Why Won’t The Detergent In A Dishwasher Dissolve?

Has this happened to your dishwasher lately? You load the dishwasher with plates, glasses, cutlery, pots, and pans, put detergent in your dishwasher, close the door, and push start. But when the cycle is finished you find that the dishes in the machine are still dirty.

After inspecting the dishwasher you discover that the detergent only dissolved partially or not at all. This means that only hot water ran over your dishes, which means they were not cleaned properly.

This is situation is frustrating since a dishwasher is supposed to be a convenient appliance that saves you time. If your dishwasher is not performing properly, it can lead to wasting a lot of your time. This is when it is a good idea to contact a professional company that deals with dishwasher repairs.

However, at the same time, it is not that hard to understand why the detergent in your dishwasher is not dissolving. It is also fairly simple to work out what goes on inside a dishwasher. Regardless of the brand that you own, including LG dishwasher machines, this guide can help when it comes to identifying the problem. In this post, we will cover a few things that may affect the process that results in detergent not dissolving properly.

A Dirty Dishwasher

The arms and filter of a dishwasher should be clean when running cycles. If these components are clogged up with grime and dirt, the pressure of the water can reduce. When this occurs, the dishwasher detergent is not completely submerged in water, which is why it won’t dissolve properly. This could also result in drainage issues with the dishwasher.

This can also mean that the dishes in the machine are not exposed to enough water. Make sure you check on the arms and filters of the machine, and when necessary give them a good clean.

The Detergent Compartment

To ensure your dishes are cleaned properly, the compartment that holds the detergent should be opening at the correct time. You can actually hear when this part opens since you should hear a soft click and the faint sound of the detergent falling from the compartment.

If the compartment is not opening it could be blocked by the dishes in the machine. The spring open-action could also be faulty, which may be caused by the tablet size. Try using a smaller-sized tablet to assess whether this is the problem. If the issue persists, we suggest contacting a company that deals with dishwasher repairs.

The Water Is Not Hot Enough

Hot water is always better to clean things properly. When the detergent combines with hot water this is what gets your dishes looking clean and hygienic.

If there is no steam after the dishwasher has completed a cycle when you open the door, it means the water is not getting hot enough. If this is the case, you will need to contact an appliance repair expert.

Powder Vs. Tablet

Detergents for dishwashers are available in tablet or powder form. Tablets usually take a bit longer to properly dissolve when compared to powder.

We suggest choosing a detergent that matches up to the cycle time of your dishwasher.

Tablet detergents work better with longer cycle times. If you prefer to run your machine on a short cycle rather choose a powder. (If you are not sure what type of detergent to choose, refer to our article about selecting the correct detergent for your dishwasher).

The issues mentioned above are the main reasons why dishwasher detergent won’t dissolve properly when running a cycle. If you have run into an issue that you cannot fix, contact Express Repair today. Whether you are experiencing problems with the dishwasher display or an issue with the detergent, our team of experts is here to help. We offer same-day repair services so that you can continue to enjoy the convenience of having a working dishwasher. Refer to the areas that we service to find out if we provide services close to your home.