Using the wrong detergent could leave a gritty residue. Remember to only use automatic dishwasher detergents. Always precisely measure detergent before adding it to the load. It's important to consider if your home uses a water softener because softened water requires less detergent than hard water.
If the wash cycle that you're using is too short, your glasses and dishes may be gritty when they come out after the wash cycle. If you have a full load of dishes, it's important you run not only a hot, but also a long wash cycle. It should never run on a short cycle.
If white residue is being left on your dishes and other items after washing them in your dishwasher, it may be caused by hard water or excessive detergent. Hard water contains minerals that can leave stains on your dishes.
You need to add vinegar to the rinse water. You have hard water and the vinegar will take the film off. My dishwasher has a dispenser for a rinse aid but vinegar will work just fine.
To fix dishwasher residue, avoid overloading, clean the filter regularly, use the right detergent, check water temperature, and clean spray arms.
The purpose of salt in your dishwasher is to soften the water, if you are not refilling your salt then the water will be hard and this will leave residue on your dishes. If you live in a hard water area, you may need to add salt and rinse aid with multi-tabs / "3 in 1" to achieve good dishwashing results.
Run an empty cycle with vinegar or a commercial dishwasher cleaner to remove mineral buildup. Add a rinse aid to your dishwasher. It helps prevent spots and keeps your dishes looking shiny. Consider installing a water softener for your home or using water-softening additives.
This white film is most often observed in hard water areas. Please note that “film” refers to a mineral build up and not etching as a result of using too much detergent.
Make sure the dishwasher is completely empty of all dishes. Then take a dishwasher-safe cup, such as a glass measuring cup, and fill it with vinegar. Place the cup with the vinegar in the dishwasher on the bottom rack and run the dishwasher on the hottest cycle.
If you've noticed that your dishes have this issue, you can use lemon juice or vinegar to try and wipe it away. If the residue is as a result of hard water, then it will remove these stains; if it doesn't, then you may be dealing with detergent residue.
A study published in 2023 found that the rinse aid component of dishwasher soap can damage the gut's epithelial barrier. Alcohol ethoxylates in rinse aid was observed as the culprit. These potential health risks are primarily associated with ingesting or inhaling significant amounts of dish soap residue.
Instead, the explanation is how the foil ball interacts with the chemicals in your dishwasher tablets. The reaction is a sort of oxidization process, similar to the trick used to polish silver. In that case, aluminum foil lines a container and tarnished silver soaks in water and powdered detergent.
The Best Dishwasher Detergent
After a new round of testing, Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs are still our top pick, and Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs remain our runner-up pick.
The issue of gritty residue could be a broken drain motor or a clogged drain hose. For Maytag® appliances, we recommend booking a service appointment to investigate and resolve these issues.
Add Vinegar During the Final Rinse
If glasses and even plastic items are coming out of the dishwasher covered in a dusty white film, try adding one-half to a full cup of white vinegar just as the final rinse begins.
The cause of this could be limescale or salt. If the residue can easily be wiped off with a finger, it is likely too much salt. If the residue is difficult to remove and comes off with vinegar, it is likely limescale (hard water build-up).
If you've noticed white residue on dishes, don't blame your dishwasher detergent. The culprit is likely hard water — a high concentration of calcium and magnesium in your water supply. Unfortunately, even the best dish soap and the longest wash cycle won't get rid of these minerals for good.
White vinegar can be used as a rinse aid in the dishwasher, especially to combat hard water staining. Speaking from personal experience, it's extremely frustrating to run the dishwasher only to open it to dishes that are far from sparkling. Hard water stains leave spots on dishes and can make glasses cloudy.
"While dishwasher tablets and pods tend to be more expensive, they invariably outperform powder in our dishwasher detergent tests," says Matthew. "The top 10 products in our dishwasher detergent review are all either tablets or pods. And the lowest-ranked products are all powders, sheets and gels."
Pour 2 cups (500 mL) of white vinegar into a glass measuring cup or other dishwasher-safe container and place upright in the lower rack. Run a normal cycle with the heat dry option turned off to clean the inside of your dishwasher. Do not use detergent.
It's for this reason that we highly recommend descaling your dishwasher at least once a year with our tested and approved dishwasher descaler.