How do I remove white residue that's on the dishes/in the dishwater?

  12 answers
  • Rob lunt Rob lunt on Dec 02, 2019

    have you checked your salt and rinse aid.? that is normally the problem in our house, however just done a google search which doesn't even mention this....see the following link https://removeandreplace.com/2016/05/09/10-reasons-your-dishwasher-leaves-white-film-on-glasses-and-dishes/

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 02, 2019

    vinegar in a cup in the bottom rack run the longest setting you have for the dishwasher

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 02, 2019

    It sounds like residue from the dishwasher detergent, I agree, run it on the maximum time setting empty with white vinegar.

    Another option is to consult with the manufacturers of specific detergent(s) and ask if anyone has reported this problem.

    I would also ask if the detergent is completely dissolving, or is there some remaining in the dispenser.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 02, 2019

    I add 1 drop of blue Dawn to my dishwasher detergent and it has stopped the issue. To remove old build up, white cleaning vinegar will do the trick.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Dec 02, 2019

    I also agree that it could be mineral deposit. But, if this has happened over a period of time, it could also be that the dishwasher detergent (which is caustic) has etched the glass or the coating on the dishes. Once that happens, there is really nothing that you can do - except try a different brand of detergent.

  • Eileen Eileen on Dec 02, 2019

    I always fill my rinse compartment with white vinegar instead of the store bought rinse product. It worked for me and I have hard water.

  • Irene Irene on Dec 02, 2019

    Try using Powerizer to wash your dishes. You'll never use anything else. It's about $25.00 but the package lasts a really long time and no rinse agent is needed. Even your plastics come out really clean and the washer itself is cleaned every time you run it. You can find it on Amazon or on their site. Beats vinegar all to hell.

  • Be sure to clean the filter in your dishwasher often (it might be on the bottom but check with the manufacturer) and occasionally run an empty load with a measuring cup filled up with vinegar. I also put vinegar in the drying aid compartment.

  • Denise Ferree Denise Ferree on Dec 06, 2019
    Make sure your water is hot, mine used to do that. I found that I need to run the sink water a few minutes just before I start dishwasher to get water heated properly. Now no detergent left on dishes.

  • Em Em on Mar 22, 2021

    Use rinse off. My local water does the same thing. My last house had a water softener and I never had to deal with this. This area it terrible. The Rinse Aid or Rinse off really helps. You add it to the dispenser on the side where you add the soap unless you have a really old dishwasher. It really works. Directions on bottle.

  • Pat Pat on Mar 22, 2021

    A word of caution....I used vinegar in the rinse aid compartment and in time the dishwasher started to leak. (about a year) I found out the vinegar had eaten the hoses and connections. Meant a new dishwasher......learned a lesson the hard way. Now I use vinegar just once a month to clean the dishwasher by putting two cups of vinegar in a dish on the top rack and running an empty load with hot water setting per the manual instructions. I use the dishwasher pods with the rinse aid in them and so far so good.

  • Try using a rinse agent, like Jet Dry.