A dishwasher makes our lives easier, doing most of the hard work for us so we don’t need to devote hours of our week to scrubbing each and every dish that gets used in the kitchen.  But, that doesn’t mean that they’re 100% foolproof, either.  Maybe you’ve noticed that when you run a load of dishes, they’re not coming out sparkling clean.  Perhaps they still have some soapy residue, or they just might simply be dirty as they were when you loaded them in. 

In fact, there are some primary reasons why this can happen, and they all come with very simple solutions.

Reason #1: You’re Using the Wrong Type of Detergent

There are some pretty subpar detergents out there that just don’t have the right formulations to cut through grease and dissolve residue that forms on dishes.  So, if you’re using a cheaper detergent, you can expect to pretty much get what you paid for.  Besides that, an influx of companies are making concentrated detergents that may require special settings to dilute them so that they don’t leave behind a soapy residue.  Explore Grab Green’s Kitchen Solutions in order to find the perfect formula for your dishwashing needs.

Reason #2: You’re Not Maintaining Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers need to be maintained in order to clean your dishes properly.  One thing that happens is that minerals start to accumulate inside the dishwasher, and this can leave your dishes cloudy rather than crystal clear.  And, food residue does build up in there, which is pretty gross since it can start to rot, and even give your dishes a mildewy smell.  Wipe down any obviously dirty parts of the inside of your dishwasher as you see them, and run a cleaning cycle regularly, by filling a bowl with a solution of water, vinegar, and baking soda, placing it upright on the top rack, and running a regular cycle.

Reason #3: You’re Loading Dishes Incorrectly

A lot of people underestimate just how important it is to load your dishes properly.  For example, if you load bowls or cups mouth side up, they’re not going to get cleaned except for the outside, and you’ll have bowls and cups filled with murky water when you go to unload.  Also, stacking plates, Tupperware, and other items in a way that water can’t efficiently get between them means that they’re not going to get cleaned properly.  Space each item properly, and make sure there’s plenty of room for the entirety of each dish to get cleaned.

Reason #4: You’re Overloading The Dish Washer

Yes, you may also be overloading your dishwasher.  If your dishwasher is too crowded, there’s just no way that your water and detergent can flow throughout your dishes, and your dishes can very well come out just as dirty as they were when you loaded them.  Similarly, you may not be using the “heavy” setting when you have a full load of dishes, which means that there’s not enough water getting used to accommodate all of that load.

Reason #5: You’re Not Rinsing Your Dishes First

Just because a dishwasher can clean your dishes for you doesn’t mean that you don’t need to help it out a little bit.  Before loading your dishes, give them a good rinse, and if necessary, scrub away tough residue beforehand. 

Reason #6: You’re Not Using a Rinse Aid

Making sure that you’re using an eco-friendly rinse aid in your dishwasher as required is crucial.  Most dishwashers come with a reservoir for it, and also give you some type of error message when it’s running low.  A rinse aid is the best way to keep your dishes looking clear rather than cloudy after each load.

Get Cleaner Dishes with Some Simple Steps

If you want to have cleaner dishes (and who doesn’t), consider all of the information above as it is very likely that your soapy or dirty dishes require just a quick and simple adjustment to how you’re using your dishwasher.