IKEA W11212416C User Instructions page 14

SPOTS AND STAINS ON DISHES
Spotting and filming on
dishes
Silica film or etching
(silica film is a milky,
rainbow-colored
deposit; etching is a
cloudy film)
White spots on
cookware with nonstick
finish
Brown stains on dishes
and dishwasher interior
Black or gray marks on
dishes
Orange stains on plastic
dishes or dishwasher
interior
NOISES
Grinding, grating,
crunching, or buzzing
sounds
DISHES ARE NOT COMPLETELY CLEAN
Food soil left on the
dishes
14
Is your water hard or is there a high mineral content in your water? Conditioning the final rinse water with
a liquid rinse aid helps eliminate spotting and filming. Keep the rinse aid dispenser filled. Always use a
high-temp option. If your water hardness is 13 grains or above, it is strongly recommended that you install
a home water softener. If you do not wish to drink softened water, have the softener installed onto your hot
water supply.
Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters
the dishwasher.
Did you use the correct amount of effective detergent? Use recommended dishwasher detergents only.
Do not use less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Heavy soil and/or hard
water generally require extra detergent.
Is the home water pressure high enough for proper dishwasher filling? Home water pressure should be 20
to 120 psi (138 to 828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. If you have questions about your water pressure, call
a licensed, qualified plumber.
NOTE: To remove spots and film from glassware, remove all silverware and metal items and see
"Dishwasher Maintenance Procedure" in the "Dishwasher Care" section.
Sometimes there is a water/chemical reaction with certain types of glassware. This is usually caused by
some combination of soft or softened water, alkaline washing solutions, insufficient rinsing, overloading
the dishwasher, and the heat of drying. It might not be possible to avoid the problem, except by hand-
washing.
To slow this process, use a minimum amount of detergent but not less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Use
a liquid rinse aid and underload the dishwasher to allow thorough rinsing. Silica film and etching are
permanent and cannot be removed. Do not use heated drying.
Has the dishwasher detergent removed cookware seasoning?
Reseason cookware after washing it in the dishwasher.
Does your water have high iron content? Rewash dishes using 1-3 tsp (5-15 mL) of citric acid crystals
added to the covered section of the detergent dispenser. Do not use detergent.
Follow with a Normal wash cycle with detergent. If treatment is needed more often than every other month,
the installation of an iron removal unit is suggested.
Are aluminum items rubbing dishes during washing?
Disposable aluminum items can break down in the dishwasher and cause marking. Hand wash these
items.
Remove aluminum markings by using a mild abrasive cleaner
Are large amounts of tomato-based foods on dishes placed in the dishwasher? It may be necessary to
use a stain removal product to remove stains from your dishwasher. Stains will not affect dishwasher
performance.
A hard object has entered the wash module (on some models).
When the object is ground up, the sound should stop. If the noise persists after a complete cycle, call for
service.
Is the dishwasher loaded correctly?
Did you choose the cycle that describes the most difficult soil in your dishwasher? If you have some
items with heavier soils, use a heavier cycle. Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing
results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the dishwasher. Did you use the correct amount of fresh
detergent? Use recommended dishwasher detergents only. Do not use less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load.
Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra detergent.
Is detergent caked in dispenser? Use fresh detergent only. Do not allow detergent to sit for several hours
in a wet dispenser. Clean dispenser when caked detergent is present.
Is the pump or spray arm clogged by labels from bottles and cans?
Is the home water pressure high enough for proper dishwasher filling? Home water pressure should be 20
to 120 psi (138 to 828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. If you have questions about your water pressure, call
a licensed, qualified plumber.
Are high suds slowing the wash arm? Do not use soap or laundry detergents. Use recommended
dishwasher detergents only.