Siemens Dishwasher: not cleaning

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Siemens dishwasher leaving food residue on your dishes after a cycle? This common issue can stem from clogged spray arms, dirty filters, or improper loading. Understanding the causes can help restore your dishwasher's cleaning efficiency.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Siemens Models

  • Siemens official troubleshooting highlights undissolved dishwasher tablets as a cause and recommends checking spray arms, filter, program and detergent.

Possible Causes

Clogged or blocked spray arms preventing proper water distribution

How to Identify: Visible food debris in spray arm holes; spray arms do not rotate freely; dishes in areas served by that arm remain dirty.

Part: Spray arms

Dirty or clogged filter reducing water circulation

How to Identify: Food particles or debris visible in filter at bottom of dishwasher; dirty dishes and gritty residue on plates after cycle.

Part: Dishwasher filter

Dishwasher tablet or detergent not dissolving properly

How to Identify: Dishwasher tablet remains undissolved after cycle; poor cleaning performance correlated with tablet location.

Part: Detergent dispenser/tablet tray

Improper loading of dishes blocking water spray

How to Identify: Overcrowded racks; utensils nested blocking spray arm rotation; large items obstructing jets; dirty spots on blocked dish areas.

Part: Loading arrangement

Incorrect program selection (low temperature or light cycle for heavy soil)

How to Identify: Using quick or low-temp cycle on heavily soiled dishes results in remaining residue.

Part: Control panel / wash program selection

Hard water and incorrect water softening settings

How to Identify: Mineral deposits, spots on dishes; presence of limescale inside dishwasher.

Part: Water softener/rinse aid/salt system

DIY Solutions

Clean spray arms

Moderate 15-30 minutes
Tools Needed: toothpick or small brush, warm water sink, container to soak arms
  1. Remove lower and upper spray arms according to manual
  2. Rinse spray arms under warm water
  3. Use toothpick or brush to clear holes and remove debris
  4. Reinstall spray arms and run empty wash cycle
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure dishwasher is off before removing parts

Clean dishwasher filter

Easy 10-20 minutes
Tools Needed: warm water, soft brush
  1. Remove the bottom rack to access filter
  2. Twist and lift out filter assembly
  3. Rinse filter under warm water and scrub debris
  4. Replace filter and run a rinse cycle

Adjust loading practices

Easy 5 minutes
  1. Do not overcrowd dishwasher racks
  2. Ensure spray arms can rotate freely
  3. Place large items on bottom, utensils spaced out

Use appropriate detergent and program

Easy 5 minutes
  1. Verify detergent type recommended (tabs/powder)
  2. Select higher temperature/intensive cycle for dirty dishes

Check and refill rinse aid/salt

Easy 5 minutes
  1. Locate rinse aid and salt compartments
  2. Refill according to manual
  3. Adjust water hardness settings if available

Professional Repairs

Inspect and replace pump impeller or wash motor

Estimated Cost: $120 - $300

Service water inlet valve or water softener assembly

Estimated Cost: $80 - $200

When to Call a Professional

Dishwasher still not cleaning after cleaning spray arms and filters multiple times
Water pressure issues or unusual noises during cycles
Error codes related to water flow or heating persist

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean filter regularly: clogs causing poor cleaning and odors
    Frequency: monthly
  • Check and clean spray arms: blocked jets that reduce cleaning performance
    Frequency: monthly
  • Refill rinse aid and check water hardness: mineral spots and poor detergent effectiveness
    Frequency: as needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Siemens Dishwasher not cleaning?
Common causes include clogged spray arms, dirty filters, and improper loading.
How do I fix Siemens Dishwasher not cleaning myself?
Clean spray arms and filters, adjust loading, and use the right detergent.
How much does it cost to fix not cleaning?
Professional repairs can range from $80 to $300 depending on the issue.
When should I call a technician for not cleaning?
Call a technician if DIY fixes don't resolve the issue or if mechanical parts need inspection.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

100%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • User interference with dishwasher settings (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Ensure no user interference with settings (e.g., faucet adjustments)

    Success rate: 50.0%
Analysis based on 2 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Siemens dishwasher cleaning indicator blinks on start, but f...
  2. siemens not cleaning lower section

Community Discussions

cleaning indicator blinks on start, stops after one minute with beeping

The issue was caused by a family member touching the dishwasher faucet.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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