Dishwasher Soap Dispenser Opens But Soap Remains Inside It – Let’s Fix It

The dishwasher soap dispenser is part of the dishwasher. It is used to supply soap during the process of cleaning to make sure the dishes are clean and free from bacteria. However, when a dishwasher has a problem with its soap dispenser, it can be frustrating to say the least.

Dishwashers are often an issue for many homeowners across the country, particularly for those who own a machine for the first time. You don’t know what to look for and what’s causing the issues. It’s not always easy to pinpoint issues that affect dishwashers.

Everything should be effortless and easy, especially when it comes to the basics. You shouldn’t have to do anything but load your dishwasher and press a button to get clean dishes.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Things can go wrong in the blink of an eye, like when your dishwasher soap dispenser doesn’t open and you end up with dirty dishes — because who wants to wash by hand?

Often, soap dispenser issues are due to one of two things. First, customers may have a buildup of debris around the opening to the soap cup — this can disrupt the flow of soap, leading to a faulty dispensing system. Simply cleaning out any items or debris around the opening should do the trick. Second, if the water temperature is too low, it might be deterring the soap from flowing correctly. Increasing the temperature should clear up this issue.

In the future, avoiding a similar problem will be easier.

For your dishwasher to be most efficient, it’s important to place items carefully inside it. Remember that if certain components aren’t accessible, they won’t be able to do their job. If a component is blocked, soap won’t be properly dispensed.

If you’re experiencing issues with your own dishwasher soap dispenser, this quick guide will show you what to do!

Dishwasher Soap Dispenser Opens But Soap Remains Inside It – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

When your dishwasher soap dispenser is not working correctly, you may feel like throwing it out — but before you do so, make sure that you check the problem thoroughly. The dispenser may simply be improperly closed or open (during a wash cycle, no less) — or there may be an underlying issue with the unit itself.

1. Soap Density Issue

As the main function dishwasher is to clean dishes so that they are spotless and shiny, the soap dispenser is an essential part of any dishwasher.

Many dishwashers are designed with a jet spray head that is able to directly clean the soap dispenser and make it look like new.

If you have an older model dishwasher, it may not work as well as a newer one. Newer dishes tend to have better soaps that washes the dishes more effectively. But some of these newer detergents are less water-soluble, which causes them to build up in your dispenser over time, making it hard for the dispenser to deliver the soap.

2. Dirty/Broken Latch

A good dishwasher does more than just clean your dishes — it also keeps them in the proper place. That’s where the latch comes in. With a defective latch system, dishes can move around during washing and cleaning cycles, making a messy dishwasher even messier. A sturdy latch will hold the dishes in place, ensuring your dinnerware stays safe inside the washer.

Dishwasher doors get dirty much faster than the rest of your appliance since they are exposed to moisture and often touched by dirty hands.

As soon as you notice a small piece of food is stuck between the Dishwasher door, wash it in hot water. However, if you can’t remove the food particle manually, you must use a scrub to do this for you. If there is still a problem with “stuck” bits of food between the door and dishwasher body, you may need to spray some hot water from your kitchen sink directly on them.

Look closely at the dishwasher’s latch mechanism. If it is free of food particles, you can see how the grooves are intended to fit together and determine what the locked position might look like. You may find that a small piece of food is obstructing the latch or that the latch no longer works in this position.

Dishwasher latch problems can occur for a variety of reasons, including a snapped or worn-away latch. Other causes include metal fatigue, weak springs and breakage due to strong detergent build-up.

The latch of the dishwasher is one of those things that without fail will happen to stop working. This can be caused by many factors, but typically causing it is a simple bend or break within the mechanism itself — either from wear-and-tear on it or possibly even a breakage from too much force applied to it during cleaning.

3. Remove Items Near The Soap Cup

When dishwasher soap doesn’t dissolve, it’s usually due to a lack of water. The first step to fixing this is to run a cycle with no dishes in the machine — just hot water and detergent. If that doesn’t work, then you can remove any objects blocking the detergent dispenser and a few other items.

To fix this problem, first remove all nearby items and then remove the soap dispenser.

A lot of people have been complaining about the dishwasher soap cup not fully opening. This happens because of items that are placed near the soap — a lot of times, this is caused by leaning against the soap or placing items close to it. Some users might even place metal objects into the soap holder which can further lead to the problem.

To prevent this, always make sure everything is placed in its place and away from the dishwasher soap cup.

4. Increase The Water Temperature

Here is a quick trick: if your dishwasher seems to be lacking that sparkle and you find soap residue in the bottom of your dishwasher, it’s likely because you are using low-temperature settings. Dishwashers need hotter water to cut through grease than your typical sink’s faucet does, so keep the temperatures high for best results.

Is your dishwasher not cleaning well? Try running it at a higher temperature. As water heats up, more soap is needed to stay consistent with detergency standards. In this way, running the dishwasher at a higher temperature allows the machine to use more detergent, giving you more options to keep your dishes clean.

Running a cycle at a higher temperature will make the dishwasher use more soap and clean more effectively, so you’ll need less detergent and be able to get away with using just a small amount of soap instead of a whole capful.

5. Damaged Spring

The detergent door opens by the means of a tiny spring — if you look at the bottom of the dishwasher, you’ll see where the door latches. The spring is connected to a rod which pushes against a little wheel inside the door; this wheel is connected to the soap dispenser. When there’s enough hot water in the dishwasher, the wheel spins and pushes against another wheel that releases the soap.

When the spring in the detergent dispenser breaks, you’re far more likely to have problems with the dishwasher’s performance. A broken spring can leave a substantial amount of detergent behind, leading to increased grime and a build-up around the detergent dispenser door and the interior of your dishwasher.

Soap dispensers can be a hassle to maintain and ultimately replace. One of the most common issues is with broken springs on the dishwasher, which will make it very difficult to open the soap dispenser door without having to manually pry it open.

6. Warped Dispenser Door

A dishwasher soap dispenser door that warps during the wash cycle is a common problem among current and former washer owners. The most common reasons for this include old washers that were designed to operate at high temperatures and homeowners who want to go all out with rustic decorating.

If the water is too hot for the dishwasher to handle, the heat-dry cycle is too hot for the soap dispenser, or if anything goes wrong while the dishwasher is in use, there’s a chance that the more delicate components of the dishwasher can be damaged in the process.

if your soap dispenser door is broken, you may need to replace the soap dispenser for a new one. This task can be done by an amateur using a screwdriver, but more advanced people may want to call a professional.

7. Faulty Wax Motor

When your dishwasher soap dispenser doesn’t open during the intended cycle, there are a variety of possible problems that could cause it. The wax motor is designed to track timers and trigger the soap dispenser when needed.

Problems with this motor may either prevent it from working at all or cause it to work intermittently. In either case, it will be necessary to replace the wax motor or hire a professional to take care of the entire job.

8. Loose Rinse Aid Cap

The rinse aid cap is a common issue. The cap is very important to the performance of the dishwasher and should be in place during the wash cycle. If your dishwasher has an internal rinse aid compartment, check to see if the cap is loose or missing and tighten it going forward to prevent problems with cleaning performance.

The problem could be as simple as a loose screw on the rinse aid dispenser. It could be a missing gasket or a faulty solenoid.

Another reason is that that cap to the rinse-aid compartment may have come loose and fallen down inside.

9. Broken Dispenser Door

This is one of the most common dishwasher problems that users face: the dispenser door breaks down often. But, you don’t have to worry, because this doesn’t happen with all dishwashers; this is a problem that arises if you buy a cheap model.

The dispenser door is weakly constructed, and it works based on water temperature; any interruptions to the dishes can cause damage.

To keep your machine working, you’ll need to change its parts. But we suggest you buy good quality and high-ranked dishwashers.

10. Damaged Gasket

If you see a round (usually black or dark-colored) ring around the edge of your dishwasher door, you will be able to tell that it is a gasket. It is positioned within the door of the dishwasher in order to ensure that the detergent solutions contained within are kept securely within and do not leak into the rest of the dishwasher.

It keeps soap sealed inside the dispenser door, making sure that liquid doesn’t flow out when there’s no need for it to be dispensed. This little gasket gives great control over the dishwasher.

The rubber gasket is a necessary part of the unit. However, it tends to lose its ability to hold soap due to regular wear and tear. If this happens, no need to buy a new dispenser. Just moisturize the gasket with some cooking oil or vegetable oil, and your soap refills will be as good as new!