Have you ever taken your dishes out of the dishwasher and noticed they are still greasy after washing? If this has happened to you, keep reading as we go over causes and solutions for this.
Why Are Dishes Greasy After Washing In Dishwasher?
The four most common reasons that dishes are greasy after being washed in the dishwasher are: the dishwasher detergent is not efficient, your water is too hard, your water is not hot enough, or the dishwasher was loaded improperly.
Now that we have identified the problems, let’s talk about how you can fix them to have your dishes sparkling clean again.
How To Stop Your Dishes From Being Greasy After Dishwasher
Change Dishwashing Detergent
If your dishes are still greasy after being washed in your dishwasher, the culprit could be your dishwashing detergent. Dishwashing detergent comes in three forms: gel, powder and tablets or pods.
Dishwasher Gel is already dissolved so you won’t have to worry about undissolved particles that can be left behind from powder.
But because gel is not as concentrated, it may not get rid of the grease as well as powders or tablets. Gel is typically more expensive than powder, but less expensive than tablets.
Dishwasher powder has an advantage over gel as it contains bleach and enzymes which will eliminate tough stains such as spaghetti sauce and coffee.
It has powerful surfactants that will cut through the grease and remove it from your dishes. Although powder can be messy, of the three, powder is the cheapest.
Tablets, or pods, are very effective as they tend to dissolve gradually during the wash cycle, while gel and powders wash away as soon as the first rinse cycle occurs.
Pods are pre-measured and you won’t have to worry about using too much, or too little. Pods are able to cut through the grease easier because they contain a pretreat solution, a degreaser and a rinse aid.
Tablets tend to be the most expensive option, but also the most effective. So if you’re having a problem with greasy dishes, you may want to switch to dishwashing tablets because they contain more detergents and are able to cut through that stubborn grease.
I personally prefer using Cascade, but really most pods or tablets should do the job.
Test Water Hardness
If after going through a cycle in your dishwasher your dishes come out filmy or greasy you may have a hard water issue.
Hard water is caused by minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals in the water reduce the effectiveness of dishwashing detergents.
When the detergents can’t do their job, your dishes will stay greasy. Also, hard water doesn’t rinse off of the dishes well which can also leave them filmy and greasy.
Water hardness is measured in ppm (parts per million). Water is considered moderately hard at 75-150 ppm, hard at 150-300 ppm and very hard over 300 ppm.
Over time the minerals in the hard water can build up in the drain and on the inside of the dishwasher. The best way to test how hard your water is is by using a Water Hardness Test Kit (like this one).
If you test your water, and discover that it is too hard, don’t be alarmed, there is a simple fix! Empty your dishwasher and start a normal wash cycle.
Once the dishwasher tub has filled with water, open the door and add 2 cups of white vinegar to the water in the bottom of the dishwasher.
Close the door and finish the wash cycle. Besides white vinegar, you may also consider using dishwasher salt to soften your water (like this).
Test Water Temperature
Greasy dishes may indicate that the water temperature is not hot enough. The temperature of your dishwasher should be between 125-150 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature of the water needs to be hot enough to sanitize the dishes, break down any grease, dislodge small food particles and ensure the detergent is dissolved and activated.
Hot water is supplied to your dishwasher from your water heater. The average water heater temperature is 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is a heating element in the dishwasher to help increase the water temperature during the rinse cycles.
To test the water temperature of your dishwasher, turn on the hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher, usually this is your sink.
Let the water run until hot, fill a cup with water and use a simple meat thermometer to check the temperature. The water should reach between 125-150 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the water is not hot enough, your water heater may need to be adjusted. Check out the video below if you need help adjusting your water heater.
Properly Load The Dishwasher
Believe it or not there is a particular way your dishes should be placed in the dishwasher. Overloading your dishwasher will definitely result in greasy dishes.
Leaving an adequate amount of spacing between each dish will allow the water jets to spray each dish thoroughly and remove dirt and grease.
Load cups, mugs and bowls upside down on the top rack at a slight angle to prevent water from pooling on them.
Place glasses in between the tines (the thin plastic pieces that stick up), not on them, which will leave a mark where the tine touches the glass. Lay any long utensils such as spatulas or tongs on the top rack.
Thin plastics should go on the top rack, as they can warp if placed on the bottom rack where the temperature is higher.
Place any baking sheets, trays or cutting boards on the outside of the bottom rack so they do not block the sprayer arms. Place plates on the lower rack with the dirty, greasy side facing the middle.
Now for the silverware. Do not cram too many utensils into one basket! Alternate forks and spoons in the utensil basket with some handles facing up and some down, so they do not stick together and water can get between each utensil.
Knives should be put in the basket with the blades downward for safety. Make sure not to block or cover any jets and make sure the water arm can spin freely. Here is an example of a properly loaded dishwasher.
Loading your dishwasher properly is critical in your dishes becoming squeaky clean and grease free!
Having greasy dishes can be a real nuisance, but by following the tips above your dishes should be sparkling clean in no time!