There is nothing more frustrating than having a few minutes free to empty your dishwasher only to find that everything is still soaking wet. Modern dishwashers often have sophisticated drying programs, so when your dishes don’t come out of the machine ready to put away, it can be very annoying. So, here we will explore the reasons why your dishwasher is failing to dry dishes properly.
According to appliance experts, drying is harder compared to cleaning, as most glasses and dishes have areas that will trap water and this water won’t evaporate. Additionally, dishwashers contain a great deal of humid air and as it cools the water droplets will form inside the dishwasher and on your dishes.
Dishwashers have several methods of drying dishes. Your model may use an electric coil to heat the air, a fan to blow hot air around the interior of the dishwasher or it could increase the water temperature at the end of the cycle. Some dishwashers even use a combination of these methods for a more effective drying process. While many modern dishwashers offer ready to put away drying, there are several reasons why your appliance is not providing this level of performance.
Dishwashers are designed to use rinse aid as a tool to sheet water off your dishes. This not only avoids streaks, but can help the drying process. If you’re not using rinse aid, you’re impairing the drying performance of your appliance. You may have been supplied with a sample of rinse aid when you purchased your appliance, but have neglected to keep the levels topped up. Be sure to keep the reservoir full and check it every few weeks to enhance the drying potential of your appliance.
If you have a new dishwasher with a plastic tub, you’ll need to be patient before you can enjoy its full drying potential. The plastic tub will need to “season,” so its capacity to dry properly will improve over time. You should be aware that pre-washing dishes can impede the seasoning process, so try to avoid using the prewash setting until you are benefitting from the drying settings properly operating.
If your dishwasher is not delivering a great drying performance, it could be due to what is in the load. Plastic items don’t retain the heat as well as ceramics or pot, so plastics are usually the wettest items. Since plastic doesn’t efficiently retain heat, water doesn’t condensate properly, so they are left damp even after the end of the drying cycle. Some dishwasher models have a specific drying program for plastics, but if your appliance doesn’t, you should try to limit the plastic items in each load. Putting plastics in the top shelf may improve the wash and drying capacity in each cycle, but if you do need to wash a lot of plastic items, you may need to be prepared to dry them by hand.
Finally, it may be that you’re emptying your dishwasher the wrong way and exacerbating drying problems. Many people make the mistake of emptying the top rack first. Unfortunately, this can allow any water that may have pooled in glasses or bowls to be dropped onto the items in the bottom rack. You can minimize this by emptying the bottom rack first to avoid spilling any water on any other items.
There are a wide range of reasons why your dishwasher may not be providing an effective drying cycle. While there are some simple measures you can take to improve drying performance, if you are still having difficulties you should consult a professional home appliance repair technician.
For help with all your dishwasher repair needs, ensure you contact a professional appliance repair service.