Dishwasher detergents have come a long way over the years, but still, people get Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving problem. You may be wondering what the big deal is here, if this dishwasher detergent is not working as well as the next, or if there is something you can do differently. In fact, there are many things you can do to improve the performance of your dishwasher, so don’t worry too much as we are here to help you.
The dishwasher is one of the most important appliances in our home. Without it, our kitchen will be full of dirty utensils.
You can put dishes in the dishwasher, set the washer on cycle, and leave it to do its job. It saves you time and makes your life easier. Many modern dishwashers also dry your dishes.
But sometimes, it doesn’t work as expected and shows signs that something is not right.
You will notice that there the soap is not dissolving in the dishwasher. What is causing this issue? Is it because water is not hot enough, or is there any other reason?
What Causes Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving Problem
To understand this issue, you have first to know how your dishwasher works.
The dishwasher works the same way you wash your dishes using your hands. Typically you will apply soap and do a little scrubbing and then wash it with hot water to remove all dirt.
In the same way, the dishwasher works. But it is automatic and its a machine, which means it can work continuously. When you start the wash cycle, the dishwasher will start working from this point. It will also dry the dishes if you have a dryer option.
Water temperature is not hot enough
The water temperature inside the dishwasher should be above 110F/115F. Anything less than that, then the water will not be hot enough to dissolve the soap/detergents.
Many dishwashers come with a built-in thermostat that tells you water temperature. If your dishwasher does not have a built-in thermostat, you can also check the temperature using a thermometer.
To avoid it, you can run the water in the sink till it is sufficiently hot, and after this, start the dishwasher. We recommend running the dishwasher in the longest and hottest mode.
Not Enough Water For Washing Dishes
You need to ensure that the dishwasher pump is getting enough water. If water is less than the soap will not be able to dissolve completely.
So, to verify it, you need to start the dishwasher. Now carefully open the dishwasher and check if there is enough hot water flowing inside it. Check the level of water at the bottom of the dishwasher. If the level is low, then this indicates less water issue.
If you see less water, then the possible reason is that the pump is not getting enough water. If the water supply is adequate, clean the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher. Remove all the particles stick inside the filter. Hopefully, now the pump will get enough water to run.
Faulty Inlet Valve
If you are getting Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving Problem, this can be because your dishwasher is not getting enough water to dissolve soap/detergent.
To verify whether your dishwasher is getting water or not, you need to press the start button and, after 2 minutes, slowly open the dishwasher door.
If there is water at the bottom, then the inlet valve is working fine. If you don’t see any water, the inlet valve is probably not working, and you need to replace it.
Dispenser Door is Jammed
If the Dispenser Door Blocked Or Jammed, then it will not be able to open completely.
The dispenser door’s main function is to open and allow the soap tablet to drop into the dishwasher’s hot water. If the door is not opening due to some issues, then the soap tablet will not enter the dishwasher. This will result in the dishwasher tablet not releasing.
The possible reason for a Jammed Dispenser door can be that the dish rack is improperly stacked. Due to which some dish plates is stopping the free movement of the door.
It is a good habit to stack large or tall utensils away from the dispenser door. In this way, you can avoid this problem.
Spray Arm is clogged or Broken
Inspect the spray arm holes and see if there is any blockage in them. A clogged spray arm holes will not be able to spray water, and hence dishwasher soap will not be able to dissolve as it does not get enough water.
If required, wash the spray arm holes and remove any clogging to solve the issue.
We recommend replacing the broken spray arm.
Circulation Pump Malfunction
Sometimes if your circulation pump is jammed or is not working, you will get the problem.
The circulation pump is an essential part of the dishwasher and helps in supplying water for washing. It helps in spraying water and opening the dispenser door.
If you hear any abnormal sound right after the water cycle, then please open the dishwasher door and inspect if you see any water splashing. For this, it is better to consult with a repair person.
We hope that now you know how to fix Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving Issue.
It is always better to know the working mechanism of the dishwasher to solve the issue. Please do comment with your questions, and we will be happy to answer them.
How does Dishwasher work?
Instead of using hands, the dishwasher uses high-pressure water jets from the washer arms’ tiny holes to scrub the dishes. The dishwasher also has an arm that rotates around the rack in which dishes are there. It makes sure that each plate gets properly cleaned.
The ideal temperature of the water that comes from the spray arm should be 120-160ºF. The hot water can dissolve the soap easily that helps in cleaning the dishes efficiently.
A dispenser door is where the soap/tablet is dropped into the hot water for washing. It will dissolve into the hot water.
This soapy water will then pump out from rotating arms in the form of water jets, which do all the cleaning stuff. Finally, the dishwasher drains out all the water after the wash cycle.
If the Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving, then there is some issue in the above steps. So Above, we will check what can be the problem and how to fix it.
Dishwasher Detergent Not Dissolving
Dishwasher detergent not dissolving is usually due to the type of water. If you are using city water or well water, with a high level of minerals, it’s likely due to the type of water. You can help dissolve the detergent by adding a cup of vinegar to the reservoir.
The causes could be due to the type of water, but there are other things that could cause this issue, as well, such as the type of detergent and the size of the dishwasher’s filter.
Why Is The Soap In The Dishwasher Not Dissolving
The most common cause of bar soap not dissolving comes from not properly prepping the dishwasher before use. The dishwasher might not be hot enough to dissolve the soap. Hotter water helps to create more suds, but some dishwashers are just not up to that temperature. You can try adding a cup of white vinegar to the dishwasher to help it produce more suds to dissolve soap better.
If your dishwasher is loaded properly, make sure that the soap is on the middle rack, not too close to the inner or outer door surfaces. The closer the soap is to the door surfaces, the less exposure it will have to water getting inside.
Why Is My Dishwasher Not Using The Soap
There are a few possible reasons that the dishwasher may stop using soap and they are as follows:
The dishwasher might have stopped using soap. If you have recently changed your dish soap then you may need to run a dishwasher cycle with no soap, and then the cycle with the new soap.
The dishwasher may have a faulty soap door. If you have recently reduced the amount of soap used in the dishwasher, then this could be the reason for the dishwasher not using any soap.
The dishwasher may not be using soap due to a faulty water filter.
Hi there! I’m Sam Hendricks, and I’m a repair technician and expert. I created this website to help people like you save money and time by fixing your own appliances.
Over the years, I’ve seen people spend a lot of money on unnecessary repairs or replacements. That’s why I decided to share my expertise and create easy-to-follow guides for fixing appliances on your own.