Dishwasher Soap Not Dissolving

Is your dishwasher soap not dissolving during a wash cycle?

Then this article is for you.

In this article, we will give you step-by-step instructions for how to check all of the most likely causes of the problem and then fix them.

Before we get into that, I want to briefly explain how your dishwasher works when you turn it on to a cycle.

• Once you have filled your dishwasher up and turned it on, the dishwasher will then fill up with water and heat it to the correct temperature.
• Once the water is at the right temperature, the soap dispenser opens up and drops the soap into the water.
• The soapy water is then distributed around the dishwasher through the spray arms to wash your dishes.
• After the wash cycle, your dishwasher does a rinse cycle to wash off the soap and then drains.
• At this point, you should have perfectly clean dishes!

If the dishwasher soap doesn’t get dissolved during the cycle, then the rest of the steps in the wash cycle won’t work properly.

Here’s how to fix this problem.

Step 1 – Make Sure You’re Using the Right Soap

The first step is the easiest one. Make sure you’re using the correct soap for your dishwasher make and model. To do this, you can check your manual and/or check the manufacturer’s website for their recommended type of soap to use. If you’re using the right soap, move on to step 2.

Step 2 – Check the Water Inlet Valve

The next step is to check the water inlet valve. During a wash cycle, the water inlet valve opens up and lets water into the dishwasher. If it becomes defective, your dishwasher won’t get enough water into it, and the powder may not dissolve.

Here’s how to check the water inlet valve:

1. Turn your dishwasher on to a wash cycle.
2. After a few minutes, press the start/pause button, open the door, and then see if there is any water in the bottom of your dishwasher.
3. If there isn’t enough water in the bottom of the dishwasher, this is a good sign the water inlet valve is faulty.
4. Locate the water inlet valve, and inspect it to see if it is damaged or faulty.
5. If it is faulty, it will need to be replaced. If it is fine, you can move on to the next step.
6. Once replaced, turn your dishwasher on to a cycle, and check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Check the Water Temperature

The next step is to ensure your dishwasher water is at the right temperature so that it is hot enough to dissolve the soap. The water in your dishwasher needs to be between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit for the soap to be able to dissolve.

To check the water temperature, you need to:

1. Turn your dishwasher on to a cycle, and let it fill up with water.
2. Open the door and then use an external thermostat to test the temperature of the water.
3. If the water temperature is between 120 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit, then the water is hot enough, and you can move on to the next step.
4. If the water is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to test the heating element with a multimeter. To do this, you will have to drain your dishwasher and then remove the element before testing it.
5. If the heating element doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced. If it does have continuity, then move on to the next step.
6. Once replaced, check to see if the problem has been solved; if not, move on to the next step.

Step 4 – Check the Dispenser Door

The next step is to check if the dispenser door is blocked, which will stop it from being able to open during a wash cycle. If this happens, the soap won’t be able to dissolve into the water.

To ensure the dispenser door can open, always make sure that you don’t over-stack your dishwasher and that you don’t stack dishes too close to the dispenser door, which may cause it to not be able to open.

If you’re unable to open and close the dispenser door, it will need to be replaced. If the door is fine, move on to the next step.

Step 5 – Check the Circulation Pump

The next step is to check the circulation pump. This component helps to distribute water around your dishwasher during a wash cycle. If it becomes faulty, your dishwasher won’t be able to circulate water around properly, and the soap might not dissolve.

To check the circulation pump, you need to:

1. Check when the dishwasher is turned on that water is pumped into the dishwasher. If water is being pumped in, check if the water is spraying out of the spray arms, and then if after the dispenser door opens that water is pumped into it. If this doesn’t happen, this is a good sign that the circulation pump is faulty and will need to be replaced.
2. Before replacing the circulation pump, you can double-check it is faulty by removing it and testing it with a multimeter for continuity.
3. If the pump doesn’t have continuity, it will need to be replaced. If it does have continuity, then move on to the next step.
4. Once replaced, check to see if the problem has been solved; if not, move on to the next step.

Step 6 – Check the Spray Arm(s)

The final step is to check if the spray arms are working properly. The spray arms are the components that spin around and circulate water around the dishwasher during a cycle. If they get blocked up, then they won’t work properly, and the soap might not be able to dissolve.

To check the spray arms, you need to:

1. Take each of the spray arms out of the dishwasher.
2. Check them for any signs of wear and tear—especially cracks.
3. If damaged, replace them and then see if the problem has been solved.
4. If they are not damaged, give them a thorough clean.
5. Put them back into the dishwasher and turn your dishwasher on to a cycle.
6. Check if the spray arms are working properly and that the soap is dissolving. If not, you will need to call a technician to come and give your dishwasher a second look so they can find the cause of the problem.