Dishwasher Not Cleaning Flatware

Water Temperature

• Unless the dishwasher provides water that is hot enough for effective cleaning, food and grease will remain on flatware surfaces. The water in the dishwasher should reach at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the MrsClean Housecleaning Central site. If your dishwasher water does not reach this temperature, call a repairman to determine if heater parts need replacement.

Improper Loading

• If you load the flatware improperly, the dishwasher will not have the ability to give it a thorough cleaning. Load forks and spoons with handles down and the tines and bowls pointing upward. Place the knives in a separate basket with the points down to avoid injury as well as contact with other materials in the dishwasher. Do not mix metals like aluminum and stainless steel flatware in the same load, which can cause interaction of the metals and lead to staining.

Dishwasher Detergent

• When you're suddenly having a problem cleaning flatware in your dishwasher, consider whether you have changed detergents. Not all dishwasher detergents clean the same way in all machines. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations on what type of detergent to use in your machine. If a particular detergent once worked well in your machine and now does not, check whether the detergent manufacturer has changed the formula. This information can usually be found online in customers' comments. You may find the time has come to switch to a new dishwasher detergent product to see if it can give better results. Do not pour detergents directly onto your flatware.

Rinsing Agents

• Using a good rinsing agent helps to break the surface tension of water to provide good rinsing capability that makes dishes and flatware come out cleaner. It also helps to remove hard water spots. A number of rinsing agents are on the market. Use the product recommended by your dishwasher manufacturer or experiment with other products on the market to find the best one for your type of water.

Hot Air Drying

• Hot air drying can increase the risk of discoloration and corrosion on flatware. Remove the flatware from the dishwasher before the last rinse cycle, and dry by hand to prevent this problem, according to the Oneida Flatware web site.