My dishwasher will not use the detergent, but the

DISHWASHER NOT CLEANING WELL??
Here are 5 common reasons why not.
Here are Improper Water Temperature
I can tell you from personal experience that water temperature has a direct impact on how well your family's dishwasher operates. If the water entering your dishwasher is not hot enough, your dishes are likely to come out coated with grease and dish detergent residue. As such, you will want to make sure that the temperature of the water inside your dishwasher is somewhere between the range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If it's not it could be a faulty heating element.
Dirty Pump
Based on my experience, a dirty dishwasher pump will also cause your dishwasher to produce less than stellar results. Therefore, you may want to consider cleaning your dishwasher's pump every six months. In many instances, it is an easy task to complete. In order to clean your dishwasher's pump, you'll most likely have to remove the dishwasher's spray arms. Once the spray arms are removed, you'll want to clean and inspect the pump's impellers, blades and pump guard. I should also mention that there are appliance companies that sell dishwasher pump repair kits should you notice that a part needs to be replaced. A basic dishwasher pump repair kit will tend to cost you $20 to $60 depending on your dishwasher's unique needs.
Dirty Spray Arm
Dirty spray arms may also be to blame. After all, if the spray arms' holes are clogged, the hot water won't be able to reach the dishes properly. A dishwasher's spray arms are very simple to clean. In order to clean them, you will need an old toothbrush and a bread twist tie that has been stripped of its paper. Use the toothbrush's bristles and the wire from the bread twist tie to unclog all the holes.
Broken Dish Detergent Dispenser
A broken dish detergent dispenser is another likely culprit when it comes to dish cleanliness problems. Sometimes the dish detergent dispenser's door will not open or shut properly, which prevents the dishes from getting nice and soapy. The good news is that most dish detergent dispenser problems may be solved relatively inexpensively. The cost of a replacement dish detergent dispenser will vary based on the make and model of your dishwasher. There are also instructional videos online that will help you with the installation of your dishwasher's new detergent dispenser.
Dirty Filter
A filter has an impact on a dishwasher's effectiveness as well. Hence, you will want to inspect your dishwasher's filter for obstructions. The location and type of filter will vary based on your dishwasher's make and model. I would recommend that you check out your dishwasher's operator's manual. It should contain instructions on how to clean your particular unit's filter as well as where you can order a replacement part if need be.

Is the water level ok? Check your water temp into the tub. It needs to be a minimum 120 degrees. Check for plugged spray arms. Do they turn freely? Does dishwasher drain completely?

Hello

There are some things you can try, however, if your Maytag dishwasher is not getting your dishes as clean as you would like. Maytag recommends several processes for fixing this issue with your dishwasher.


Do not run your Maytag dishwasher while hot water is being used in other parts of your home, such as washing clothes or showering. Hot water is needed for your Maytag dishwasher to properly clean dishes.


Run water in the sink in your kitchen until it gets very hot. Then, turn on your Maytag dishwasher. This will ensure that the water cleaning your dishes is the hottest possible temperature.


Clean your Maytag dishwasher to improve the cleaning results for dishes. Run your dishwasher on a short wash cycle and wait for it to fill up with water. Stop the cycle and add about 1/3 of a cup of rust remover to the dishwasher and finish the cycle. Run your Maytag dishwasher through one normal cycle with regular detergent to finish the cleaning process.


Check your detergent. Old detergent or those that have been exposed to moisture can be clumpy. This detergent will not clean your dishes as well when loaded into your Maytag dishwasher. Purchase fresh detergent.


Use extra detergent when washing dishes that have a lot of built-up grease or food particles. The extra amount of detergent is needed to get your dishes clean. Choose a long cleaning cycle to clean these dishes.


Fill your Maytag dishwasher properly. Dishes should not be stacked on top of each other or excessively crammed into your dishwasher. This will keep the dishwasher from adequately cleaning all areas of your dishes and from rinsing them thoroughly.

Detergents have changed. The link below explains how to get better results and what has happened to detergents recently.

http://www.appliancerepairlesson.com/2011/02/24/dishwasher-is-no-longer-cleaning-film-and-debris-are-left-on-dishes/

Good luck.

Hi

If you are noticing that the dishes are not clean, then there are a few things to check for. Check the soap powder if it's kept in a dry environment. Also try replacing the powder with something like a gel or liquid. Next thing to check for is the water pressure and fill valve. Check if the water is filling in and the spray arms are throwing the water with enough pressure. Try and listen to the sound if you hear a proper spraying action sound.

If it seems as a low water pressure then check the fill valve. Now, check if dishwasher is draining the water or not. While the dishwasher is working check whether the dishwasher is draining and there is not much left out water after the cycle is complete. Try cleaning the spray arm with a soft brush. The water temperature plays a major role in cleaning of dishes. The temp should be between 125 and 150 F for dishwasher to clean the dishes. Hope this helps...

Instructions Things You'll Need:

• Vinegar or lemon juice
• Gel dishwasher detergent

1. dishwashers have a rinse aid dispenser. If your dishwasher has this dispenser, fill it up periodically and it will release the appropriate amount of rinse aid automatically at the right time during the wash cycle. This will help your dishes rinse more cleanly.
2. Rinse aid in solid form
   Some older dishwashers or basic models do not have an automatic rinse aid dispenser. In this case, you can buy rinse aid in solid form that attaches to your dishwasher rack. Solid rinse aid can be hard to find in stores because it is not commonly used, but it can be purchased online.
   
3. Vinegar or lemon juice
   Appliance repairmen will tell you that one of the common problems they see with dishwashers is the buildup of excess detergent. If there is too much detergent in your dishwasher, your dishes will not rinse cleanly, no matter how good the dishwasher is or how much rinse aid you use. To clean the excess detergent that has built up inside your dishwasher, put 3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice (concentrate is fine) in the empty dishwasher and run the dishwasher through a complete cycle with no dishes. Do this twice, for two complete cycles of the empty dishwasher with only vinegar or lemon juice added. The acid in the vinegar or lemon juice will break up the detergent that has built up in your dishwasher's interior.
   
   After you have cleaned the detergent buildup from the inside of your dishwasher, follow the steps below to keep the buildup from happening again and to help your dishes rinse cleanly and prevent residue from accumulating on the dishes.
   
4. Gel dishwasher detergent
   Switch to a liquid or gel dishwasher detergent. Any brand will do.
   
5. Fill one compartment half full Dishwashers will effectively clean dishes with much less detergent than manufacturers often recommend. The bleach in the detergent, combined with the extremely hot water used in the dishwasher wash cycle, will clean and sanitize your dishes completely, even in small amounts, and using less detergent helps prevent buildup and residue from accumulating on your clean dishes.
   
   Fill only one detergent compartment(the one that snaps closed) half full with gel detergent. Snap the opening closed and run your dishwasher as you normally would. Your dishes will come out sparkling clean with no buildup or residue, plus you'll save money by using less detergent!
   

Supply water temperature should be above 120 degrees F for effective cleaning. Run hot water from your kitchen sink (your dishwasher should be tapped off the hot water line near your sink faucet) right before you start a dishwashing cycle to make sure it's as hot as it can be when the dishwasher begins filling. Also, during the wash cycle the heating elements at the bottom of the tub may turn on and warm the water further even if you select a "No Heat Dry" option causing a noticeable shot of steam to escape if you open the door during a cycle.
Note: I recently had a problem with our dishwasher (Frigidaire FDB834RFS0) causing dishes to come out dirty and the detergent dispenser to be left with undissolved detergent. Our problem happened to be caused by a partially clogged strainer in the water supply valve. (I would imagine Whirlpool most likely has some kind of filter/strainer in its water valve as well.) When the supply valve was commanded to open for some time, I noticed the water level in the tub would barely be visible below the lower spray arm. After cleaning out the strainer (required removing and disassembling the water supply valve) the water level was noticeably higher -- almost at the bottom of the float or about an inch below the heating elements. Our dishes and the detergent dispenser are now clean.
If your water supply is ok, I would next check to make sure your spray arms do not have any plugged holes and that they rotate freely. Also, use a good quality detergent and a rinse aid. We prefer liquid Cascade and Jet Dry. We have had problems with old, stale, or really thick liquid detergents and by getting a fresh jug have solved the dirty dish dilemma.
Make sure to clean out the filter basket at the bottom of the basin below the lower spray arm occasionally as it can clog and cause the pump to starve due to lack of water. If the pump can't get a supply of water to pump to the spray arms and nozzles, your dishes will not get sprayed evenly and you will end up with them being poorly cleaned.
Hope this helps you out...good luck!

Using liquid detergent is the worst detergent to use. One possible solution to your problem could be as follows...pour 2 cups of vinegar in to the tub and run it on the hottest longest cycle with no dishes in it. May need to do this several times (3 to 4). This will clean the residue out and what ever "gunk" may be in the internal parts. Use Only powder detergent. No gel, no liquid and no tabs. These 2 cause a build-up over a period of time of use and reduce the performance of your machine. This should take care of your problem.

If you have dishes (typically cutting boards or really tall dishes) that block the dispenser door from opening, the water cannot wash out all the detergent during the wash cycle. Check to see that after loading the dishes, your detergent door has clearance.