How to Fix a Kenmore Dishwasher That Leaves Junk

Look at the knob or electronic control panel on the door of the dishwasher to make sure the cycle is complete, if you see leftover detergent in the dispenser. Restart or let the cycle finish so it can properly rinse out the detergent. Also, shake the dishwasher detergent box and listen for lumps that knock against the walls of the container. Replace older, lower-quality detergent with a new batch.

Manually turn the water-spraying arms at the top and the bottom of the dishwasher. Make sure the racks are not off track and blocking the full rotation of the arms. Check for fallen utensils that are also blocking the arm. The rotating arm must be able to spray the detergent out of the dispenser using water power, as well as dissolving and rinsing junk from the dishes.

Load dishes evenly in the rack so that they have nearly equal access to the spraying water. Make sure plates are standing vertically rather than lying flat, blocking water from reaching other dishes. All cups and bowls should be turned upside down. Choose a dishwasher cycle setting with higher temperatures if the load is large and mixed with stained pots and pans, in addition to regular dishes.

Test for the hardness of the water in your home, which can reduce the cleaning ability of the detergent. A simple test is to wash your hands at the kitchen sink with regular liquid dish detergent, not dishwashing powder. Rinse your hands; if your skin feels soapy, your water is soft. The dishwasher detergent helps dissolve and wash away the junk that is caked on dishes, but this becomes more difficult with hard water.

Use a liquid rinse aid, such as "Electrasol," "Finish" or "Jet-Dry" to reduce spotting on dishes. Hard water can leave minerals remaining behind on glasses and other dishes.

Avoid using the hot water in the kitchen sink or taking a shower or bath while using the dishwasher. Instead, make sure you devote most of your hot water to the dishwasher, for example, running the dishwasher overnight after everyone has showered and gone to bed. Alternatively, carefully increase the temperature of your home's water heater so that it can adequately heat water that runs to the dishwasher. The heat helps dissolve away debris from the dishes and the water needs to be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit upon first entering the dishwasher for maximum effectiveness.