My Admiral Dishwasher Is Not Cleaning Dishes

Heat

• The water in your dishwasher needs to be a minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to properly clean the dishes. Most of the energy your dishwasher uses is to heat the water. Turn your water heater up to eliminate the need for your dishwasher to heat it, and run the hot water from your faucet for a minute before you begin the cycle.

Minerals

• Most water contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium that create a film on dishes, specifically glassware. Consumer Reports completed an investigation and noted that dishes washed in hard water 20 times, simulating a month's worth of dishwashing, developed a white film due to constant exposure to minerals and the inability of dishwashing detergents to combat them.

Prewashing Dishes

• Don't prewash your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. Scrape the food off into the garbage disposal or a garbage can, then place the dishes in the dishwasher. Mike Edwards from BSH Home Appliances reports that dishwashers need food on the dishes to work effectively, and if they don't have food on them, the detergent will create a white film on your dishes. Don't overfill the detergent dispenser either, and use a powdered detergent instead of liquid or gel.

Vinegar

• Vinegar is effective at removing buildup on your dishes and preventing buildup from forming inside your Admiral dishwasher or in the pipes. Run a cycle once a month -- and more often if you do dishes frequently -- with vinegar in the detergent dispenser. You can also place a bowl filled with vinegar in the bottom rack of the dishwasher when you run the cycle as an alternative to using the dispenser.