We have had our Whirlpool dishwasher for 5 or so years now and we have recently noticed that its cleaning performance has declined since it was new. I recognize that compared to some folk posting here that our dishwasher can't be classified as a lemon. Here is what we have observed:

1. the 'normal' cleaning cycle used to take somewhere in the mid 80 minute range; with a really dirty dish load it would be in above 90 minutes. Now the cycle starts at 65 minutes and quickly ticks down in the cycle... though sometimes it takes a really long time. [inconsistent, though usually very short cycle time] We sometimes use the pot wash cycle just to get a little extra cleaning time added to the cycle.

2. we now regulary see small food debris on the food mounted flatware, and in glassware located in the corners of the upper rack.

3. when the dishwasher was new we marveled at how quiet it was compared to the old all metal cluncker it replaced. Now it is pretty loud, seemingly not appreciably quieter than the old (though this is really subjective... ).

Clearly something is happening to the dishwasher. Any thoughts on what it might be? I'm fairly handy at repairing things myself, so pointers toward what it might be, or a method for me to diagnose a problem (or two) and then replace the parts would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Elia

Look at the bottom of the DW, usually under the spray arm. You should find a plastic screen that filters out paper and other junk. In many cases, the screen is plugged and does not allow water to circulate through the pump. In other cases, people dump huge amounts of detergent in the DW and it does not dissolve, and clogs the pump. I've seen both. I just recently cleaned out 1/2 a coffee can of paper, paperclips? broken glass, from the bottom of a DW that "is a real lemon", worked fine after that. I would also make sure that the water inlet valve isn't blocked or restricted. Turn on the DW and just as it starts to spray, open the door and make sure the tub is full of water.

ma0641,
Do you have any idea how to get the spray arm off the lower/bottom of the dishwasher? I have the owners manual, and I have the parts manual - but nowhere can I find how to remove the lower spray arm - which I need to do to remove the larger opening filter before getting to the smaller (potentially blocked) inlet filter.

Thanks in advance,

Some have a small stainless screw, you need to get inside to look down the arm. Others just push down and lock. Google your model# and add "removing spray arm" It will probably show you. BTW, the inlet filter is not in the main filter, it is in the water inlet side. Turn off the water and power, remove the bottom plate, usually 2 screws, and the water line goes into the solenoid valve. Undo the small screws where the water goes in and you should be able to remove the front of the valve and see a screen. Make sure it is clean. This is not a real easy job due to restricted working space. Also make sure the gasket or Oring is seated before assembly or it will leak. Good luck and let us know what you find.

My dishwasher is an old GE Nautlus. Works like a charm after I clean out the food trap at the bottom of the tub. You don't have to take out the spray arm to access the plastic screen, just unscrew 2 screws and put your hand down into the open the hole and see what for junk you do get up. You will probably be more than surprised at all the junk you get up. Just put more water into the machine by hand or use the kitchen sprayer attachment and then carefully scoop out with a small scoop any water you can that has foodstuff in it. That's how I clean mine every year or so of excess food.

The last time my faithful, hardworking Nautlus stopped working properly was when I kept feeding masking tape into it. It dissolved, sure, but made a big gucky mess at the plastic screen area and the underside of the spray arm inside the arm. I had to take off the arm which proved to be just two plastic snap ins on either side of the spray arm tower at the bottom to snap out. Cleaned everything out with dishsoap and boiling hot water. Now it runs quieter than it did before and cleans just a well.

Good luck with your project.

I would not go so far as taking the bottom outer plate off the machine and doing what Ma above said to do as it sounds like your machine just has a few years worth of built up food goo.

I found out that all the newer dishwashers now have food disposals in them. My 9 year old Nautalus does not. My old Maytag dishwasher I had 12 years ago had a disposal and I forget that I don't have that jim dandy machine any longer... hence the masking tape on plastic freezer boxes marking what the contents are. Learned a valuable lesson. Don't feed masking tape to dishwashers that don't have disposals in them.

Hi all,

I finally got around to cleaning out the dishwasher trap area. I found this website showing a Kenmore dishwasher - clearly built by Whirlpool, since our wishwasher looked amazingly similar (without the SS interior panels). The site's instructions were great for disassembling the dishwasher interior down to the grinder/trap.

Dishwasher Repair and Maintenance (http://thehowzone.com/how/dishwasherrepair/2)

The grinder trap inlet was a little different looking than shown on the website, but easy to get out.

I found two baby bottle valves and one NAM binky lanyard ring, along with a toothpick. I also found a LOT of sludgy wishwasher soap caked around and in things. I ran an empty load with a couple of cups of vinegar to try and clean out any mineral buildup. Our water isn't super hard, but it definitely is on the harder side. I did find that one of the two tabs which screw/secure the DW to the underside of the skin is not attacked (the chipboard on the underside of the counter has broken away). I'm going to use some 5 minute epoxy to fill the void, them after setting re-screw that one free bracket/tab into it. I think I may take the lower valence off to see of one of the corner height adjusters has slowly turned.

In running the dishwasher I think it did a better job of cleaning than in the recent past, though it wasn't appreciably quieter, as it was when new. If I do open that lower valence and check the corner supports I will probably add soft insulation around it (it came with some, I bet that will help some with the noise).

That's all for now. Thanks again for the advice.

Glad to hear your story. Amazing what you can find in there. You can put insulation along the sides but leave some room for ventilation and cooling of the motor.

Wow baby bottle valves and a blinky ring! Wonder who put that in the DW? Don't you just love kids?