Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes

Food left on plates, cloudy glassware, or a wash that looks like it never happened

Food stuck on plates or cloudy, greasy glasses after a full cycle is one of the most common dishwasher complaints we get, after “won’t drain.” It’s usually a clogged filter, blocked spray arms, water that isn’t hot enough, hard-water film or detergent that never dissolves. Some of that you can check yourself. The rest needs a technician, and it’s worth a look before you replace a mid-life machine.

We fix dishwashers that don’t clean, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We work out of 140 San Pedro Rd, Daly City, CA 94014, and come to you; there’s no walk-in counter. Call or text (415) 585-5900 or email service@bayappliancerepair.com. California BEAR #46247.

Common causes (high level)

Bad cleaning usually isn’t the control board. Often the filter and chopper are packed with food, the spray-arm holes are blocked, the water isn’t getting hot, or the detergent and rinse-aid cups aren’t opening. Hard water on the Peninsula and in the East Bay leaves a film that looks like etching. If water is also left in the bottom, start with the drain. See our drain guide.

• Clogged filter, chopper, or sump screen under the lower rack
• Spray arms that do not spin or have food lodged in the jets
• Heating element or thermistor faults that leave water too cool to dissolve detergent
• Detergent cup that stays shut or rinse-aid path that never doses
• Overloading, blocking the tower, or using non-HE detergent that oversuds
• Soil sensor or wash-motor issues on newer consoles after a power blip

Know your brand? See our Bosch, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, GE, Samsung and LG pages.

Water sitting in the bottom too? Here's what to check when a dishwasher won't drain.

Safe checks you can do before calling

These are basic checks and cleaning only. Don’t open live electrical panels or sealed pumps:

• Remove and rinse the filter per your manual; clear visible debris from the sump without forcing plastic tabs.
• Spin the lower and upper spray arms by hand; poke soft food from jet holes with a soft brush, not a metal skewer that cracks the arm.
• Confirm detergent is fresh and rated for dishwashers; try a different cup slot if one stays glued shut with residue.
• Run a hot sink tap before starting so the first fill is not ice-cold; note whether glasses come out hot at the end.
• Avoid packing plates so tight that arms cannot turn; face soil toward spray paths.

Do not pour drain chemicals through the dishwasher sump, bypass the door switch, or dismantle the wash motor while powered. If you smell burning insulation, see scorched wiring under the kickplate, or the breaker trips every cycle, stop and call a pro.

When to call for dishwasher repair

Call when dishes stay dirty after a cleaned filter and free spray arms, the tub water never feels warm, the detergent cup stays shut, grinding noises come from the sump, or error codes return. If water sits in the bottom after the cycle, read dishwasher not draining as well. Cleaning and draining often share the same visit. Same-day service is often available. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. If the dishes come out clean but wet, see dishwasher not drying.

For neighborhood scheduling in the city, start with San Francisco dishwasher repair.

How much does a dishwasher repair usually cost?

What to expect on a visit

We check the wash action, heat, drain and spray, look at the filter and arms, and go over the options before ordering parts. A filter and chopper cleaning, a spray-arm or wash part, a heater, or a latch or detergent-cup fix usually does it when the tub is sound. You get the exact price before any work starts, with no hidden fees. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Related repair pages: Blomberg appliance repair

Book help for a dishwasher that is not cleaning

Tell us whether food is left on plates, glasses come out cloudy, the water seems cold, or a code shows up. Add the brand and model if you have them and how we get under the sink. Call or text (415) 585-5900, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or use contact. Our FAQ, services and about Bay Appliance Repair pages have more. Messages left after hours get a reply the next business day.

Ready to get it fixed? Book a visit or call (415) 585-5900.