Is your dishwasher leaving your dishes covered in a foamy mess instead of sparkling clean? Have you seen suds leaking out the bottom corners of the door? Are there suds left in the bottom of the dishwasher when the cycle ends? Suds in the dishwasher can be a frustrating issue, but it’s often easier to fix than you might think. Let’s dive into when suds are a real problem, what you can do to resolve it, and when you need to call a professional for dishwasher repair.
When is Dishwasher Foam a Problem?
While a little bit of foam isn’t uncommon, excessive suds can indicate a more serious issue. Here are some signs that your dishwasher foam is a problem:
- Persistent suds: If the foam doesn’t disappear after the rinse cycle, it’s a cause for concern. You would only notice this if you opened the door during a cycle, but it’s OK for some suds to be present while the dishes are being washed. If the suds remain after the cycle is completed, then you’ll need to observe if it is consistently happening or just happening occasionally. See common causes of suds below to help narrow down potential causes of infrequent suds.
- Suds overflowing: If foam is spilling out of the dishwasher, it’s definitely a problem!
- Dishes not cleaning properly: If your dishes are still dirty and covered in suds at the end of a cycle, there may be an underlying issue.
- Cycle not finishing: If your dishwasher won’t complete a cycle, gives an error code, or the lights all flash, it could indicate a larger problem.
Common Causes of Dishwasher Suds
Several factors can contribute to excessive suds in your dishwasher:
- Too much detergent: Using too much detergent is a common culprit. Less is often more when it comes to dishwasher detergent.
- Incorrect detergent: Using hand dishwashing liquid or other non-dishwasher detergents can create excessive foam. With newer dishwashers, even using off-brand detergents made for dishwashers can interfere with the way the dishwasher was designed and create too many suds.
- Clogged filters: A dirty filter can prevent proper drainage, leading to suds.
- Faulty dishwasher components: In some cases, a malfunctioning dishwasher part, like the water inlet valve, can cause excessive suds.
How to Get Rid of Suds in Your Dishwasher
- Run a rinse cycle: Rinse out the dishwasher by running a rinse-only cycle or adding a gallon of water manually and skipping to the drain portion of the cycle. If you don’t have a rinse cycle, you can start any cycle, wait 10 seconds, and then press the Start/Reset button (or for some models, hold down the Start button for 4 seconds, or press the Cancel button).
- Neutralize the suds: Since suds are caused by detergents meant to break down fats and oils, you can remove suds by adding fat. Use a few tablespoons of oil-based (non-dairy) powdered coffee creamer and run another rinse cycle as above.
- Clean the filter: Remove and clean the dishwasher filter to improve drainage.
- Check for leaks: Inspect the dishwasher for any leaks that might be causing water to build up.
Preventing Future Suds Issues
To prevent future suds problems, follow these tips:
- Use the recommended amount of detergent – or even a little less.
- Use only name-brand detergent.
- Never use anything other than dishwasher detergent, especially dish detergent meant for handwashing dishes in the sink.
- Avoid overloading the dishwasher.
- Regularly clean the filter.
- Check for leaks and wear and tear on dishwasher components.
By following these guidelines, you should be able to enjoy a suds-free and sparkling clean dishwasher, but…
When to Call a Professional
If you’ve tried these steps and the suds problem persists, it’s time to call in a professional appliance repair technician. A qualified technician can diagnose the issue and provide the necessary repairs. If you’re in the Midlands area, we’d be happy to help! Appliance Professional has been repairing dishwashers in Columbia, Lexington, West Columbia, Chapin, Irmo, Blythewood, Cayce, Forest Acres, Elgin, Gaston, and everywhere in between since 2006.
