i had to switch from electrosal to no brand now i am on cascade. good luck.

Run the dishwasher with just white vinegar to clean the dishwasher. I use Cascade Complete - it is the only one that does not leave a white film on my plastics or glassware. I have tried every other brand that, literally, and it is the ONLY ONE THAT WORKS. I would much rather use a eco-friendly, phosphate free brand, but they simply do not work (even when used with vinegar or borax).

It is more likely your water than the dishwasher itself. Is your water softened at all? Sometimes hard water leaves a film of minerals. You mght try dishwasher soap that is made for hard water.

Are you saying that the chalky, white film on everything does not wash off? That's my understanding with the word "ruined".

All the previous posts are right on if the chalky residue can be washed off. If it can't then I suggest that you're using too much dishwasher detergent and/or loading the dishwasher improperly and or using too hot of water or too hot of a drying cycle. I've found that some plastics will pit and become cloudy in the dishwasher. I've never had that problem with the brand Tupperware or Rubbermaid but I've ruined the less expensive brands. To be safe, I try to put plastic things on the top shelf. I do put my grandkids' Melamine plates in the bottom rack. Some brands of kids plastic dishes are softer and the dishwasher detergent will take the surface off of them making them cloudy.

If your silverware is made of silver it may not do well in the dishwasher because the detergent pits it. Silver is softer than stainless.

I have plastic spatulas and they melt when I leave them in a hot frying pan but they go thru the dishwasher OK.

Have you looked for this problem in your owner's manual? It should have a trouble shooting section.

It is possible that the dishwasher is not working right or has been improperly installed. I'd check with the installer. Is the dishwasher new or just new to you?

We had this EXACT problem. It's hard water! When our water softener was running low on salt this would happen. Get something called LEMON SHINE, it's available at Meijers with the dishwasher soap. Use a bit with every load and it will solve the problem.

And as someone stated below VINEGAR will take away the chalky residue from the dishes that were previously washed :)