Dishwasher
The appliance whose commonest complaint — cloudy glasses — the manufacturer identifies as permanent damage rather than dirt.
Precautions
- Check the manufacturer's instructions
- Never mix with other cleaning products
- Do not apply to a hot surface
In detail
Most dishwasher problems are diagnosed backwards, and the manufacturer's troubleshooting section is more useful than its care section for that reason. Cloudiness on glassware is not a film to be removed: it is identified as ETCHING and stated to be permanent, caused by a combination of soft water and too much detergent, and prevented by using less detergent in soft water and the shortest cycle that gets glasses clean. No product fixes it, which is worth knowing before buying one. A white film on the interior is the opposite problem — hard water minerals — treated with dishwasher detergent on a damp sponge and no other cleanser, because others may foam. General film is addressed by an empty cycle with white vinegar added mid-way, or citric acid crystals if that fails. Black or grey marks on dishes are aluminium rubbed off utensils, not staining. The care instruction is short: never use a sharp object, scouring pads or harsh cleaners on any part of the machine. One safety line matters: wait at least twenty minutes after a cycle before cleaning the interior, because the heating element is still hot enough to burn.
Related
- Dishwasher is commonly affected by Limescale
Hacks and claims involving this
Sources for this page
Sources
Owner's Manual: Dishwashers GSD4500, GSD4800
GE Appliances · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That cloudiness on glassware is etching and is permanent, caused by soft water and too much detergent, that white film is hard water minerals treated with dishwasher detergent and no other cleanser, that sharp objects, scouring pads and harsh cleaners must never be used, and that the heating element needs twenty minutes to cool. (states this directly)
Verification: a person has read the passage relied on.
Read on — 'Caring for the dishwasher' and the film, cloudiness and marks entries in Troubleshooting Tips. Supports the claim as stated.
Last reviewed by a person on .