Ikea dishwasher and discolouring glassware.

ktj

Hi, I know that all glassware washed in a dishwasher discolours over time, but since buying my new Ikea dishwasher my glassware is clouding in a matter of weeks rather than the months it took with my previous AEG dishwasher. Just wondered if anyone else has had a similar problem or if anyone can suggest anything that can slow this process. We have soft water and I use dishwasher liquid rather than powder. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. kje.

Fire_Fox

Does all glassware discolour? Are you using dishwasher salt and rinse aid or a different liquid?

ktj

Hi Firefox,

I don't put my really good glasses in the dishwasher, just the everyday stuff and yes all of that is clouding very quickly.

We live in a soft water area so technically we don't need salt so I never used it in my old dishwasher so at first I did not put any in my new dishwasher, but after discovering the problem with my glasses, I added the salt, but it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

Yes I use the same rinse aid and liquid as before.

Just wondered if anyone else has found this problem with their Ikea dishwasher or with Whirlpool dishwashers which I think supply Ikea with their white goods or does anyone have any tips for slowing down the discolouration process.

Again many thanks in advance for any advice offered. kje.

Meadows

The chemicals in the dishwasher tablets eat into the glass. It doesn't matter what type of dishwasher tablets you buy it will happen, the softer/cheaper glassware the worse it is - never wash your best glasses/crystal/etched in the dishwasher.

Either you are putting glassware that shouldn't be washed in the dishwasher or you need to look at the cleaner you are using.

imho

I was told by a Miele guy that even if you have soft water you still have to use salt in Dishwashers.

loracan1

No answer to it - but my replacement dishwasher does the same - 15 years of being able to put glassware in with no consequences and it now clouds them

suki1964

I've a ikea dishwasher

No problems with glasses clouding. However I did have terrible trouble with the dishes not getting clean and the drying not happening


Solved by putting tablet in the bottom of the washer rather then using the dispenser

ktj

Hi, Thanks all for replying. Sorry to hear loracan 1 has the same prob., some of my glasses were washed in my AEG dishwashers for over 20 years with only mild discolouration, but they have now gone really cloudy in a matter of months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also like Suki my new dishwasher doesn't get my dishes as clean so I'll have to try your tip. Also Suki I'd be interested to hear how glasses fare in your dishwasher and if anyone else has any tips that would be great. kje.

suki1964

ktj wrote: »

Hi, Thanks all for replying. Sorry to hear loracan 1 has the same prob., some of my glasses were washed in my AEG dishwashers for over 20 years with only mild discolouration, but they have now gone really cloudy in a matter of months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also like Suki my new dishwasher doesn't get my dishes as clean so I'll have to try your tip. Also Suki I'd be interested to hear how glasses fare in your dishwasher and if anyone else has any tips that would be great. kje.

I never use good glasses , just ikea and tesco tumblers and wine glasses, not a problem yet

I use fairy tablets and salt and rinse aid

We had a full sized Miele before. That machine was a nightmare. Every glass or mug that went in there came out chipped and glasses clouded. Was my mums. I banned its use lol

Best machine I had was a bosch counter top, I used to put all my crystal through that no problem

kaya

dishwashers should not damage or discolour glassware if working correctly ever ( i used to build and repair massive commercial units in kitchens all over the country)
The salt you put into your dishwasher isnt to soften the water it is in fact to recharge the resin in your dishwashers softner, hard water discolouration or clouding is in fact mineral deposits forming as the softner isnt working correctly, rince aid is a chemical that helps remove all detergent traces and leave your glasses shiney and dry , so if they come out cloudy and slightly slippery and discoloured(i.e. not "squeaky" clean) then your rince aid isnt dosing correctly , there will be an adjustment in the hole where you add the rince aid which will allow you to change the dose of rince aid should you need more adding each cycle, if your glassware is squeaky and dry but still clouding then you need to add salt to your dishwasher to soften the water, this will prevent further clouding but wont remove any mineralisation you have already on your glassware , if you have any other residue left then you need to change your detergent or clean your filter . Clean your filter once a month by removing it and running it under the hot tap , dont get suckered into buying any "dishwasher" cleaning fluids as every time you do a wash cycle you are using hot water and adding detergent already so its a complete waste of money , also any tablets that are promoted as having salt in them are nothing more than advertising garbage, there is nothing whatsoever to be gained by adding salt to the internal wash chamber of any dishwasher as it needs to get to the resin crystals in the softner to serve its purpose which it cannot do from inside the wash chamber , also removing the spinning wash arms from the dishwasher and checking the spray holes are clear will help every six months or so, if you have glasses that are clouded and worth the effort i would suggest placing them in a solution of citric acid or vinegar overnight the same as you would do with a kettle to descale it , if you have run your dishwasher for years and added no salt the chances are you have ruined the softner resin crystals beyond repair

ktj

Hi, Thanks Kaya for your very helpful and detailed reply. I will certainly act on this info and even though we have soft water, I will definitely make sure that there is salt in my dishwasher. I was not aware that dishwashers had resin crystals. Do these need periodically replacing? As my glasses are clouding would you recommend increasing or decreasing the amount of rinse aid? Thank you again for your help. Regards kje.