Why the Top Rack of a Dishwasher Is Not Drying

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Troubleshoot your dishwasher to determine why the dishes do not dry.

Efficient dishwashers will finish their cleaning cycle leaving the dishes clean and dry. If your dishwasher is not working optimally, it might not be drying your dishes, requiring you to dry the dishes by hand before you put them away. There are several reasons why your dishwasher might not be drying the dishes and cups on the top rack. Fix these issues to help ensure optimal efficiency.

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Step 1

Check your water heater's temperature to make sure that it is at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The hotter the water, the easier it will be for the glasses to dry. Run the dishwasher to determine if this was the problem. If it was not, continue to the next step.

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Step 2

Fill the rinse aid tank with rinse aid solution. The rinse aid will help the water sheet off of the dishes in the top rack of the dishwasher to help them dry faster. Run the dishwasher to determine if this was the problem. If it was not, continue to the next step.

Step 3

Arrange the dishes and cups in the top rack so that they are spaced further apart. If your dishes are still not drying it may be because they are too close together. Make sure that the cups will not tip over in the dishwasher. If they do they will fill with water and will make it harder to keep the other items in the dishwasher dry.

Tip

Be aware that not all dishwashers will leave the dishes in the top rack completely dry. Instead, you will need to prop open the dishwasher door and allow the dishes to air dry naturally.

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