Dishwasher Not Cleaning Properly — Fault Guide

A practical guide from Go Assist Bournemouth engineers.

Why is my dishwasher not cleaning dishes properly?

Poor cleaning is usually caused by blocked spray arms, a clogged filter, low salt or rinse aid, or selecting the wrong programme. Remove and rinse the filter and clear the spray arm holes with a toothpick. If the wash pump is failing, the spray arms won't rotate properly regardless of settings.

Should you try to repair this yourself?

Basic checks — like cleaning a filter or checking the clock timer — are safe to do yourself. However, repairs involving electrical components, gas connections, motors or sealed systems should always be carried out by a qualified engineer. Attempting these repairs yourself may void your appliance warranty and could be dangerous.

Book a local engineer in Bournemouth

If you've run through the basic checks and the fault persists, Go Assist Bournemouth can send a local engineer the same day or next day. Our engineers carry common spare parts and diagnose most faults in a single visit.