What Makes My Dishwasher Yellow Inside?

Likely Problem

• If a yellow film buildup has discolored the inside of your dishwasher or if a yellow film is left on your dishes after completing the wash cycle, the most likely cause is iron or maganese in your water supply. In addition to the discoloration, the excess iron can cause rusting in your dishwasher.

Quick Fixes

• A couple of solutions are available to remedy the yellowing in your dishwasher. A liquid cleaner can be used to remove the iron deposits. You may also be able to install a rust filter to fix the problem.

Removing Rust

• If the iron has caused rusting in your dishwasher, you need to use a rust remover. Unplug your washing machine and put on gloves before handling the rust remover. Soak a scrub brush into the rust remover solution and scrub small circles on the rusted area. Rust could also be coming from a nick on the dishwasher or rack that is exposing the metal in the washing process. Apply a plastic coating material to cover the exposed metal area on your dishwasher or rack.

Prevention

• To prevent yellowing in your dishwasher, make sure you are taking all of the necessary precations. Heat your water to 140 degrees and add more detergent. You may also try using a rinse aid. If the yellowing continues, consider installing a water softener; some come equipped with an iron removal unit to help the problem. This will affect your entire water supply -- not just the water used in the dishwasher.

Other Problems

• If you have ruled out iron as the culprit, a couple of other problems may be the cause. You may not be using enough detergent or a food film is being left during the wash and rinse cycles. Rinse off food before you load, load the dishwasher properly to ensure that the water can reach all of the items and increase the amount of detergent.