Why Does My Dishwasher Leave A Sandy Residue? [+ 4 SHOCKING Reasons]

Originally Created on: March 7, 2023 @ 10:34 am

Why does my dishwasher leave a sandy residue? Dishwashers play a significant role in the kitchen. They help save both time and effort when handling dishes, simplify cleaning, and reduce breakage by minimizing the handling of dishes.

According to public health standards, most food service institutions must clean their dishes using dishwashers for hygiene purposes. This is because the presence of old sponges is the leading cause of food poisoning.

When you wash your dishes by hand, you won’t be able to kill the germs, unlike when a dishwasher is used. Dishwashers rinse dishes at relatively high temperatures.

There are many reasons why people should use dishwashers, as follows:

Ability to clean hard-to-reach areas and tough stains
Better hygiene
Environmentally friendly
Saves water
Time efficient
Reduces stress
Energy efficient

Even with their numerous benefits, dishwashers also have some downsides, including leaving sandy residues.

Table of Content

Why Does My Dishwasher Leave A Sandy Residue?

This is a common problem with most dishwashers. You’ll notice a sandy residue on your glasses, plates, and other cooking items immediately after using the machine. Apart from this, you’ll also notice odors, paper clogging, and spots on your kitchen items.

There are many reasons why dishwashers leave a sandy residue, as explained below:

Irregular cleaning

Public health standards recommend thoroughly cleaning dishwashers to remove sandy residue on both the machine’s tub and filters.

When you leave your dishwasher’s filters soiled, it will be difficult to break down some food particles. However, using a dishwasher cleaner is the best way to eliminate this problem.

Using the wrong detergents

There are specific detergents made for different types of dishwashers. When you use the wrong detergent, there’s a high chance that you’ll notice a sandy residue. To avoid this, it’s advisable to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the right detergent to use.

Clogged drain

When the dishwasher has clogged drains, it will be difficult to filter sandy residue. This will, over time, result in the accumulation of gritty residue.

Using excess detergent

Too much detergent on your dishwasher can make it leave a sandy residue. It’s advisable to use the correct amount of detergent to avoid this problem.

Additionally, experts recommend using soft water since you’ll need less detergent compared to hard water.

Preventing Sandy Residue From Dishwasher

The only way to prevent sandy residue in your dishwasher is through regular deep cleaning. The cleaning should be done when the machine isn’t connected to power for safety purposes.

The cleaning process involves the following steps:

Detach and clean the machine’s spinning arms and rack
Detach the filter and thoroughly clean it
Make sure that you clean inside the machine’s door

You can consider using baking soda and vinegar solutions when cleaning the dishwasher. The door should be scrubbed gently to prevent it from wearing out.

How Do I Stop My Dishwasher From Leaving Residue?

When a dishwasher doesn’t get proper cleaning, the high temperature within its system heats and dries food residues which forms grit.

In most cases, this is caused by using low-quality detergents, low water temperatures, and short wash cycles.

Before you contact an appliance repair contractor, you can consider taking the following steps to stop the machine from leaving residue:

Remove debris and food residues
Avoid using the quick cycle, especially if many dishes are to be cleaned
Keep your dishwasher spray arms clean
Ensure you load the machine properly
Use the proper detergent amount
Remove anything that can block the spray arms

New Dishwasher Leaving Gritty Residue

New dishwashers tend to leave a gritty residue when mineral deposits build up. Although this residue isn’t dangerous, it’s still not pleasing to come across it on your dishes.

In most cases, new dishwashers leave gritty reside because of the following reasons:

Hard water

Hard water tends to have a high content of dissolved minerals, i.e., calcium and magnesium, which causes a gritty residue, especially after prolonged use.

Low temperature

The optimal temperature for using dishwashers should be 120-150 degrees Fahrenheit. Any temperature lower than this will cause the buildup of gritty residue in new dishwashers.

Detergent residue

Some detergents contain high levels of phosphate, which has been linked to gritty residue in new dishwashers.

Also Read: How To Keep Dishwasher From Smelling Between Washes [+3 REASONS Why]

How To Get Rid Of Grit In Dishwasher

It’s normal to come across calcium deposits in most dishwasher, especially if you mainly use hard water.

However, regardless of the kind of water you use, you can get rid of grit in dishwashers in many ways as follows:

Install a water softener system on your premises to reduce using hard water
Research on the best detergents to use in the machine
Spray white vinegar on the dishwasher to decalcify it and rinse it properly
Regularly clean the machine’s filter

Conclusion

These are some top tips to help you get rid of grit in dishwashers. This will improve the performance, functionality, and efficiency of the dishwasher.

If you don’t know the best solution to this problem, consider getting professional help from a home appliance repair service.