Dishwasher · Dishes not clean
Dishwasher Leaves Dishes Dirty: Water, Spray Arms, and the Wash Pump
Updated
Dishes that come out with food still stuck to them are the dishwasher complaint most often fixed without any part at all. Detergent, water temperature, loading and a dirty filter account for most cases. Rule those out first; then look at the parts that move the water.
Before you open anything: switch off the dishwasher's circuit breaker (or unplug it under the sink, if it plugs in) and close the hot-water valve under the sink. The heating element and the water in the tub stay hot for a while after a cycle, and water sitting in the sump comes out when you open the pump or the drain hose.
The checks that cost nothing
- Hot water at the start. A dishwasher fills from the hot-water line. Run the kitchen tap until the water is hot before you start a cycle, so the first fill is not cold water that was sitting in the pipe.
- Detergent. Powder that has absorbed moisture clumps and does not dissolve. Pods left in a humid cabinet do the same. Try fresh detergent, and use rinse aid if your water is hard — a gritty white film on glasses is hard-water scale, not food.
- Loading. Large pans and trays on the bottom rack can block the spray from reaching the upper rack, and a tall item can stop a spray arm from turning. Spin each arm by hand after loading.
- The filter. A clogged filter recirculates dirty water and starves the pump. Twist it out from under the bottom spray arm and rinse it.
Spray arms
Each spray arm should turn freely by hand and every hole should be open. Seeds, glass and hard-water scale block the jets, and a blocked arm leaves a stripe of dirty dishes where its spray used to reach. Unclip or unscrew the arms, flush them under the tap and clear the holes with a toothpick. A cracked arm, or one with a missing end cap, loses pressure and needs replacing.
Not enough water
After the dishwasher fills, open the door and look. Water should cover the bottom of the tub around the sump. If it barely does:
- The inlet valve may be restricted — a clogged screen at its inlet, or a valve that opens only partly.
- The float in the front corner of the tub may be stuck up. When it is stuck, the dishwasher thinks it is full and stops filling early. It should move freely up and down.
The wash (circulation) pump
The circulation pump pushes water through the spray arms. If you hear a hum but very little water noise during the wash, or the spray is too weak to turn the arms, the pump or its motor is failing. A pump that is completely silent during the wash, with power to the dishwasher and water in the tub, is the part.
The detergent dispenser
If the detergent is still in the cup at the end of the cycle, the dispenser did not open. Check that a tall item is not blocking the lid, then look at the latch and spring. If the lid is free and still never opens, the dispenser assembly is the part.
Before you order the part
Dishwasher parts are model-specific, and manufacturers revise them during a production run — the same brand and look can hide a different pump or valve. The model plate is your only reliable source. On most dishwashers it is on the edge of the inner door, at the top or along one side, visible with the door open. If you are not sure where to look, our model number guide shows each spot.
Ask before you install. Not sure it fits? Check your model number for free before you buy. Our fit check is optional; if it does not come back as a clear match, send us the full model number through Contact us before you order. Once a part has been installed we can only take it back if it arrived defective, we shipped the wrong item, or the listing was wrong on our end, and it has to come back in the condition it went out in. Checking first is faster than returning.
