So Here's My Thread and . . .

[rp2813]

It's not what you're probably expecting.

It's a very non-third rail question about a problem with the early 90's Maytag dishwasher at my mom's old place. I can't get rid of suds no matter how long I run it with plain water. My sister is staying in the house while we settle Mom's estate and she ran a load and everything came out with a whitish film she had to literally wash off by hand.

Are these two things related? I would love to replace this thing with the Hobart KA that will eventually show up on my local Craig's List but it would be nice to have it behaving right until that machine presents itself. My partner and I are in the process of buying my sister out of her interest in the house and will move in as soon as we sell our place. We will not make any major changes right away so will need everything to be in good working order for a while. But YIPPEE--we are moving to the PLU ZIP Code!

Anyway, I ran it with almost a quart of white vinegar in the mix before I left today and it seemed to reduce the suds to just a few small areas of surface foam. This dishwasher has probably been run at most five times over the past year. It's kind of crusty around the bottom seal and I took a soft toothbrush to it, which produced a bunch of black particulate in the water. But it doesn't leak and there is no evidence it ever has.

So hit me with your experience sticks buddies. And not to worry--if it's easier to junk it I won't wait for my Hobart. I'm the dish doer and I gotta have a machine that can handle a Bobload. My gut tells me this hokey pop-up tower Maytag isn't it.

Thanks,

Ralph

 

[gadgetgary]

Could be the rinse-aid

I had a major problem with Jet Dry turbo in my KA-22. First cycle and the rinse was full of suds. I had to remove all the Jet Dry from the compartment and now use no Jet Dry at all, with perfect drying results.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Agreed; check the rinse-aid.

Beware of gel detergents; they are full of clay (bad for you, your dishes and the machine in the long-run) and suds-up way too much.

A touch of phosphates added will not only boost performance but will reduce foaming as well.

Oh you are not using vinegar on procelain, are you?

http://www.chemistrystore.com/sodium_tripolyphosphate.htm

 

[turquoisedude]

Check the hot water temperature, too

I learned very early in my collecting that if you run a dishwasher with warm or cold water, you can get foam. Otherwise, the gang is right about the rinse agent. I once spilled nearly a bottle in the parent's '78 GE Potscrubber and OY did it foam up...

 

[cleanteamofny]

Use Kosher Salt to knock the suds down......

 

[rp2813]

I don't think there's a particle of porcelain to be found anywhere on this machine. But the rinse aid angle is one I had forgotten about. There's a Jet Dry basket in there right now and I'll be sure to remove it and see what happens.