Dishwasher not cleaning the bottom well, and the top not at all?

Question

I've got a Kenmore dishwasher in my kitchen, and we've been having problems for a bit. The bottom won't clean very well- sometimes it takes several washes for the dishes to get clean- and the top won't clean at all. Sears is being stupid and won't come out to repair it without us calling their troubleshooting people (who have been no help in the past)... meanwhile, we have no silverware (won't come clean), and it's become a never ending battle. Is there anything I can do to help remedy it until Sears gets off their duffs and helps us? The thing's under warranty...

The blasted thing is under 2 years old.

also, me buying one isn't much of a option. I'm not the homeowner (live with my parents).

Answer 1

first, go to the grocery store and go to the dish soap aisle.

look for a product called GLISTEN. it comes in a carboard box about the size of Lipton Soup. costs around $3.

put this in both of the cups in your EMPTY washer.

turn on your kitchen sink HOT water until it is as HOT as possible.

then run an empty load through a full cycle in your dishwasher.

this should help if the problem is clogged water jets.

it will also clean the inside of the dishwasher.

always run your kitchen sink water to it's hottest point before starting to run the washer.

BTW, sears service truly stinks!

good luck with them.

if they can't fix it, DEMAND a replacement. it's still under warranty after all.

Answer 2

Make sure you are not covering the center of the dishwasher. Most of them have some sort of water flow coming through the very center. If you cover it, no water gets to the top of the dishwaser and the spray can be interupted on the bottom. If that doesnt work, make sure the drain at the bottom is not plugged. The dishwasher must be able to circulate water. One more thing you can do is run the dishwasher while it is empty. Open the door quickly and see if the water is sparaying everywhere. If not, you are stuck waiting for Sears.

Answer 3

Kenmore Dishwasher Not Cleaning

Answer 4

Dishwasher Not Cleaning Well

Answer 5

RE:
Dishwasher not cleaning the bottom well, and the top not at all?
I've got a Kenmore dishwasher in my kitchen, and we've been having problems for a bit. The bottom won't clean very well- sometimes it takes several washes for the dishes to get clean- and the top won't clean at all. Sears is being stupid and won't come out to repair it without...

Answer 6

Sounds like the filter in the thing is getting clogged up, preventing water flow.

Depending on the model, there's a few filter styles.

If you can find the manual, look for how to access it and clean it.

You might be amazed at the amount of hair that accumulates in a dishwasher's filter.

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Note regarding the person saying "kenmore suks"

All kenmore appliances are made by someone else and relabeled. That dishwasher might be Frigidair... might be Whirlpool... might be GE....

Answer 7

Perhaps you have lime buildup where the water source is within the dishwasher? Use a product like Limeaway to take care of that.

If it is necessary to call Sears back, you have to get on top of them! I went through their warranty nonsense last week. They had to go through all these procedures in order to give me a new battery. Call the troubleshooters back and immediately ask to speak to a supervisor. If that person doesn't give you a satisfactory answer, ask for their supervisor! Keep going until you get your problem fixed! Trust me, the more persistent you are with them, the better service you will receive.

I wish you the best!

Answer 8

I have always had good luck with Sears. I would go to a Sears store and see the sales manager in the department that sells dishwashers. Tell him that you are dis-satisfied with your dishwasher. Remeber, the people you talk to on the phone read from a que card..
I once returned a 4 year old garbage disposial and they replaced it no charge. My wife also returned a vacumn that was not working right and the sales depatment just swapped it out fo her.

Answer 9

If you would have provided a complete model number I could have given you a few things to check. Since Kenmore is the Sears store brand and neither Sears nor Kenmore makes anything they buy their products from several different manufacturers and there is no way of telling for sure what unit you have without the model number.

Answer 10

Well , I always clean the food off my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher or they always come out dirty.I hate having food particles in my dishes or the diswasher drain. But thats just my way of doing it.