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Why Your LG Dishwasher Isn't Cleaning Dishes Well and How to Fix It

Troubleshooting

Poor washing performance in your LG DIOS dishwasher is usually caused by large food scraps, incorrect loading, ineffective detergent, or a dirty filter. To resolve this, rinse your dishes before loading, make sure they do not overlap, use a recommended dishwasher detergent, and clean the filter and spray arms regularly.

Important

  • For items that water cannot easily reach, such as deep pots or large frying pans, always pre-rinse and load them as flat as possible.
  • Liquid detergent is not recommended, as it may reduce cleaning performance.

Why Isn't My Dishwasher Cleaning Well?

1. Large food scraps remain on the dishes, or burnt-on food (such as scorched pots) was loaded without pre-cleaning.
2. Dishes are stacked on top of each other, or curved items are loaded facing up.
3. Dishes touch the spray arm (nozzle), so the water cannot circulate properly inside.
4. A low-performance liquid detergent is used, or dirt has built up inside the unit (filter, nozzle).

How to Improve Cleaning Performance

Step 1. Remove Food and Pre-Rinse

Scrape off large food scraps. For burnt pots or stubborn residue like baked-on eggs, soak them for 1 hour, then pre-rinse before loading.

Step 2. Load Dishes Correctly

Stand plates upright, and load bowl-shaped items (cups, pots, etc.) upside down. Make sure dishes do not overlap.

Incorrectly stacked dishes in the dishwasher

Step 3. Check the Spray Arms

After loading, adjust the rack height or reposition the dishes so they do not block the spray arms.

A tall item in the lower rack blocking the upper spray arm

Step 4. Use the Right Detergent and Cycle

Use a high-performance dishwasher detergent, and select a wash cycle and options that match how dirty your dishes are.

Step 5. Clean the Dishwasher Regularly

Remove the filter and rinse it under running water. Fill the detergent dispenser with citric acid (40 g), press and hold the Intensive button for 3 seconds, and run the Tub Clean cycle (54 minutes).

FAQ

Q. What type of detergent should I use?
A. We recommend using a highly rated dishwasher detergent with proven cleaning performance. Liquid detergents may reduce cleaning performance.
Q. How should I wash burnt pots or items with baked-on eggs?
A. Soak them for about 1 hour, then pre-rinse before loading. This gives much cleaner results.

This guide is based on standard models. The settings menu may vary by model.

*Required question