GE Potscrubber dishwasher

[dustin92]

We have an ABSOLUTE BOL GE Potscrubber dishwasher from about 1999-2000 and it has never cleaned very well? we have very soft well water and our hot water heater is turned up to the max setting. we have tried almost every brand of detergent but we have had good luck with cascade complete gel until recently we are getting a powdery residue on the silverware and dishes and it is hard to get off. the dishwasher has always left stuff on the tops of cups and glasses even though we pre rinse everything or it leaves pieces of food on the dishes. what could be the problem??

 

[volsboy1]

Well they have been changing there formula by removing phosphates and some of them add silica it's like a fine sand in them.The only Liquid detergent that have found that works is Palmolive Eco Gel.It's not as good Cascade complete used to be but out of all these new ones it works the best.I just don't like Gel detergents for dishwasher's every repair man that I have ever talked to say the gum up the machine.Do you use Jet Dry that might help also..

 

[dustin92]

we have tried the palmolive eco gel and the dishes looked worse than when they went in! our jet dry dispenser is broken, so no we dont use it except when we get the kind in the basket that you hang from the rack.

 

[stevet]

How about a model number?

Dustin, I emailed you earlier but see you are here again so if you can add the model number it will help all of us to see what the actual design is of the machine and help to troubleshoot it for you. Even a BOL machine should do better than what youare seeing.

 

[dustin92]

model#

the model # is GSD2230Z05WW

 

[stevet]

Pretty close..

to the BOL and your model number is a bit off, but I found the breakdown on Sears.com/parts by using just the first few letters and numbers.
First of all, I think your machine has gotten something caught up in the pump intake area under that big shroud in the back of the tub.I would start there and remove it and see if anything like paper, plastic wrap or cellophane or glass has gotten in there and is blocking the water from getting into the pump.
Be careful since there can and often is some broken glass in there.
If that is all clean, then I would make sure that the washarm is not binding and is not turning freely by hand and that the pop up wash tower is free as well.
If they are, then remove the wash arm and let the machine fill up and run it with the arm off. You can run this unit with the arm off and not spray water all over the kitchen with the door ajar since the pump will send the water up in a thick column about 9-12 inches high. If the srpay is still weak, then the olny other thing that it could be is that something thru the years has gotten into the actual pump intake area and is clogging the screen that the shredder spring would spin in front of and water cannot get in to the impeller and out thru the washarms.
As far as all the Yibbles you get on the top rack, your machine seems to lack the upper spray arm that sprays water down on to the top rack. You can probably add one easily by buying the hose that goes from the wash pump to the top as well as the wash arm. I added one to my aunt's BOL machine and it made a world of difference. The pump actually had the outlet capped over and the hose mated right up to the pump.
I think you can salvage a lackluster machine here and still come out with satisfying results if you take the time to truly investigate the possible causes of your problem.
The breakdowns at the sears site as well as at GE itself are good tools that show the breakdown of the machine. Poke thru the various similar models and you should find the one with the upper arm I spoke about. Your machine probably has a cover screwed on to the top to prevent water from going out the hole from the inside, which is the giveaway that you can add the extra arm.

Do let us know how you make out.

 

[whirlcool]

We have used the Palmolive Eco Gel (Lavender) with STTP and got excellent results.
Has anyone tried Walmarts Great Value with STTP? How does it do?

 

[mrcleanjeans]

The powdery residue happened to me when I tried a non-phosphate powder. It was not undissolved detergent,it was the calcium in the hard water combining with the washing soda forming calcium carbonate(chalk) on the dishes. Check your current package of soap and see-bet it's phosphate free.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

Soaking the affected items in vinegar should remove the offending residue!

 

[strongenough78]

Dustin...

Have you tried Electrasol Finish powder? I've been using that for a while now and get great results with it. We have very hard water here and with a little Jet Dry, everything comes out clean and clear. Also, I always run the hot water in the sink to be sure that the water that comes into the kitchen for the sink as well as the dishwasher is also hot so it doesn't start the cycle cold.

 

[combo52]

BASIC GE DISHWASHERS

There is no food filter system in these machines, no power shower on top and no full wash arm under the top rack. I have found when I have used basic GEs they don't do nearly as thier better models. You have to load very lightly so water can really circulate to all areas and results can be satisfactory.

 

[kenmorekeith]

I have had 2 Ge dishwashers 1 middle the other almost top of the line. I was never happy with the way thing came out. If i would place glasse in the front of the top rack they wouldnt come clean.Also there would always be food on my dishes. I know people here love GE but I must say I have owned alot of dishwashes kenmore,maytag kitchen aid,tappen,whirlpool and Ge. I will never buy Ge dishwashers an dryer their crap!! Ge just dont make thing the way they use to.

 

[awooff]

mrcleanjeans is correct! You have calcium in your water, choose a high phosphate detergent, and use a lot of it!

 

[dustin92]

actually...

I found out what the problem(s) were! 1. the cover over the pump had a huge buildup of crud under it(mineral buildup from our water, detergent residue, and grease) 2. the grinder/shredder had a piece of plastic wrap wrapped around it. I cleaned it out and removed the plastic wrap and then ran a cycle with vinegar (no dishes) and now it is working better than it ever has. it still does not clean dishes with palmolive eco! we are using the same cascade complete gel that we used before this mess started, with FABULOUS results! everything is coming out clean! (I think the Cascade gel is old enough to still contain phosphates, so we will see what happens when this is gone...)

 

[wmlask]

Phosphates

Any suggestions as to which detergents still have phosphates in them?

Thanks,

 

[toggleswitch]

Read the label. Will help you find old stock with phosphates

 

[mark_wpduet]

I thought the GE BOL dishwashers actually had the larger motors in them as opposed to the TOL quieter models. Am I wrong?