Dishwasher Mineral Scale removal?

[dustin92]

So, long story short, we are moving into a house with a 1990's Kenmore Ultra Wash dishwasher already installed, and has a heavy scale buildup in it. How can I remove the scale easily without damaging anything? The door seal and heating element are the worst, the racks aren't too bad and I already cleaned out the top wash arm which was packed solid from one end about half way up. I have run a dishwasher cleaner through and plan on running another one tomorrowbut was wondering if anything might work better/ faster? The water is so hard that the dishes had a crusty buildup (lime or calcium) until I started running Finish Glass Magic in every load, now can't find it anywhere, so I bought a jar of the lemishine granules and will try that tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[arbilab]

I'd try a gallon of boiling vinegar. I've had hard water that stopped up showerheads in a matter of months and vinegar always sorted it. Vinegar takes the carbonate out of calcium carbonate, leaving just the calcium which when wet is a paste that wipes up. Wiping will probably be needed on the door gasket because it doesn't get any agitation to speak of. Use a 'Dobie' pad sprayed with kitchen cleaner (409).

First pour the boiling vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes to clean out the pump in its concentrated form. Then run the faucet to get the water hot, and start the DW at the beginning of the primary wash cycle, the one where the detergent dispenser activates. Only allow enough water to run to get the sound of full agitation, so as not to overly dilute the vinegar. Then advance the timer to cut the water off and let the machine complete primary wash and 2 rinses.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Citric acid all the way!

Don't use vinegar, it's effective but not as much as citric acid!
Set your washer in the longest and hottest cycle without pre-wash and load it with 100 g (4 oz) of citric acid. at the end of the cycle you'll have a perfectly descaled machine with a somewhat lemony, very light, scent.

Or simply pour the citric acid when the machine is supposed to take the detergent from the main wash! And you're done

 

[tomturbomatic]

Use citric acid aka Fruit Fresh in both detergent cups. Set machine for Pots & Pans and let'er rip. Do not draw hot water up to the kitchen before starting the machine so that the first wash will heat longer.

 

[polkanut]

Can a person just use Tang orange drink mix?  I've heard of urban legends that say you can do this with great effectiveness.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I was raised not to waste food. Why waste the sugar in Tang when you can purchase citric acid so easily, especially now that it is canning season? Fruit Fresh is sold near the canning supplies. It keeps low acid fruits like apples from darkening once they are peeled and sliced. I think you can even ask pharmacists for citric acid.

 

[coldspot]

I found a cheap easy way to do this. If you got a family dollar or dollar store looks for the works lime cutter think that is the name it is in a green bottle. Total price is $1.00 and it works I used it in mine and it is now clean as it can get.

 

[joeekaitis]

If you do use vinegar, try an overnight soak. About 15 minutes into the main wash, crack the door to stop the spraying and leave it overnight. Next day, close the door to resume the cycle. Don't be alarmed if it takes more than 4 hours to finish. The dishwasher needs to reheat the water.

 

[foraloysius]

Ditto on the citric acid. I have achieved great results with it.

Scroll down this thread for a before and an after picture.

Im very disappointed at "Affresh." I need help!

1/16/09 I used affresh tablets on my fl to my surprise after the clean cycle was done the entire wash drum has calcified debris. What do i do? I called affresh and their closed.

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[mark_wpduet]

citric acid is best

You can even buy those little packets of SUGAR FREE lemonade drink mix powder. Make sure it's sugar free. It's loaded with citric acid and of course lemon scented since it's lemonade.

 

[stevet]

Why Bother???

I am always amazed at how we will often go around and around the problem when the only truly long time solution to the problem is to install a water softener.

If the Dishwasher is that bad, haven't you thought about how bad every other water using device in your homes must be?

You don't have to go out and spend thousands for a system. There are lower cost units available to the DIY'ers out there and are relatively easy to install.
With all the easy to use plumbing fittings out there now that don't require any knowledge of soldering or threading and cutting hard pipe, I would venture to guess that most of the members here would be able to install a softener in their home and be done with it. In less than a month, your dishwasher will clean up pretty nicely and give you nice clean dishes and glasses all by itself.

You can also lease a system from most of the major companies as well and leave all the bothersome work for them!

 

[wayupnorth]

I have horrible hard well water that leaves a film on everything. I do have an older Rain Soft system that now wont work and the budget does not allow room for a new system at the present time. But that "Works" does work great for toilet stains, but it is very stong, so you need an open window and "Totally Awesome", in the green spray bottle at Family Dollar is great for sinks and tubs. Although I have not had any problem with scale buildup on the aerators on the taps, washer or dishwasher

 

[whirlykenmore78]

CLR or Glisten

Will clean it out.  However STEVET is exactly right.  Just put a softener in and be done with it before your washer, DW and water heater all go bad.  

 

 At the restaurant if we are out of salt in the softener for even one day the dishwasher limes up and so does the steamtable.  I'd hate to know what that does to the water heater and DW booster.  In that case we use Ecolab's version of Lime-A-Way to clean it out.

 

Interesting that this subject should come up as I just finished fixing a water softener for my GF's house.

WK78.

 

 

[maytagbear]

However.......

There are situations in which installing a water softener is not possible.

I can think of one in particular.....if a person/family rents their residence.

Another situation...if the water is just on the edge of hard, such as 3-4 grains per gallon.

Situations vary, and what might seem very logical and correct in one situation might be completely unfeasible in another.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[dj-gabriele]

Just put a softener in and be done with it before your washe

Or get a dishwasher with a built-in softener!
Here it's impossible to find a machine that doesn't have one installed.

 

[dustin92]

I ran the dishwasher cleaner through it today and it helped some, but I think I will still try the citric acid (fruit fresh). Is one jar/ container enough? The washers seem to be ok (one upstairs, one downstairs) but I think the hot water heater is already toast. This is buildup from the time the dishwasher was new and was always used with about a tablespoon of cascade gel. I have started using finish (one version or another) and glass magic or lemishine and the dishes are looking better. At one point the heating element had a visible scale buildup about 1/4 inch.

 

[maytagbear]

Gabriele-

Most American dishwashers do not have built in water softeners. Since the removal of phosphate, that may be the next thing to come.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[washer111]

@wayupnorth

Sounds like your resins need replacement. You can do this, and you won't have to spend the $600 or so on a new system. Resin replacement is at least HALF the price of system replacement.