Is Your Dishwasher Not Releasing Soap?

You make the beds, you wash the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again.~ Joan Rivers

Washing dishes, like vacuuming and putting things away is a part of life even for the most disorganized among us. (Hide your faces, please!) Our appliances are supposed to make our lives and these tasks easier, but sometimes things go wrong. Just like poor Mr. Murphy and his law of averages, a number of issues can be responsible for a dishwasher that refuses to dispense detergent and interfere with the process of cleaning your dishes.

The dispenser usually has two compartments, one unsealed for pre-wash, and another, which is sealed for the main wash cycle. The dispenser could be clogged, and check that out first before consulting an appliance repair specialist. The cover for the dispenser could also be damaged or broken.

The culprit responsible for your malfunctioning soap dispenser could also be the detergent you are using. For automatic washers, you should always use detergent that comes in tablet, powder of liquid form. Other types create too many suds and can cause of multitude of secondary problems. Detergent can also get stale if not used over time, which is easily indicated by clumping. In this state, it is useless because it sticks to the cup and cannot release the detergent. Liquid varieties lasts longer and usually don’t get stale, but then again, we all know Mr. Murphy and what can happen there.

Even if a light bulb shines over your head and the word ‘eureka’ fills your thoughts, do not ever mix detergents. They can clump together and prevent the release of soap. You can try out different ones, but for each wash load, use only one kind of detergent. Low water temperature can also prevent the detergent from dissolving properly. Household water temperature should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the rinse aid cap as well, which is located on the inner door of your dishwasher. It could be just loose but could also be damaged; you may need to replace it.

There are other potential causes for the problem. The door spring and hinge pin on the dispenser door could be bent or broken, the dispenser cup could be blocked or the rubber gasket might have become worn or cracked.

If you are adventurous, you may want to attempt replacing the soap dispenser yourself. Proceed at your own risk however, as unless you really know what you are doing, you will probably regret not calling in an appliance repair specialist. If you live in the New York-Bronx-Westchester areas of New York City, the man to contact is Anthony at The Appliance Doctor. His office is always open and he can be reached 24/7 at: 1 800 339-0353.

Happy dishwasher!