Grrrr...Dishwasher

**AmyBoz** · 07-04-2008, 06:59 PM

So, I ran the full dishwasher this morning so that we would have dishes for when my parents came over for dinner tonight. When I opened the dishwasher to empty it, nothing was clean!!! Yes, I put soap in, yes, the dishwasher actually ran. Yet, not a single thing was clean in there.

Grrrr...

So, my Mom and I handwashed everything and I ran an empty load with baking soda to clean it out in case it was gunky. All I can think about is how much water I wasted today in running the dishwasher twice and cleaning all the dishes by hand.

I'm hopeful that running it with the baking soda will clear out any problems and that it isn't something deeper like actually being broken. A new dishwasher isn't in the budget these days and the thought of washing pots and pans and dishes for 5 after every meal (while working outside the home full time) makes my head hurt. I know plenty of people get along fine without dishwashers, but I'm not one of them. We didn't have one when we first got married and when we got one, it was like the sun had come out after weeks of rain.

Before we had our dishwasher, dishes were my nemesis. If this thing doesn't work, you can forget my laundry complaints...it'll be a whole new slew of complaints. So, you might want to get your headphones!!!

**Jamauk** · 07-04-2008, 07:12 PM

UH OH! That's no good! Let us know how it goes after the baking soda run!

Sending happy dishes thoughts your way!

**Darlene** · 07-04-2008, 07:37 PM

+ :ignore: =

for Amy

**Darlene** · 07-04-2008, 07:40 PM

Just want to add, sometimes taking the arms off ( the swinging,spinning things,lol)and running water thru them & clearing helps. It's amazing how small pieces of whatever can really do a number on positive cleaning. Go Amy!

**Greebo** · 07-04-2008, 08:21 PM

The inside of a dishwasher is amazingly easy to take apart, clean, and reassemble. Last year I had never done it before - now I've done it twice and replaced parts with new ones.

**Lilolme** · 07-04-2008, 08:49 PM

Oh no!!!

I hope your problem can be easily fixed!!!!

**emily_hope** · 07-04-2008, 08:53 PM

Oh, that would upset me, too. I enjoy having my dishwasher. I do hope running the baking soda thru will fix things for ya.

**fernykins** · 07-05-2008, 12:09 AM

I would be lost with out mine so I hope yours will work just fine
Fern

**Michelle** · 07-05-2008, 07:19 AM

I hope the baking soda did the trick for you. If not, have you checked your manual for troubleshooting?

I feel your pain--I went without a dishwasher for almost 2 yrs not too long ago.

I put my foot down when summer was right around the corner. I hated the thought of doing dishes by hand

when the kids were home all day.

:goodluck:

**MomToTwoBoys** · 07-05-2008, 10:48 AM

Yuck, stuff like that is never good.

I had a dishwasher once when I lived in my townhouse but I don't think I ever used it. It was me, my ex-DH and my DS #1 and both of us were out of the house all day long. I never grew up with a dishwasher and always did them by hand. Even now, I do dishes twice a day with the two kids and DH and I.

I hope yours gets fixed and boo to all that water!

**Starlight9803** · 07-05-2008, 01:31 PM

Our dishwasher did the same thing. Sometimes pouring white vinegar in the bottom of the washer and putting baking soda into the detergent cup can get rid of build up inside, it worked for ours. I finally just got tired of the upkeep of ours (it was always breaking down, getting gunky, etc) and now I just use mine to store baking sheets in

I hand wash everything, and actually enjoy it more (but I grew up handwashing them)

**Ceashels** · 07-05-2008, 08:11 PM

Our washer was also having problems getting things clean. Greebo took apart the "innards" to find the screen mesh broken so the food particles were not filtered out of the system. We ordered the new part and it has worked well since.

On another occasion we washed a jar that had a label on it. Needless to say, the glue melted, the label got chopped up in tiny pieces and got jamed in the rotary arm and blocked the water flow thru the holes. What a pita to clean.

If you feel comfortable trying to troubleshoot it on your own. I'm sure there are DIY instructions on the net.

Good Luck

**AmyBoz** · 07-05-2008, 08:13 PM

Okay, crisis averted. After the baking soda wash, I let it sit for the day and then just ran it with the days dishes. Everything is sparkling clean once again. Ahhhh...

Thanks for all the advice, everyone!