Dishwashing-ABC
Browse A–M
If cigarette ash accumulates in ashtrays after a party, extra care is needed: ash does not dissolve in the dishwasher and can spread throughout the appliance and onto other dishes. For this reason, ash residue should be removed by hand rather than cleaned in the dishwasher.
This is usually caused by limescale deposits. Check that the water hardness setting has been correctly programmed into the dishwasher and that there is enough dishwasher salt in the salt container.
Extra tip: to determine whether the marks are removable deposits or glass corrosion, wipe the glass with a damp cloth and a little citric acid or dishwasher care product. If the marks can be removed, they are likely limescale or water spots; if not, the glass is affected by glass corrosion.
Coffee can leave brown stains or rings inside cups over time. To help prevent this, use a detergent with enhanced bleaching power.
When loading the dishwasher, make sure large items are not placed directly in front of the detergent dispenser, as this may prevent it from opening properly. Store cleaning products in a dry place to avoid clumping. Add the detergent to the dispenser shortly before starting the programme, otherwise it may mix with residual water in the compartment and form lumps. If you are using the delay start function, wipe the detergent compartment dry beforehand. Otherwise, the detergent may mix with residual water in the compartment and form lumps or limescale deposits.
Discolouration most commonly occurs on plastic items. These stains are completely harmless and are usually caused by natural colourings from foods such as tomato sauce or beetroot. Use a detergent with enhanced bleaching power or slightly increase the detergent dosage.
Extra tip: some discolouration can be removed using a cloth and a little cooking oil.
Small pools of water on dishes cannot always be completely avoided. These tips can help improve drying results:
• Increase the rinse aid dosage.
• When using all-in-one products, add a little extra rinse aid.
• Activate the “Extra Dry” programme option.
• Open the dishwasher door once the programme has finished to allow warm steam to escape.
With our AutoOpen drying feature, the dishwasher door opens automatically at the end of the programme for even better drying results.
Excessive foaming inside the dishwasher at the end of a programme is often caused by using too much rinse aid or detergent. Check the manufacturer’s recommended dosage and wipe away any spilled residue.
Glass corrosion is microscopic damage to the surface of the glass. It is caused by components gradually dissolving from the glass structure. This changes the way light is reflected, resulting in a cloudy appearance or iridescent shimmer. Unfortunately, glass corrosion cannot be removed or repaired. The only solution is to replace the affected glasses with new ones.
Extra tip: when buying new glasses, always look for products labelled “dishwasher-safe”.
Grainy, gritty or sand-like residue can occur when too much detergent is used, causing detergent particles to settle on the dishes. Another possible cause is large amounts of starchy food residue. To help prevent this, remove excess starchy food from dishes before placing them in the dishwasher.
Grease residue inside the dishwasher is often caused by consistently using too little detergent. Always ensure the selected wash programme matches the level of soiling on the dishes and use the appropriate amount of detergent required. More detailed information can be found in the section on wash programmes.
To remove grease residue, use the Machine Clean programme together with a dishwasher care product or dishwasher cleaner.
Whether it’s wild garlic, parsley, mint, thyme or chives: to help remove herb residue, slightly increase the detergent dosage.
Multi-coloured iridescent marks can sometimes appear on stainless steel surfaces inside the dishwasher, or on pots and pans. To remove marks inside the dishwasher, use a dishwasher cleaner or care product according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For marks on cookware or utensils, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and a little appliance cleaner or citric acid.
If residue from this traditional winter vegetable remains on your dishes, try the following cleaning tips: select a programme with an integrated pre-wash cycle or use the Automatic programme. If necessary, increase the detergent dosage.
Using a dishwasher care product or cleaner will help restore the inside of your dishwasher so it shines like new again. To help prevent limescale build-up, if you are dosing detergent separately, make sure there is enough dishwasher salt in the appliance and that the water hardness setting has been programmed correctly.
Lipstick residue is made up of a wax base and colour pigments. While the wax melts at the temperatures reached during the wash cycle, the colour pigments are more difficult to remove. Increase the detergent dosage to help lift the pigments from the glass surface.
Matt residue on dishes is usually caused by starch deposits. These commonly come from food residues such as potatoes, flour, sauces or pulses. Check that the dishwasher has been loaded correctly — every item should be positioned so it can be fully reached by the wash water. You can also try slightly increasing the detergent dosage.
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Try these tips to help prevent unpleasant odours:
• Clean the door seals with a damp cloth and, if necessary, a little dishwasher care product.
• Clean the filter regularly.
• Use the Pre-rinse programme to remove larger food residues.
• Use a dishwasher freshener.
• Check that the inlet and drain hoses are installed correctly.
New dishwashers can sometimes have a manufacturing-related odour, similar to that of a new car. This is completely harmless and poses no health risk. The odour will gradually disappear after a few wash cycles. If you do not want to wait, you can also use a dishwasher freshener.
Musty-smelling glasses can be a sign of glass corrosion. With each wash cycle, the surface of the glass becomes more porous, allowing odour particles to build up over time.
Extra tip: store glasses upright. This allows air to circulate inside the glasses so odour particles can escape.
Do not place water-insoluble paint residue in the dishwasher, as it may damage the appliance.
After refilling the salt container, run the QuickPowerWash or Quick 40°C programme to help prevent pitting corrosion.
Do not place any items with existing rust in the dishwasher. During the wash cycle, rust particles can transfer onto other dishes and cutlery.
Sand is often used in the home for decorative purposes or as a base and heat protection in candle holders. Before cleaning these items in the dishwasher, make sure all sand residue has been thoroughly removed. Otherwise, the sand may become lodged in the circulation pump or spray arm bearings and cause blockages.
Are your dishes and glasses missing that brilliant shine after washing?
• Cloudy residue: This may be caused by limescale deposits on the glassware. Check that the water hardness setting has been correctly programmed into the dishwasher and that there is enough salt in the salt container. Another possible cause is detergent residue - check the detergent manufacturer’s recommended dosage.
• Permanent cloudiness: see “Glass corrosion” and “Water spots”.
Follow the care tips for silver to help prevent tarnishing. Once silver cutlery has tarnished, it can usually only be restored using a specialised silver cleaner.
Spinach is not fully water-soluble, meaning it can spread through the dishwasher via the wash water. As it also tends to stick to smooth surfaces, spinach residue may end up on other items in the dishwasher. To help prevent this, select a programme with an integrated pre-wash cycle or use the Automatic programme. If necessary, increase the detergent dosage.
If the streaks can be removed, they are often caused by excessive rinse aid residue. Reduce the rinse aid dosage as described in the operating instructions. If the streaks cannot be removed, they are likely caused by glass corrosion.
Tea stains can form when black tea is brewed with hard water and left standing. So you can continue enjoying your 5 o’clock tea without compromise, use a detergent with enhanced bleaching power to effectively remove any residue.
In this case, first check the filter combination. Then inspect the drain pump and non-return valve. Instructions on how to do this can be found in the operating instructions.
Water spots can have two different causes. On the one hand, they may be limescale deposits. In this case, check the water hardness setting programmed into the dishwasher and the salt level in the salt container. On the other hand, water spots can form on glassware if water does not drain properly from the surface. If this happens, increase the rinse aid dosage.
Wax residue is often found in tealight holders or candle containers where melted candle wax has been left behind. Do not place wax residue in the dishwasher, as these water-insoluble deposits could damage the appliance.
