Dishwasher not cleaning well, leaving residue or dishes still wet? 6 things to check
In 9 out of 10 cases a dishwasher cleans badly because the filter or spray arms are clogged, it's out of salt or rinse aid, or the dishes are loaded wrong. You can fix all of that yourself.
- Most common cause
- dirty filter, clogged spray arms, no salt
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Repair shop, if nothing helps
- 200–480 zł (heating element, wash pump)
Turn off the dishwasher before you take out the filter. Watch out for glass shards in the filter.
Step by step
Clean the filter at the bottom
Twist and remove the filter (cylindrical and flat parts). Rinse it under running water with a brush. Do this every 1–2 weeks.
Unclog the spray arms
Remove the arms (they usually unscrew or unclip) and rinse them under the tap. Clear clogged holes with a toothpick. Check that the arms spin freely.
Refill salt and rinse aid
A white film is limescale, meaning no salt or a wrongly set water hardness. Wet, dull dishes mean no rinse aid. 3-in-1 tablets don't replace salt with hard water.
Load the dishes sensibly
Big pots and chopping boards must not block the arms or the dispenser. Dirty side facing in and down, with no bowls stacked inside each other.
Run a cleaning cycle
Once a month, run the hottest programme with an empty dishwasher and a dishwasher cleaner to remove grease and limescale from inside.
Check that the dishwasher heats
Open the dishwasher halfway through a programme (carefully, steam!). If the dishes and water are cold, the heating element or the pump with heater may be to blame.
- The water is cold during the programme.
- The dishwasher hums loudly but doesn't clean (wash pump).
- A heating error code appears.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Replacing the heating element / pump with heater | 200–480 zł |
| Replacing the wash pump | 250–500 zł |
| Cleaning the dishwasher at a repair shop | 100–200 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
Cleaning problems rarely need a repair shop. Replacing the heating element is worth it on most dishwashers younger than 8–10 years.
Check if it's worth repairing your dishwasher
Pick your model and fault. In 2 minutes we show the repair cost, what the device is worth and an honest verdict.
Open the calculator →FAQ
Do I need to use salt if I have 3-in-1 tablets?
Not with soft water. With hard water, which most of Poland has, salt protects the dishwasher from limescale and improves cleaning.
Why are plastics wet after washing?
Plastic doesn't hold heat well, so water on it doesn't evaporate. That's normal. Rinse aid helps, and so does opening the door after the programme.
How do I check my water hardness?
Use the test strip that came with the dishwasher, or ask your local water utility. Then set it in the dishwasher menu.