China is Staining - Dishwasher

Possible Solutions

Is the water turned on? 

The water supply must be completely open to wash and rinse the dishes properly.

Why is my China stained? 

Stained China is normally a result of tea, coffee or other sources. 

Was the correct amount of detergent and rinse aid used or was old detergent used?

Do not use hand soap or laundry detergents. Use automatic dishwasher detergents only. 

Using pre-measured dishwasher detergent tablets and pacs have been proven better than powder, liquid or gel detergents to reduce filming on your dishes. By using these tablets and pacs, over time this will start to reduce or eliminate white film. Also, by using a rinse aid you can minimize repeat build-up of white film.

• Never use less than 1 tablespoon (15g) per load.
• Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra detergent.
• Use automatic dishwashing detergent only. Other detergents can produce excessive suds that can overflow out of the dishwasher and reduce washing performance.
• Store detergent in a cool, dry place to keep it fresh and effective.

Is the detergent old (if using powder detergent)?

Older detergent exposed to air will clump and not dissolve well. Use fresh detergent only. Clean out the dispenser. Do not allow the detergent to sit for several hours in a wet dispenser. Clean the dispenser when caked detergent is present.

Was the correct cycle used, is the water pressure too low, or is the water temperature too low?

If your food soil is heavy on the dishes a heavier cycle may be required to fully clean your dishes. Check to see if the water pressure is high enough for proper dishwasher filling. Water pressure should be 20 to 120 psi (138 to 828 kPa).

CLICK HERE for more information on water temperature

Do you have hard water?

Hard water build-up is fairly common, especially within households on private wells that either don't have whole-house water softeners, or the softener is not working correctly. Not only does this build-up make items look bad, but an excessive build-up can also be harmful to the dishwasher as deposits can affect water flow and water heating. The targeted operating range for this dishwasher is less than 15 grains. Have the water that is supplied to the dishwasher tested and if necessary, install/adjust softener to the proper range.

Were the dishes loaded correctly? 

If water cannot easily reach all surfaces of the dish load, soils and detergent can be retained longer and impact dilution. Maintain good orientation and spacing of items to minimize shadowing and pooling of water.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to load dishes in the dishwasher correctly.

Is the spray arm blocked?

A blocked spray arm can delay the detergent and soil removal.  If the delay is too long, too much residue will remain in the wash cycle and the final rinse might not provide optimal performance. 

How to check?  Before starting the cycle, spin the middle spray arm by hand to confirm there are no items preventing it from freely spinning.  If there is resistance rearrange the dishes. 

Additional resolution

If the above does not solve your problem after re-washing the dishes, try diluting bleach and water to remove the stains. NOTE: Follow the bleach manufacturer's recommendations for proper dilution.