You run a full cycle, open the door — and the dishes look like they barely got touched. Or they’re clean, but soaking wet. Either way, the dishwasher didn’t do its job, and now you’re standing there wondering whether it’s a quick fix or something more serious.
We see both of these complaints regularly on service calls across Winnipeg. In most cases, there’s a specific reason behind it — and once you know what to look for, it’s easier to figure out whether you can sort it yourself or whether it’s time to call someone in.
When dishes come out dirty
The spray arms are blocked
Dishwashers clean by spraying pressurized water through rotating arms with small holes along them. Over time, those holes get clogged with food particles, grease, and mineral deposits — especially in Winnipeg, where hard water is common. When the holes are blocked, water can’t reach every part of the load, and you end up with dishes that look untouched in certain spots.
Pull out the spray arms and hold them up to the light. If you can see blockages in the holes, rinse them under warm water and use a toothpick or thin wire to clear the openings. It’s one of the most straightforward maintenance tasks you can do, and it makes a noticeable difference.
The filter is clogged
Most modern dishwashers have a filter at the bottom of the tub that catches food debris. If it hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it gets saturated and starts recirculating dirty water through the cycle instead of draining it. The result is dishes that come out with a film, a smell, or visible residue — even after a full wash.
Check your manual for the filter location — it’s usually a cylindrical piece that twists out from the floor of the tub. Rinse it under running water and use a soft brush to clear any buildup. This should be done every month or two depending on how often you run the machine.
The water isn’t hot enough
Dishwashers rely on hot water to dissolve detergent and cut through grease. If your hot water heater is set too low — or if the dishwasher’s heating element isn’t working properly — the water temperature may not be reaching the level needed to clean effectively. Most dishwashers work best with water entering at around 49–60°C.
A quick test: run the hot water tap in your kitchen sink for a minute before starting the dishwasher. This flushes the cold water out of the pipes and ensures the first fill is actually hot. If dishes are still coming out greasy or filmy after that, the heating element may need to be checked by a technician.
You’re overloading the machine
It’s tempting to fit as much as possible into a single cycle, but overloading blocks water and detergent from reaching every surface. Bowls stacked inside each other, plates loaded too close together, tall items blocking the spray arms — all of these reduce how well the machine can clean.
Load dishes with space between them, face the dirty surfaces toward the spray, and make sure nothing is blocking the rotation of the spray arms before you start the cycle.
The detergent dispenser isn’t opening
If the dispenser door is stuck or blocked by a large item in the lower rack, the detergent gets released at the wrong time — or not at all. Check that nothing is obstructing the dispenser door, and make sure the dispenser itself is dry before adding detergent. A wet dispenser causes the detergent to clump and not dissolve properly during the cycle.
When dishes come out wet
The rinse aid is empty or turned off
Rinse aid is the most common reason dishes come out wet — and it’s one of the easiest to fix. Rinse aid reduces the surface tension of water so it sheets off dishes instead of forming droplets that sit and don’t evaporate. Without it, even a perfectly functioning dishwasher will leave dishes wet at the end of the cycle.
Check the rinse aid reservoir — usually a small compartment next to the detergent dispenser — and top it up if it’s low or empty. Most dishwashers have an indicator light when it needs refilling. If yours has a rinse aid setting, make sure it’s not turned down to zero.
Plastic items are always wetter than glass or ceramic
This is normal and worth knowing: plastic doesn’t retain heat the way glass, ceramic, or stainless steel does. During the drying phase, those materials stay warm and help water evaporate. Plastic cools quickly, which means water droplets stay put. If only your plastic containers are wet at the end of a cycle, that’s expected behaviour — not a malfunction.
Leaving the door cracked open at the end of the cycle helps steam escape and speeds up drying for everything, including plastic.
The heating element isn’t working
Many dishwashers use a heating element at the bottom of the tub to heat water during the wash cycle and assist with drying at the end. If the element has failed, your dishes will come out wet consistently — regardless of rinse aid levels or load size.
A failed heating element is something a technician needs to diagnose and replace. It’s a relatively straightforward repair, but it requires the right part and proper installation to work correctly.
The vent or fan isn’t functioning
Some dishwasher models use a vent and fan to push moist air out of the tub at the end of the cycle. If the vent is stuck closed or the fan motor has failed, humidity stays trapped inside and dishes don’t dry properly. This is another repair that requires a technician — the parts involved aren’t accessible without disassembly.
When to try fixing it yourself vs. calling a technician
A lot of dishwasher performance problems come down to maintenance — cleaning the filter, clearing the spray arms, topping up rinse aid, and adjusting how you load the machine. These are things any homeowner can do without tools or technical knowledge, and they solve the problem more often than you’d expect.
Where it crosses into technician territory is when the issue is mechanical or electrical: a heating element that’s failed, a circulation pump that’s not moving water properly, a dispenser that won’t open because the spring mechanism is broken, or a control board that’s causing the cycle to run incorrectly.
If you’ve worked through the maintenance steps and the problem persists, that’s the signal to call someone. Continuing to run a dishwasher with an underlying mechanical issue usually makes the repair more complicated and more expensive over time.
We service dishwashers across Winnipeg — same day or next day in most cases. If you’re not sure what’s going on with yours, we’re happy to take a look and give you a straight answer.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my dishes still dirty after a full dishwasher cycle?
The most common causes are a clogged filter, blocked spray arms, low water temperature, or overloading the machine. Start by cleaning the filter and spray arms — these are the most frequent culprits and easy to address at home. If the problem continues after that, a technician can check the heating element and water pressure.
Why are my dishes wet at the end of the cycle?
The most likely cause is low or empty rinse aid. Refill the rinse aid reservoir and run another cycle. If dishes are still wet, the heating element or drying vent may not be functioning properly — both require a technician to diagnose and repair.
How often should I clean my dishwasher filter?
Every four to six weeks for most households. If you run the dishwasher daily or often wash heavily soiled dishes, cleaning it every two to three weeks is better. A dirty filter is one of the most common reasons for poor cleaning performance.
Is it normal for plastic dishes to come out wet?
Yes — plastic doesn't retain heat the way glass or ceramic does, so water droplets don't evaporate as easily. This is expected behaviour, not a fault. Leaving the dishwasher door slightly open at the end of the cycle helps everything dry faster, including plastic.
Can hard water cause my dishwasher to clean poorly?
Yes. Winnipeg has moderately hard water, and mineral deposits can build up in the spray arms, filter, and on the interior walls of the tub over time. Using a dishwasher cleaner monthly and ensuring your rinse aid is topped up helps manage this. In some cases, a water softener makes a noticeable difference in dishwasher performance.
How do I know if my dishwasher heating element has failed?
If dishes consistently come out cold and wet at the end of a full cycle — even with rinse aid topped up — the heating element is likely the cause. A technician can test the element with a multimeter and replace it if needed. It's one of the more common dishwasher repairs we handle in Winnipeg.
