My Dishwasher is Giving Me Pain-*UPDATE*

**AmyBoz** · 01-09-2005, 08:58 PM

Okay...I use Electrasol powder (much smaller than the recommended amount, of course) and Jet-Dry rinse agent, and STILL all of my dishes have this icky white film on them when I take them out of the dishwasher. This is a brand new washer! However, I have to be honest...I had the same problem with the dishwasher in the old house, so I'm beginning to think the problem is me. I use my scrub brush to get the gunk off before putting dishes in the dishwasher, I don't use a ton of detergent, and I've even started using rinse aid. What do I do??? Please help me!

**matt&roxy** · 01-10-2005, 04:22 PM

I have no advice for ya. My dishes come out the exact same way. I also use Jet Dry. I decided I was washing them pretty much twice by hand and once in the dishwasher, and that wasn't very frugal, so I quit using my dishwasher altogether and now I just wash my dishes once by hand. I hope you can find a solution...........

**Sara Noel** · 01-10-2005, 04:33 PM

I read this:
http://repair2000.com/dish.html

**AmyMCGS** · 01-10-2005, 04:38 PM

I've read that water temperatures can cause that, but, changing the temperatures never worked in my old house.

I had trouble getting Electrasol to rinse off my dishes-- I figured it had something to do with our hard water. When I switched to the Cascade 2-in-1 action packs, I didn't have that problem.

I also use plain white vinegar instead of a rinse aid-- it's much, much cheaper and seems to work just as well.

**AmyBoz** · 01-10-2005, 04:43 PM

Doing the vinegar test right now!!! Thanks, Sara!

**simplemom** · 01-10-2005, 04:51 PM

Amy,_my sister told me that she doesn't use Electrosol, because she doesn't like it. I never asked why, but maybe it's the same reason as you...

I hope you can figure it out.

**QuilterMom** · 01-10-2005, 05:28 PM

My first two thoughts were the temp setting of your hot water heater and is your water hard or soft.

I, too, use plain white vinegar instead of rinse agent. I just posted a homemade dishwasher detergent recipe in the simply made forum yesterday. I just tried it yesterday and it worked great for me. You might want to try it if you continue having problems.

**AmyBoz** · 01-10-2005, 06:33 PM

Well, the vinegar test showed hard water, so my frugal strategy of less detergent is making my dishes dirty!

**AmyBoz** · 01-12-2005, 01:54 PM

Yeah, well, the test told me to use more detergent. I did. No change. AAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

**cozyquilter** · 01-12-2005, 02:03 PM

Thats a great link! I read near the bottom that dishwasher powder gets "old" in about 2 weeks! YIKES!

I can testify to this. I had been handwashing dishes for a couple of weeks, just because...then I went to use the dish washer...the dishes did not come out clean...

By chance, that was the end of the box, so it was also an old box....with a new box..the dishes came out clean!

You might want to try a new box of detergent and see if it helps!

**Michelle** · 01-12-2005, 03:20 PM

Have you tried liquid detergent, Amy? I can't use powder here because of our hard water. We experience the same thing you describe in your OP.

**Sara Noel** · 01-12-2005, 03:24 PM

I use liquid too, so can't really give any personal suggestions on the residue problem.

**dz_blonde_girl** · 02-15-2005, 03:33 PM

I just ran some vinegar through mine and it helped tremendously. I let it fill then scooped out about a quart of water, then I added a quart of vinegar and let it finish. I'm thinking about running my glasses through there with the vinegar!