Why do I see Grit or Sand on my dishes from the Dishwasher

What causes Grit and Sand on dishwasher

It is very common to hear people complain about finding their dishes and cups with a sandy-type residue. In most instances, the reason for this is not a problem with the dishwasher, but more to do with the loading of the crockery and cutlery in the machine.

There is a school of thought that you should rinse any plates and cups with a residue before putting them in the machine. Other people think, well it is a dishwasher, why should I still have to waste time by rinsing first? This is a personal choice, and you will see the results of your method by your clean crockery, or otherwise.

It is also a good idea to be aware that some plastics, children’s plates for instance, do tend to hold more water, this may reduce the rinsing capability of the machine on those particular items. On a general note, it is better to load saucepans, casserole dishes etc. in the bottom of the machine.

In most machines these days, the cutlery basket is also located in the bottom of the machine. Try to keep a space between items to allow the water spray to reach all your dishes.If you do find a gritty residue in your dishes, this is nothing other than heat-baked on food.

This is generally caused by the water spray being unable to reach into bowls, cups, glasses etc. due to the pathway being blocked by other articles. Try not to overload the machine, as you will probably only have a half successful wash.In most instances, running the offending item under a hot tap and gently applying pressure with a sponge should remove the ‘grit’.

It is best to clean the residue off, as if you put the items straight back for a further wash, you will bake the grit on even more.Always makes sure you also use dishwasher salt and rinse aid when the machine calls for it, as this will help with the finish of your dishes.

Most faults with dishwashers can easily be resolved with a little common sense and your machine should then give you years of good service. This does not mean you do not have a fault with your machine, but it is always best to try out the above points before calling in a service engineer.

Disclaimer: The information provided has been prepared as a guide only and the steps taken are likely to vary for different appliance models. We strongly recommend using a qualified engineer to undertake major repairs and fault finding.