Have you noticed that your dishes seem to always be wet? If this sounds familiar, there may be an issue with how your dishwasher is drying the dishes. Dishwashers are meant to provide convenience at home, saving you time and effort. It’s always frustrating when you still need to hand-dry your dishes after the dishwashing’s complete, even after running the drying cycle.
So, what could be going wrong, and what can you do to fix it? These are the possible causes when a dishwasher isn’t drying, and what you can do about them.
1. Open the door when the cycle is over
The first thing you could try is to open the door when the drying cycle is over. Normally, the dishes will still be quite wet at this point, but if you open the door and let the steam escape for a while, they will be very dry by the time you need to store them away. If the steam can’t escape, the moisture will settle back on your dishes, leaving them slippery and damp.
2. Stack your dishwasher properly
To prevent steam from condensing back to the dishes, use a dish rack instead of stacking the dishes on top of one another on the bottom rack. This ensures that you always have moisture-free air throughout your rack.
3. Use rinse-aids
Dishwasher cleaners are effective in cleaning dishes, while rinse aids help drain water from dishes smoothly. This prevents fine glassware from being damaged by residual water stains and also helps to keep the dish clean and dry as water rolls off the dish.
4. Review your cycle options
Make sure that your dishwasher is using the appropriate cycle for your dishes. These cycles can be changed according to how many dishes you are washing at once and how much water you need to use. Use ‘invert’ mode whenever possible, which means that your dishes will drain through the bottom rack. This reduces the debris left in the bottom rack, and also ensures that you don’t have water pooling around your dishwasher when it stops running.
5. Check your vent
If your dishwasher still isn’t drying dishes after adjusting the placement and reviewing the cycle options, the appliance parts may be the root of the problem. Many dishwashers use a vent to release the hot, steamy air generated during the rinse cycle. If the vent does not open properly, the dishwasher will leave moisture on the dishes. Check the vent to ensure that it is functioning correctly.
