Imagine this. You have invested a ton of money into your dishwasher, but the appliance keeps leaving annoying residue on dishes that should look perfectly clean. Whether dealing with streaks or residue buildup, it’s stressful to notice your dishwasher isn’t cleaning your dishes effectively. You might be asking yourself, “Why is my dishwasher leaving residue on my dishes?” Read on to learn potential causes of this issue so you’ll know how to fix it.
Hard Water
Hard water is water that’s high in minerals like calcium and magnesium. One of the effects of hard water on your appliances is some form of residue on your dishes. Most household water supplies contain some degree of hard water, which is one of the reasons why you should consider getting a water softener. It’ll ensure your dishwasher can do its job and leave your dishes sparkling clean.
Detergent Residue
Since 2010, the government has banned phosphates from most dishwasher detergents. Phosphates helped remove residue from dishes in the dishwasher. When we removed phosphates, we removed that benefit. Therefore, the lack of phosphates in your dish detergent might be why your dishwasher is leaving residue on dishes.
You might wonder how to remove the white residue most modern detergents leave. Tablets often perform far better than powders, but since they’re more expensive, they’re not viable options for everyone. Because of this, you might want to try to rinse aid. Rinse aid reduces blemishes and spots and improves dishwasher performance overall.
Water Temperature
Your dishwasher detergent has to be warm enough to prevent residue buildup, so check the temperature. If the water isn’t hot enough, it won’t dissolve detergent appropriately and clean the residue off your dishes. You should ensure your dishwasher water is between 130–160 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily for you, most smart dishwashers come with a thermostat you can adjust. If not, you can always increase the water temperature by increasing it in your household’s heater.
Now that you know what’s causing the residue on your dishes, you can figure out ways to make your dishes residue-free! Whether by getting a water softener, using a rinse aid, or increasing the water temperature, getting rid of residue on dishes can be a simple fix.
