Top Reasons Your Dishwasher Is Leaving Dishes Dirty (And How to Fix Each One) Don't resign yourself to handwashing forever. Close Credit: Oscar Wong / Getty Images Having your dishwasher not work properly can be a massive inconvenience. If you've been opening your dishwasher only to find cloudy glasses, bits of food, and greasy residue still clinging to dishware, it's a problem worth solving ASAP. (You don't want to be rewashing dishes by hand forever, after all.) Below, our plumbing expert will walk you through the most common causes of dishwasher disappointment—from everyday user habits to maintenance issues—to get to the bottom of why your dishes are coming out of the dishwasher dirty. Meet the Expert Dewayne Sloan, owner of Sloan's Plumbing in Nashville, TN How to Hand-Wash Dishes the Right Way The Problem: Clogged or Dirty Filters According to plumbing expert and owner of Sloan's Plumbing, Dewayne Sloan, one of the most common reasons dishes come out dirty is a clogged or dirty dishwasher filter. Designed to catch debris during the wash cycle, the filter can become clogged with food particles, grease, and soap residue over time. This can restrict water flow and prevent the machine from properly circulating water. The Fix: Clean the Filter Regularly Depending on your model, you might need to manually remove the filter and rinse it under warm water, or use a brush to remove any stubborn debris. A clean filter helps the dishwasher run more efficiently, ensuring your dishes come out sparkling every time. The Best Method for Cleaning Your Dishwasher's Filter, According to Experts The Problem: Improper Loading Credit: Bryan Gardner We can put the debate to bed: How you load your dishwasher really does impact how clean your dishes get. Large pots or bowls can obstruct the movement of the spray arms, preventing them from spraying water in every direction. Additionally, placing dishes too close together can create blockages, leaving spots of food and residue behind. The Fix: Take Care to Arrange Dishes Properly Proper loading is one of the easiest ways to ensure your dishwasher works effectively. If your dishwasher has manufacture instructions that indicate how much space to leave between dishes, follow it. You can also reference our guide to how to load a dishwasher. The Problem: Faulty Spray Arms Aptly named, the spray arms in your dishwasher are responsible for spraying water during the cleaning cycle. If they become clogged with food particles or hard water deposits, they won’t be able to distribute water efficiently to all your dishes. The spinning mechanism itself may also be malfunctioning. The Fix: Inspect for Visible Debris or Damage Many dishwasher models have removable spray arms, so you can take them out and clean them easily. Ensuring the spray arms are in good working condition will improve your dishwasher’s performance and help it clean more thoroughly. The Problem: Using the Wrong Detergent Credit: Vladdeep / Getty Images Sloan says that consumers greatly underestimate how much their home's water and choice of soap matter. All dish detergents are not created equal, and using the wrong one can seriously affect how well your dishwasher operates. If your home or location tends to have hard water, for example, certain detergents may not dissolve properly. (This can leave cloudy spots or food residue behind.) Additionally, too much or too little soap can impact the washing cycle. The Fix: Read the Manual Be sure to check your appliance's user manual for recommendations. Then, pay special attention to the directives on the bottles while shopping. Read the detergent's warnings and ingredients thoroughly to ensure it's compatible with your dishwasher. If necessary, use a rinse aid to help clean and prevent mineral deposits within your dishwasher. The Right Way to Clean Your Dishwasher for Optimal Efficiency Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing Kitchen Cleaning Tips