Whirlpool WDF518SAFB Owner's Manual | Page 6

Compact Tall Tub Dishwasher
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Dishes do not dry completely

Dishes do not dry completely 

Did you use a rinse aid? Your dishwasher is designed to use 
rinse aid for good drying performance. Without rinse aid your 
dishes and dishwasher interior will have excessive moisture. 
The heat dry option will not perform as well without rinse aid.

Dishes are not dry

Did you load your dishwasher to allow proper water drainage? 
Do not overload. Use a liquid rinse aid to speed drying.

Are the plastics wet? Plastics often need towel drying.

Is the rinse aid dispenser empty? 

Did you use an air-dry or energy-saving dry option? Use a 
heated drying option for dryer dishes.

Excess moisture on racks and dishwasher interior

Check the rinse aid indicator to see that there is rinse aid in the 
dispenser.

Spots and stains on dishes

Spotting and filming on dishes

Is your water hard, or is there a high mineral content in your 
water? Conditioning the final rinse water with a liquid rinse aid 
helps eliminate spotting and filming. Keep the rinse aid 
dispenser filled. Always use a high-temp option. If your water 
hardness is 13 grains or above, it is strongly recommended that 
you install a home water softener. If you do not wish to drink 
softened water, have the softener installed onto your hot water 
supply.

Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing results, 
water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the dishwasher.

Did you use the correct amount of effective detergent? Use 
recommended dishwasher detergents only. Do not use less 
than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Detergent must be fresh to be 
effective. Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra 
detergent.

Is the home water pressure high enough for proper dishwasher 
filling? Home water pressure should be 20 to 120 psi (138 to 
828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. If you have questions about 
your water pressure, call a licensed, qualified plumber. 

NOTE: To remove spots and film from glassware, remove all 
silverware and metal items and run a vinegar rinse as described 
in “Dishwasher Care.”

Silica film or etching (silica film is a milky, rainbow-colored 
deposit; etching is a cloudy film)

Sometimes there is a water/chemical reaction with certain 
types of glassware. This is usually caused by some 
combination of soft or softened water, alkaline washing 
solutions, insufficient rinsing, overloading the dishwasher, and 
the heat of drying. It might not be possible to avoid the 
problem, except by hand washing. 

To slow this process use a minimum amount of detergent but 
not less than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Use a liquid rinse aid and 
underload the dishwasher to allow thorough rinsing. Silica film 
and etching are permanent and cannot be removed. Do not use 
heated drying.

White spots on cookware with nonstick finish

Has the dishwasher detergent removed cookware seasoning? 
Reseason cookware after washing it in the dishwasher.

Brown stains on dishes and dishwasher interior

Does your water have high iron content? Rewash dishes using 
1-3 tsp (5-15 mL) of citric acid crystals added to the covered 
section of the detergent dispenser. Do not use detergent. 
Follow with a Normal wash cycle with detergent. If treatment is 
needed more often than every other month, the installation of 
an iron removal unit is suggested.

Black or gray marks on dishes

Are aluminum items rubbing dishes during washing? 
Disposable aluminum items can break down in the dishwasher 
and cause marking. Hand wash these items. Remove 
aluminum markings by using a mild abrasive cleaner.

Orange stains on plastic dishes or dishwasher interior

Are large amounts of tomato-based foods on dishes placed in 
the dishwasher? It may be necessary to use a stain removal 
product to remove stains from your dishwasher. Stains will not 
affect dishwasher performance.

Noises

Grinding, grating, crunching or buzzing sounds

A hard object has entered the wash module (on some models). 
When the object is ground up, the sound should stop. If the 
noise persists after a complete cycle, call for service.

Dishes are not completely clean

Food soil left on the dishes

Is the dishwasher loaded correctly? 

Did you choose the cycle that describes the most difficult soil in 
your dishwasher? If you have some items with heavier soils, 
use a heavier cycle.

Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing results, 
water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the dishwasher. 

Did you use the correct amount of fresh detergent? Use 
recommended dishwasher detergents only. Do not use less 
than 1 tbs (15 g) per load. Detergent must be fresh to be 
effective. Heavy soil and/or hard water generally require extra 
detergent.

Is detergent caked in dispenser? Use fresh detergent only. Do 
not allow detergent to sit for several hours in a wet dispenser. 
Clean dispenser when caked detergent is present.

Is the pump or spray arm clogged by labels from bottles and 
cans? 

Is the home water pressure high enough for proper dishwasher 
filling? Home water pressure should be 20 to 120 psi (138 to 
828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. If you have questions about 
your water pressure, call a licensed, qualified plumber.

Are high suds slowing the wash arm? Do not use soap or 
laundry detergents. Use recommended dishwasher detergents 
only. 

Dishes are damaged during a cycle

Chipping of dishes

Did you load the dishwasher properly? Load the dishes and 
glasses so they are stable and do not strike together from 
washing action. Minimize chipping by moving the rack in and 
out slowly. 

NOTE: Antiques, feather-edged crystal, and similar types of 
china and glassware might be too delicate for automatic 
dishwashing. Wash by hand.

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