Question 1

Can I install a dishwasher by myself?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your level of comfort with plumbing and electricity. Hooking up a dishwasher requires connecting a water supply, drain line, and power. Replacements are generally easier than new installations, and your local housing regulations may also require work by professionals.

Question 2

Why do new dishwashers smell like that?

Accepted Answer

Dishwashers are made with special plastics, and those materials can off-gas a mild chemical smell after manufacturing. There are also trace amounts of lubricants, adhesives, and protective coatings that can linger, especially in enclosed spaces. The rubber seal around the door can also have a faint odor when new, and because the dishwasher is sealed and has a humid environment, the smell can linger. Dishwashers can also arrive with residual moisture in the tub, hoses, or sump area from factory testing, which can become dusty or stagnant during storage and transportation.

Question 3

How long will “new dishwasher” smell last?

Accepted Answer

Generally, 2 to 4 cycles, with the smell fully gone in the amount of time it takes you to run the machine that many times. The duration can vary based on how long the unit was wrapped up in packaging and storage before delivery.

Question 4

Is “new dishwasher” smell harmful to highly sensitive or high-risk individuals?

Accepted Answer

Some people report a mild headache, throat irritation or stuffy feeling. If you have concerns, ventilate the area and contact Kenmore or your professional installer.

Question 5

When is the smell in a new dishwasher worth checking out?

Accepted Answer

When it's more of a burning or electrical smell, especially if it intensifies instead of fades. A persistent musty or moldy smell beyond the first few cycles should also be checked out as this may be an indication that something is amiss with the drain hose and filter. If smells persist even when the dishwasher isn't running and linger after a number of cycles, that warrants a service call.

Question 6

What should I do when my dishwasher is first hooked up and ready to operate?

Accepted Answer

Run an empty cycle with a dishwasher-safe cleaner, or even just plain water. This will clear initial residue and any stagnant test water and prevent odor transfer to your actual dishes.

Question 7

What kind of detergent should I use (pods, powder, gel, liquid) in a new dishwasher, and does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Check your manual. Detergent is mostly a matter of personal preference, but pods and gel packs have the advantage of consistent dosage. Powder can be cheaper, but it tends to underperform in hard water or cold cycles. Liquid dishwasher detergent has been dropping in popularity, this may make it more economical for you. Pods are the most commonly recommended product from most manufacturers.

Question 8

What does rinse aid do for dishwashers, and should I use it?

Accepted Answer

Rinse aid reduces water spots and streaking by helping water sheet off dishes, rather than forming droplets that dry into spots. It also improves drying performance, especially for plastics. If you are encountering a lot of water spots and routinely washing plastics, it might be worth your attention.

Question 9

How do I know if the water in my dishwasher is "hard"?

Accepted Answer

To determine whether your water is hard, you should get a home-hardness test kit. Kits range from basic test strips to titration-based kits, to full lab water analysis. Depending on the option you chose, cost may range from $4.00 to over $350.00. Your water utility company may also publish an annual water quality report with data about the hardness of your water.

By some estimates, roughly 85% of American households have water that qualifies as "hard", with local geography (especially a high amount of limestone or groundwater heavy regions) being the main driver. The softest water is generally in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, while the hardest water is in the Southwest, Texas and Midwest.

Question 10

Does hard water impact the performance of a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hard water is the primary cause of white spotting or cloudy film on dishes. They are calcium and magnesium deposits that don't rinse away cleanly.

Question 11

Is it better to solve hard water for my whole house, rather than relying on point-of-use additives?

Accepted Answer

A whole-house softener is the most thorough fix, but it's a major installation expense. This is generally a decision that people make for their own comfort (hard water in showers causing skin issues), rather than preventive appliance care or future investment.

Question 12

Should I rinse my dishes before loading them in the dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

No, for several reasons – and that can be a major adjustment for people transitioning to a newer dishwasher. Modern dishwasher detergents are designed to break down food residue as part of the cleaning process, so if there is no food residue to "grab" the detergent can be less effective and bond to dishes instead of food. A lack of food residue can confuse modern dishwasher sensors, which measure how dirty the wash water is, and use that information to determine the duration and heat of the wash. You are also wasting water, and driving up your utility bills, for no real benefit.

Question 13

What should I do with dishes before loading them in the dishwasher, if I'm not rinsing them?

Accepted Answer

You should still scrape off solid food, like bones, large scraps, eggshells, and so on into the trash or, depending on your situation, composter. Solid debris can clog the filter and spray arm nozzles. You can do a light rinse if you know that the dishes will sit for a long time before running to prevent drying and hardening of residue, and to reduce odor buildup. But if you are washing dishes the same day that you are eating off them, going straight from the table to the dishwasher is recommended, and will save you time and money.

Question 14

Why does it take so long for newer dishwashers to complete a cycle?

Accepted Answer

This is actually a benefit to you. Energy and water-saving standards use less water and heat, so they run longer to compensate. Your dishes are still getting the same or better level of cleanliness, but with lower utility bills. If you need the cycle to finish faster, use a quick or express cycle.

Question 15

What is the difference between the cycle options on a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

Normal settings are designed for average daily soil levels, like plates, cups, and utensils. Heavy settings have higher water temperature and longer wash times and are meant for baked-on or greasy residue, like cookware with stuck-on food. The heavy setting uses more water and energy, so choose it only when you need to, since it costs you more.

Economy or energy saving options use lower water temperatures but extend the time of the cycle. This lets detergents work longer at a lower temperature. The cleaning results are comparable, but with lower utility costs. It's a great option if you aren't in a hurry, but it can do worse on heavily soiled items, since higher temperature water is necessary to break down grease.

An express or quick wash uses high temperatures for a shorter time, and uses less water overall, with fewer wash/rinse cycles. It's fine for lightly soiled items, but not ideal for genuinely dirty dishes, since there is less contact time for the detergent to work. Express washes also often skip a heated drying phase, so you are also getting wetter dishes at the end of the cycle.

Question 16

What can I put in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

Most modern kitchenware is built to withstand standard dishwasher cycles, and anything that is specifically labeled as dishwasher-safe by the manufacturer is generally fine.

Question 17

What should I avoid putting in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

If the piece that you want to put in the dishwasher is not labeled, or you want to exercise extra caution, the following items are generally best washed by hand.

> Wood items. Cutting boards, salad bowls and wooden handled utensils will absorb water, expand, and inevitably warp, crack or split.

> Cast iron. Dishwashers can strip away the seasoning layer, which can leave your skillet unprotected and prone to rust.

> Sharp kitchen knives: Dulling can occur if the knives rub against other items, and extreme heat can melt the adhesive that holds hollow handles together. Many knives also have wooden grips, which means that you may be creating an opportunity for cracks to develop.

> Non-stick cookware: Harsh abrasive detergents and intense heat can degrade and wear away the non-stick coating over time.

> Copper and aluminum. These items can severely discolor and tarnish due to chemical reactions with detergents.

> Insulated travel mugs. Heat and pressure can break the seal between the inner and outer layers.

> Crystal, fine china, and hand-painted glass. Delicate materials like this can chip or crack, and crystal can become permanently cloudy.

> Items with paper labels. Wet paper and adhesive labels are likely to slide off during the wash and can clog your dishwasher's filter.

Question 18

Is plastic safe to wash in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the plastic, and to a lesser extent, the setting.

Heavy plastic food storage containers and heavy-duty plastic cutting boards are usually fine, assuming they are not heavily scratched or damaged. You should try to keep them on the top rack to avoid warping. You can also wash plastic building blocks and bath toys, so long as they don't have batteries or electronic parts, silicone or plastic bathroom items, and refrigerator shelves, provided your refrigerator’s owner manual says they are dishwasher safe. Again, heavily scratched or damaged items may not be safe to use in the dishwasher.

Thin plastic items, like takeout containers and thin-gauge plastics, are not safe because the intense heat in the dishwasher will melt and warp the plastic. This could cause harmful chemicals to leach into your appliance, coating other dishes, and contaminating the inside of the dishwasher. In a worst-case scenario, the plastic in a thin item will completely melt, droop through the rack, and fuse to the dishwasher's heating element. They will also shed microplastic particles into the wastewater, which will either stick to your other plates or wash down the drain into the environment.

In addition, very lightweight plastic can easily get flipped upright by the water jets inside your dishwasher. When this happens, they can fill up with dirty and soapy dishwater that does not drain, leaving a tub full of grime at the end of the cycle.

Question 19

What is the correct way to load a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

Most water sprays from the center, so face dirty surfaces toward the center and angle items down.

The top rack is for more delicate items, as it gets less intense heat than the bottom rack. Usually, this means cups, mugs, and glasses. Tilt them so that the water does not pool. Dishwasher-safe plastic storage containers and lids must go on the top rack to prevent melting and warping. Finish the rack off with small bowls and saucers.

The bottom rack is for your heaviest food soils and most sturdy kitchenware. Usually, these are plates, platters, and large cookware. Make sure that items don't lean against each other, which blocks water and prevents the dishwasher from doing its best work. You should also put mixing bowls, pots, and pans lower in the machine.

For the silverware basket, mix it up and avoid nesting and overcrowding. Always place knives handle-up for safety in unloading.

Question 20

What is the correct way to unload a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

From the bottom up -- and yes, it actually does matter. If you unload the top rack first, any water that has pooled will spill on the dishes below.

Question 21

Why does the dishwasher pause between phases?

Accepted Answer

In modern dishwashers, the pauses are a feature, not a malfunction. The pauses between phases improve energy efficiency, enhance the cleaning performance, and protect the appliance. Here's how.

Some modern dishwashers rely on an optical soil sensor that is located near the pump basin. When the machine pauses, the water inside settles, and has to be completely still for the optical sensor to accurately read how cloudy or dirty the water is. Based on the reading, the computer in your dishwasher will decide to reuse the water and save energy or drain it and pull in fresh water.
Dishwashers need very hot water to fully dissolve detergent pods and melt away grease. If the water entering from your home’s hot water line isn’t hot enough, the dishwasher will pause the spray arms and enter a “thermal hold”, where the dishwasher pauses the spray arms and waits until the electric heating element at the bottom heats the water to the proper operating temperature.
After the dispenser door clicks open and drops the detergent, the machine may spray for a few minutes to distribute soapy water and then pause. This allows the detergent to actively sit on the dishes and break down baked-on proteins without wasting electricity.
Some dishwashers use a single motor to handle two different jobs: circulating water and draining dirty water out of the machine. To switch between spraying and draining, the motor must come to a complete stop, pause to let the water pool back into the bottom basin, and then begin pumping the water out.

Question 22

Why aren't my dishes fully dry at the end of the cycle in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

It's a trade-off that saves you money. Older dishwashers would spend a lot of energy blasting dishes with blast-furnace heat levels, while modern dishwashers save energy by relying on physics and chemical helpers. But there are other factors beyond the machine.

Plastic does not retain heat like ceramic, glass or metal. Because of this, water on the surface does not evaporate the same way. Water on ceramic, glass, and metal is on a hot surface and will quickly evaporate. Plastic items will always retain more water.
You aren’t using rinse aid. Rinse aid breaks down the surface tension of water, which makes it slide off plates via gravity more easily.
You are relying on condensation or energy-efficient drying. Dishwashers that rely on the final hot rinse to heat up dishes are reliant on the water getting hot enough, and the door not opening immediately after the cycle ends. If either condition is not met, the tub can’t draw moisture away from dishes, and onto the comparatively cooler dishwasher walls.
You might be unloading it wrong. If you empty the top rack first, any pooled water (say, in the bottom of mugs or plastic food storage containers) can spill on dishes underneath.

If this is a significant issue, fill up the rinse aid dispenser, select "Extended Dry" or "Sani-Wash" options to bump up the temperature inside the machine, and crack the door after the cycle ends to allow humid air to escape. Many people will also hang a clean and dry terry cloth dish towel over the top rack door after the cycle ends, as it will absorb trapped steam.

Question 23

Should I leave the dishwasher door open a little after the cycle completes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with one caveat: Cracking the door open creates a path for hot, humid steam to escape into your kitchen rather than trapping it inside the tub.

It's best to let the machine sit idle for 10 to 15 minutes after the chime rings, so the final moisture can finish pulling toward the cooler stainless-steel walls.

Question 24

How often do I need to clean the filter on a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

As a rule, once a month – but the exact frequency depends on how often you run your machine, and how you load your dishes. Keep in mind that if you have hard water you should clean it more often.

Every 2 weeks: If you don't scrape or rinse your plates and run the machine 8 to 12 times a week.

Every month: If you run 4 to 7 loads per week and scrape food off plates before loading.

Every 2 to 3 months: If you use 1 to 3 times a week and fully rinse and scrape dishes before putting them in the racks.

Once a year: If you completely scrape and pre-wash all your dishes with soap and water before loading them (which isn't recommended, as it limits the utility of your machine).

Question 25

How often should I use a dishwasher cleaner?

Accepted Answer

About as often as you should clean the filter, and maybe just do both jobs at once. A dishwasher cleaner can prevent grease, limescale and detergent buildup, and it's fairly simple to do. Just use a dedicated product as recommended.

Question 26

What causes white residue buildup in dishwashers?

Accepted Answer

Usually, it's a combination of factors.

Hard water minerals. Traces of calcium and magnesium get left behind when hard water evaporates, leaving a chalky film on dishes, glassware, and the interior walls and heating element.
Not enough rinse aid. Rinse aid breaks up the surface tension of water, so that it does not form droplets that dry into spots. If the dispenser is empty or set too low, you’ll see residue on glasses, and spotting.
A detergent issue. If you put in too much, use a powder in hard water, or use a product that is badly made or past its best use date, it can fail to fully dissolve. Pods are generally better, but they can get stuck in the dispenser or blocked from a water jet.
Poor water temperature. If your incoming water isn’t hot enough, the detergent may not dissolve fully. You may be able to help with this by running the kitchen tap until it’s hot before a cycle. This is also why many modern dishwashers pause during the cycle to add a thermal hold (heat up the water in the machine with the dishwasher’s heating element).
Clogged spray arms or filter. Blocked spray holes or a dirty filter can reduce water coverage, which means that detergent and minerals aren’t rinsed away properly.
Food and grease film. If soap scum combines with grease in a heavily soiled and/or overloaded machine, your dishes may not get fully cleaned.

Steps to solve the issue can include:

Run an empty hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack, or a dishwasher cleaner that contains citric acid. Check your owner’s manual before using vinegar, as it can harm seals.
Clean the filter.
Check the spray arm for clogs.
Fill the rinse aid dispenser.
Use the recommended amount of detergent, and/or try a different brand.
If recommended for your unit in the owner’s manual, the use of a dishwasher salt to alleviate hard water deposits.

Question 27

How do I clean or unclog the spray arms in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

It's a five-step process but take heart. This can usually be done in 10 to 15 minutes, it gets easier with repetition, and you may really notice the difference in performance afterward.

Step one: Remove the arms.

Empty the dishwasher.
Pull out the bottom rack.
The lower arm often lifts straight off or unscrews from its hub.
The upper arm typically unscrews or releases with a clip.

Step two: Clear the holes.

Hold the holes up to a light and look through for debris.
Poke each hole clear with a tool that will not enlarge the holes or break off in the hole. Metal, like a straightened paper clip, is generally a better choice, but remember, you are just clearing off debris. Do not choose a tool that is bigger than the spray holes.
Look for bits of food, seeds, fragments, and mineral deposits. End caps on the arm can also twist or pop off, which will allow you to flush out the inside.

Step three: Dissolve mineral buildup.

If holes are crusted with white scale, soak the arms in a bowl or sink. The contents should be an equal mix of white vinegar and hot water and should be left to soak for 30 to 60 minutes.
Scrub gently with an old toothbrush and rinse well under running water.
Shake each arm to determine if there is debris rattling inside. Keep rinsing until the water runs freely out of every hole.

Step four: Clean the surrounding parts.

Wipe the arm mounts and the area where they work.
Remove and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub. A dirty filter often is present when you have clogged spray arms.

Step five: Reinstall and test.

Snap or screw the arms back on securely, then spin each by hand. They should rotate freely without rubbing on dishes or racks.
Run a hot cycle with a cup of vinegar on the top rack, or a dishwasher cleaner, to flush any debris that has come loose. (Check your owner’s manual before using vinegar, as it can harm seals.)

Question 28

How often do I need to clean a dishwasher's spray arms?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you use your machine (scraping, pre-rinsing), how often (number of loads per week) and what kind of water your machine is using (the harder the water, the more often the spray arms need to be cleaned). For most people, this is an annual job, but if you have hard water, you may need to do this every few months.

Question 29

What does a dishwasher’s decibel (dB) rating mean, and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Decibels are a measurement of the intensity of a sound. If your dishwasher is very loud, it can be unpleasant to be near, distracting, or a sign of mechanical failure. The lower your dishwasher's dB rating, the quieter it runs, which is typically preferable. Around 40 to 45 is very quiet, 46 to 50 is average, and above 50 is noticeably loud.

Question 30

What's the difference between a hidden and exposed heating element in a dishwasher?

Accepted Answer

Hidden heating elements sit beneath the tub. This allows for more room in the dishwasher, and safer cleaning of plastics. Exposed heating elements are less expensive to make and can get very hot near plastic items on the bottom rack.

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