Dishwashers

Wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher so as not to waste water and energy. When loading the dishwasher, make sure no dishes obstruct the rotating spray arms. There's an arm that spins under the bottom rack, another above the top rack and often a third that telescopes up through the bottom rack to spin just under the top rack.

Load more fragile items in the top rack. The highest-pressure jets are directed at the lower rack to help clean pots and utensils.

If you have a garbage disposal, make sure you run it before running the dishwasher. A clogged drain can cause a flood when the dishwasher drains. If your dishwasher has a strainer or scrap bin in the bottom, clear it before running each load. If your dishwasher has a water heating option, use it.

The dry cycle uses a lot of energy. During the winter months, when the air in the house is generally dry, you don't need to use this option. Instead, when the dishwasher stops, open it and pull out both racks. Everything will be dry in about an hour.

Dishwasher Problems

If your dishwasher cleans poorly, it could be caused by one of many things:

Water-inlet valve
Most cleaning problems are caused by the dishwasher not getting enough wash water, so the water-inlet valve is often to blame. This valve is usually at the bottom left or right of the dishwasher behind the lower access panel. It's the device with the main water line from the house, a rubber tube to the dishwasher, and two wires attached to it. If the water-inlet valve is defective, it needs to be replaced.

Internal filters
Most modern dishwashers have self-cleaning filters that don't need any routine cleaning, but some have filters in the bottom of the dishwasher that you need to clean periodically. You don't need any tools to remove the filter, and cleaning it is easy. Consult your owner's manual to determine which type you have and its maintenance requirements. If your filter is clogged, it may be causing an insufficient cleaning problem.

Drain valve
Some dishwashers have a valve (or gate) that should open only during draining. If debris gets lodged in the valve, it can't close properly, so water drains out during the wash cycle. Most dishwashers drain into the garbage disposal. If yours does that, listen for water flowing into the disposal during the wash cycle. If you can hear it, the drain valve may be clogged.

Spray arms
There's a spray arm at the bottom of your dishwasher, which may have a tall spray tube mounted to the center of it. There may also be a spray arm located directly beneath the upper rack of dishes and/or above the upper rack.

If debris is blocking the holes in the spray arms where the water comes out, it could cause unsatisfactory results. Regularly inspect each of the spray arms and clean out the holes with hot vinegar and a safety pin.

Water temperature
To get the best cleaning results, the water entering your dishwasher needs to be hot. Try running the hot water in your kitchen sink for about 30 seconds to heat it before starting the dishwasher. Also, if possible, select a higher wash or rinse temperature to see if it helps.

To check the temperature of the hot water that comes from your kitchen faucet use a waterproof thermometer. If the water isn't 120 degrees Fahrenheit, your dishwasher may have trouble getting your dishes clean. You could increase the temperature of the hot water to the whole house by adjusting the hot water heater thermostat.

However, to reduce the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.