What to do if the Samsung dishwasher doesn't clean well?
When your dishes aren't clean after a dishwasher cycle, you'll need to make sure that you're doing everything right, using detergent and rinse aid as directed.
Did you know that pre-rinsing the dishes too much can actually lead to them getting etched with a white film? We'll help you make sure your dishwasher is being used to its fullest.
Note: If your dishwasher has an error code or blinking lights, check those issues first.
There is a test you can do to see if you have hard water or etching. Clean a glass inside and out using lemon juice or distilled white vinegar. Whether the white film comes off or not will determine whether you have hard water or etching. If you want more information about hard water, including how to test for it.
White film comes off with lemon juice
If the film comes off, it is being caused by hard water. Hard water is full of minerals like calcium and magnesium. If this film is on your dishes, it's also on the inside walls and other components of the dishwasher. This can be prevented by:
- Ideally, purchasing and installing a water softener.
- Using a good dishwasher detergent (like Finish Quantum or Cascade Platinum Plus). If your detergent isn't dispensing, see our guide for troubleshooting.
- Placing a cup of distilled white vinegar on the upper rack and then running a hot water cycle. Doing this about once a month will help keep the dishwasher clean.
- Using a rinse aid like Cascade or Jet Dry to reduce hard water film building up on the dishes.
- Using the Self Clean cycle to remove hard water mineral deposits from inside the dishwasher. This can be done with a dishwasher cleaner, vinegar, or a citric acid powder. Do not add detergent for the Self Clean cycle.
White film does not come off with lemon juice
If the film doesn't come off, this is the result of etching. Etching is cause by a combination of using too much detergent, too much hot water, or water softeners. While etching cannot be reversed, it can be prevented by:
- Not pre-rinsing your dishes.
- Reducing the amount of detergent being used.
- Keeping the water temperature between 120-149 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Not using soft water or water softeners, or limiting their use.
It's a good idea to scrape large food pieces, like tomato chunks, pasta noodles, etc. off your pots, pans, and dishes before loading them. However, rinsing off all the sauce, grease, and other bits can cause a white film to form.
- Heavy is best for tough to clean items like pots, pans, and casserole dishes.
- Normal is for everyday use.
- Auto makes sure dishes are cleaned with minimal water and energy usage.
Samsung dishwashers are designed for use with rinse aids like Cascade or Jet Dry to reduce hard water film build up on the dishes. Like detergent, you can run a cycle without it, but you're not going to get the best performance.
There's a right way and many wrong ways to load your dishwasher. Loading it the right way will greatly increase the cleaning performance.
Using too much or too little detergent can actually lead to issues with your dishwasher and leave an ugly white film behind.
If you find that you're using the manufacturer's recommended amount of detergent, but aren't seeing the results you'd like, try a competing brand.
Adjust your water heater to deliver water between 120-149 degrees Fahrenheit.
Clean the interior of your dishwasher periodically to remove any soil, food particles, and hard water buildup. Ideally this should be every 24th cycle, but once a month is typically fine.
If you tried all the above steps and still the dishwasher isn't cleaning the dishes, please contact our call center and our helpful agents will assist you to book a service appointment.
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