My stainless silverware and plastic serving spoons, well just about everything has a cloudy, gritty film on them. What can I do?

You could try adding vinegar to clean the white film off. If you wanted to be aggressive with it try using CLR to clean off the film from the dishwasher.

There are three typical causes of chronic cloudiness on glassware/dishes.

1. The incoming water may be too hot. Make sure the water is at or below 140 degrees F.
2. Test to see if cloudiness is removable by hand cleaning or soaking for 5 minutes in white vinegar. If it is removable, it's due to hard water. Use a good quality detergent, and match the amount of detergent used to the water hardness and use a rinse aid. (Some low quality detergents clean poorly and leave a film.)
   
3. Glassware may be etched, due to too much detergent, too high water temperature, or pre-washing. Etching is not reversible, so it's important to correct the problem promptly.

Hopefully these hints will help you to home in on the problem.

Hard water stains are easily taken care of with the help of vinegar. Add 1/4 vinegar to the cycle when you start it and it will help to remove spots and cloudiness.
As for food residue you might check your filters and water pressure.

If you have hard water, glasses can look spotted and cloudy even after cleaning. Sometimes changing the dishwasher detergent can help. The easiest solution to clearing up glasses that start to look cloudy is toadd some vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher before you start a cycle. Simply add 1 cup of white vinegar and it will clear up your glasses very well.
You should see marked improvement after the first time you do this. If they are not crystal clear then simply repeat the process until all of the cloudiness is gone. In fact I recommend to using a little vinegar in each cycle to maintain the clarity of the glass.
Note: you can pre-test this by rubbing some vinegar on an individual glass with a cloth. If you cannot remove the cloudiness by soaking it and rubbing vinegar on it then it is possible that the glass is etched due to harsh or cheap dishwasher detergent and vinegar will not solve the problem.

The problem is hard water. www.dishwasherfilter.com has a product to solve this problem once and for all. It filters the water going into your dishwasher and removes the hard minerals that leave those spots. It is very affordable and even has a money back guarantee. You will love the way your dishes look with this product.

Hi,
Check your heating element..

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

heatman101

make sure b4 you start the machine run the water until it is hot then start the machine. let me know if it works by sending me a 4 thumbs up post. thanks

Hi,

The scum, film and white residue problems have started since the reduction of phosphates in dishwasher detergents.

Here is a tip that will help you to solve the problem of films, residue, and scum in your dishwasher.

Dishwasher Residue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

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the problem is hard water. you need a dishwasher filter and your problems will be solved. you can get one at www.dishwasherfilter.com and it is guaranteed or your money back. you will love the way your dishes come out.