Dishwasher Water Spots Removal

Removal

• For stubborn spots, soak the dishes in a vinegar-and-water solution, using distilled white vinegar. Adjust the vinegar-to-water ratio depending on the severity of the spots. You might only need to add a cup of vinegar to a kitchen sink filled with water or use half water and half vinegar, or soak the dishes in straight vinegar. Soak for 30 minutes or longer if necessary. The spots you remove are from hard-water minerals, dishwasher soap or a combination of the two.

Hard Water

• Hard water leaves mineral deposits, such as calcium, on surfaces. These mineral deposits spot and cloud dishes and glassware. It happens when the water rinses the dishes, depositing minerals as it evaporates. When washing dishes by hand in hard water, you are less apt to have water spots if you immediately towel-dry the dishes after rinsing, removing both the water and the minerals. If you allow the dishes to air-dry, the minerals stay behind.

Dishwasher

• Your dishwasher, not the hard water, may be the primary reason for the spots. If the water temperature to your dishwasher is too low, the appliance does a poor job of dissolving and removing the detergent, resulting in spots. Another possible cause is low water pressure. Old detergent or incorrectly using the detergent might be the culprit. Improperly loading the dishwasher and blocking the water flow can also contribute to spotting.

Prevention

• To prevent spots caused by hard water, soften the water by installing a water-softening system, or add a commercial softener to the rinse cycle that is made specifically for dishwashers. Instead of a commercial rinse product, you can add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle of the dishwasher. This helps to eliminate and prevent spots, while making your dishes and glassware sparkle. If your dishwasher isn’t working properly, make the necessary repairs, and you should start seeing fewer water spots and having cleaner dishes.