Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly - What to Check in Alton

Published September 2026 | Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly What to Check

This checklist covers every practical check you can make when your dishwasher starts leaving grease, food residue, or white film on your crockery - from the filter and spray arms right through to water temperature and salt levels. Working through these checks on a regular schedule catches small faults early, before they develop into a full breakdown that costs significantly more to fix.

Quick Visual Checks Anyone Can Do

Before you call an engineer, there's a lot you can assess yourself. Our engineers at Voltrade deal with dishwasher faults across Alton and the surrounding area regularly, and in many cases one of these quick checks turns up the issue within minutes. Work through this list in order - it covers the most common causes first.

1. Check and clean the filter. Pull out the bottom basket and locate the cylindrical filter at the base of the drum. Most Bosch, Beko, and Hotpoint machines have a two-part filter - a coarse outer mesh and a fine inner cup. Unscrew it anticlockwise, separate the parts, and rinse both under warm running water. A blocked filter is the most common single cause of poor washing results. If it's greasy, soak it in warm soapy water for ten minutes and scrub gently with an old toothbrush.
2. Inspect the spray arms. Remove the upper and lower spray arms - they typically unclip or unscrew anticlockwise depending on the model. Hold each one up to the light and check every hole is clear. Food debris, limescale, and occasionally fragments of broken glass block these holes over time. Use a cocktail stick or a thin piece of wire to clear any blockages, then rinse thoroughly before refitting.
3. Check the detergent dispenser. Open the dispenser drawer and confirm the flap opens and closes freely. If it sticks or springs back slowly, your detergent isn't releasing properly during the wash cycle. Residue buildup around the hinge is the typical cause - clean it out with a damp cloth and an old toothbrush.
4. Review how you're loading the machine. Overcrowding is one of the most overlooked causes of poor results. Cups and bowls need to face downward at an angle so water can drain away rather than pooling inside them. Items shouldn't nest together or overlap. Large items in the lower basket can also block the spray arm from rotating freely - check that it spins without catching on anything before you start a cycle.
5. Inspect the door seal. Run your finger along the full length of the rubber gasket around the door. A perished or split seal affects the water pressure inside the drum, which directly reduces wash performance. Pay particular attention to the bottom edge, where debris and standing water tend to collect.
6. Check salt and rinse aid levels. Both indicator lights should be showing full on your control panel. Running without salt is particularly damaging in hard water areas, and parts of Hampshire have notably hard water. Without softened water, limescale builds up quickly on the spray arms, heating element, and drum walls - and that limescale is what causes the white film many people notice on glasses first.

Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Monthly maintenance takes less than twenty minutes and makes a measurable difference to how well your machine performs over time. These tasks are worth adding to a recurring reminder on your phone.

Deep clean the filter. Even if it doesn't look obviously blocked, fine grease and detergent residue accumulates on the mesh between washes. A monthly soak and scrub keeps it flowing freely.

Run an empty maintenance wash. Place a dishwasher cleaner - Finish Machine Cleaner or a supermarket own-brand equivalent both work well - directly in the drum rather than the dispenser, and run the hottest programme your machine offers. On most machines that's 65 to 70 degrees. This dissolves limescale from the heating element, clears grease from the pump housing, and removes residue from the spray arms. In harder water areas across Hampshire, monthly rather than quarterly maintenance washes make a noticeable difference to long-term performance.

Wipe down the door seal. Use a damp cloth to clean the entire gasket, including the folds. The bottom section collects standing water and food debris between cycles - left uncleaned, it develops mould and can cause the seal to perish faster.

Check and top up salt and rinse aid. This takes thirty seconds. If you're filling your salt reservoir frequently and still seeing a warning light, that can point to a faulty water softener unit - worth noting and flagging at your next engineer visit.

Clear the drain area. With the bottom basket removed, look around the drain at the base of the drum for debris. Olive stones, small bones, broken glass, and bottle caps regularly get past the filter and can damage the pump impeller if left unchecked.

Annual Professional Checks You Should Book

Some components need a trained engineer to inspect properly. Booking an annual visit keeps your machine in good condition and typically costs far less than emergency callouts when something fails unexpectedly. For homeowners in Alton, expect to pay typically between 60 and 100 pounds for a diagnostic inspection visit, depending on what's found during the check.

Pump and motor inspection. A worn pump bearing will eventually cause the machine to stop draining properly. An engineer will check for abnormal noise, resistance when the impeller is turned by hand, and signs of wear on the housing.

Heating element test. If your machine is washing in cool or lukewarm water, nothing will come out properly clean. A failing element is often silent - the machine runs but doesn't reach temperature. Replacing a heating element typically costs between 80 and 150 pounds on most common brands including Samsung, LG, and Hotpoint, depending on the model and parts availability.

Water inlet valve check. This valve controls how much water enters the drum each cycle. A partially blocked or failing valve causes the machine to underfill, which means detergent doesn't dissolve properly and cleaning performance drops noticeably.

Full system diagnostics. Our engineers use the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool to read fault codes and run a complete system check. This is particularly useful on modern machines with electronic controls - Bosch Series 6, Samsung DW60 series, and LG QuadWash models all log fault history that's invisible without a diagnostic scan but can identify developing problems before they cause a breakdown.

Door latch and hinge inspection. A door that doesn't seal and lock correctly at full pressure will affect wash performance even if everything else is functioning properly. Hinges and latch mechanisms wear gradually and are easy to overlook.

Warning Signs That Need Immediate Attention

Some faults shouldn't wait for a scheduled service. If you notice any of the following, stop using the machine and contact an engineer.

Water not draining after a cycle. Standing water in the base of the drum indicates either a blocked drain hose, a failed pump, or a blockage further along your household drainage. Running additional cycles hoping it clears typically makes the blockage worse. Switch off and investigate.

A burning smell during a cycle. This can indicate a failing heating element, a wiring fault, or a motor drawing excessive current. Switch off at the wall immediately and don't use the machine until an engineer has inspected it.

Water on the kitchen floor. Any leak - from the door seal, hose connections, or a cracked sump - needs prompt attention. Water sitting under appliances causes floor and cabinet damage quickly and can create a slip hazard.

Error codes appearing on the display. Don't ignore these. On Bosch machines, an E24 or E25 code typically points to a drainage fault. On Beko, E3 or E5 codes relate to heating or water fill problems. Checking your manual or using the GoFIX diagnostic tool before calling an engineer helps them arrive prepared with the right parts.

A persistent white film on glassware. While this can indicate a need for more salt or rinse aid, a film that returns quickly after refilling both reservoirs often points to a faulty water softener unit inside the machine - particularly common in Hampshire homes on harder water supplies.

Your Maintenance Schedule

Here's a simple calendar you can follow to keep your dishwasher running well throughout the year.

Weekly

• Clear visible debris from around the filter and drain area
• Check rinse aid and salt indicator lights

Monthly

• Remove, soak, and scrub the filter
• Run an empty maintenance wash on the hottest programme
• Wipe down the door seal and gasket folds
• Clear the drain area of debris

Every Six Months

• Remove and deep clean both spray arms
• Inspect the detergent dispenser flap for sticking or residue
• Check the door seal for cracking or perishing
• Run the hottest available cycle to check the machine reaches temperature

Annually

• Book a professional inspection and diagnostic check
• Have the pump, heating element, and inlet valve tested
• Check inlet and outlet hose connections for wear or cracking

If you're based in or around Alton, booking your annual service in autumn - before the heavier usage that comes with the festive period - means you're less likely to face a breakdown at the worst possible time.

Checklist Questions

Is my dishwasher worth repairing or should I replace it?

A useful rule of thumb: if the repair cost exceeds half the price of a new equivalent machine, replacement is generally the better choice. A mid-range dishwasher in 2026 typically costs between 350 and 600 pounds new. If your machine is under five years old, repairs are almost always cost-effective - particularly on well-built brands like Bosch or Miele, which are designed with serviceability in mind. For machines over eight years old with a major component failure, it's worth getting a written quote and comparing it against current replacement costs before committing.

Why are my dishes still dirty even after a full cycle?

This is the most common complaint our engineers encounter in Alton and the surrounding area. In the majority of cases the cause is one of four things: a blocked filter, clogged spray arm holes, incorrect loading that stops water reaching all surfaces, or water that isn't reaching the right temperature. Work through the visual checks at the top of this article first. If none of those solve it, the problem is more likely a failing heating element or a partially blocked water inlet valve - both of which need a professional to diagnose and fix properly.

How much does a dishwasher repair typically cost in Hampshire?

Most standard dishwasher repairs across Hampshire fall between 80 and 250 pounds including parts and labour, depending on what's failed and the age of the machine. A blocked pump clearance or filter service sits at the lower end. Replacing a heating element, control board, or inlet valve sits at the higher end. Callout and diagnostic fees typically run from 50 to 80 pounds and are commonly deducted from the total repair cost if you proceed with the work. Always ask for a written quote before authorising any repair.