Dishwashers were first patented in 1850 by Joel Houghton. According to reports at the time, the first dishwasher was hand powered and included several scrubbers. This sounds like it was more work than most modern people would be comfortable with today!
The most probable cause of your dishwasher leaving a greasy residue is grease build-up in your machine. It can disrupt your machine if you do not regularly clean your dishwasher or improperly scrape excess food on dishes. Clean your dishwasher every 1-3 months to keep it operating properly.
The point of a modern dishwasher is to clean the dishes for you! Most people make the mistake of cleaning their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. This would be correct if you were using a sanitizer, but there’s no need to clean your dishes for your dishwasher!
Keep reading to learn more about how to use your dishwasher properly.
How To Stop Your Dishwasher From Leaving Your Dishes Greasy
If your dishwasher leaves a greasy or film residue on your dishes, it could signify one of several issues. The most likely cause is your dishwasher detergent is not good enough or sufficient for your needs. However, it could also be caused by a dirty dishwasher or other issues.
A poor dishwasher detergent can cause an unpleasant film to form on the insides of your dishes. This film is especially visible on plastic cups since it usually causes the exterior to feel greasy or slippery.
Another indicator that it is time to change your dishwasher detergent is the presence of soap in your drinks. Your dishwasher should not leave a soap residue on your dishes. If you notice a bitter taste in a freshly cleaned dish, it could mean there’s some soap left behind.
However, another common cause of issues is improperly setting your dishwasher. Depending upon the type of dishes you are cleaning and how dirty they are, you might need to increase the temperature.
Increasing the water temperature will cut through grease and decrease the likelihood of grease clogging the drains.
How Often Should You Clean a Dishwasher?
You should clean your dishwasher at least every other month to ensure your dishes are properly cleaned. Ideally, if you use your dishwasher more than twice a day, you should plan on cleaning it once a month. Cleaning your dishwasher kills bacteria and prevents film buildup on your dishes.
There are several ways to clean your dishwasher, but they can be summed up as either deep or soft cleaning. For soft cleaning, you should follow these steps:
- Fill a measuring cup or dishwasher-safe glass bowl with white vinegar
- Place the vinegar dish on the bottom rack
- Run the dishwasher on a full cycle
- After the cycle finishes, use a clean rag to wipe out the inside
This should be done at least every two months to prevent the build-up of debris and grease. Or, if you start to notice white film or grease on your dishes, try cleaning your dishwasher with this method.
If the vinegar leaves a strong scent behind, try running another cycle. This should flush out the remaining vinegar. You can add a tablespoon or two of baking soda to help absorb the scent and run another cycle.
To deep clean your dishwasher, follow these steps:
- Spray a degreaser inside of the dishwasher and wipe clean
- Run the vinegar rinse through the dishwasher
- After the cycle finishes, unplug the dishwasher
- Remove the bottom and top rack of the machine
- Soak them in hot water mixed with vinegar
- Remove the dishwasher fan (follow your manufacturer’s directions)
- Use a thin wire to clean out the spray holes
- Rinse thoroughly
- Return the fan and racks to the dishwasher
- Plug the machine back in
- Run a cycle without soap to rinse everything
This should be done at least twice a year. Taking the time to clean every crevice and rinse out the remaining debris will help prevent film and grease from accumulating in the drain.
How To Check Water Temperature In a Dishwasher
The best way to check your dishwasher water temperature is to test the water temperature in the closest faucet. Use a meat or candy thermometer to check the heat of the water in the sink. If the water isn’t heating properly, the water in your dishwasher is not heating correctly either.
It is important that the temperature of the water within your dishwasher reaches between 120-150 degrees Fahrenheit (49-66 degrees Celsius). This temperature serves two major purposes.
First, it kills all major food and viral bacteria. If you don’t wash your dishes with hot or warm water, you risk spreading germs and bacteria and potentially getting sick. You can read more about proper dish washing in our recent post, Can You Wash Your Dishes Using Only Water?
Secondly, the hot water helps break down hard debris, grease, and other hard-to-clean stains. The hot water activates the dishwasher detergent and assists it in doing its job of scrubbing off the dirt and food.
The water is probably not getting hot enough if you notice a white film or grease on your cups and plates. If you notice your plastic dishes are coming out of the dishwasher warped, bent, or melted, the water is probably too hot.
Since most dishwashers do not have a gauge listed on the outside of the machine, it can be hard to know how hot it is inside. But using a meat or candy thermometer and checking the water temperature of the faucet will give you a good idea.
Additionally, check the water connection hoses. The dishwasher must be connected to the hot water supply since it does not heat the water by itself. This is also why you can check the water temperature using the faucet rather than the dishwasher.
If the water is not warming properly, there is probably an issue with your water heater. If you have an issue with your water heater, you might want to call an expert. Or, if you have the expertise, you can work on it yourself.
What Can You Do To Prevent Future Grease Build-up In a Dishwasher?
The best way to prevent grease build-up is to properly scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Large pieces of food can become lodged in the dishwasher drain and cause it to jam. The more debris that is in the way, the harder it is for the grease and food to drain.
Some people make the mistake of washing all the sauce and stains from the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Although this seems to be the right thing to do, it disrupts the enzymes from cleaning the dishes.
Dishwasher detergent has active enzymes which work in tandem with the hot water to lift the food from the dishes. If you clean the dishes completely, you prevent the enzymes from latching onto the food and cleaning it properly.
However, this does not mean you should leave large chunks of food on the dishes! Always scrape the dishes thoroughly, but do not wash them before putting them in the dishwasher.
Last, consistent cleaning will also prevent grease build-up. Check the drain filter at least every three months and clean it out. The drain filter catches most of the large pieces of food from going down the drain, but it can also catch grease.
You can clean this by shutting off your dishwasher and pulling it out of the drain. Rinse it thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Once you no longer see debris and grease, it should be good to put back.