Search intent
The user wants to improve dishwasher performance without randomly dismantling the appliance.
Troubleshooting guide
Why a dishwasher is not cleaning dishes properly
Cloudy glass, food residue, and poor rinsing are often linked to filters, spray arms, or detergent dosing. Here is the safe order of checks.
Dishwasher5 minUpdated 2026-04-19
Symptom summary
Poor wash performance is usually a maintenance issue first, not necessarily an electronics fault.
Likely causes
- Blocked filters or spray arms.
- Incorrect detergent or rinse-aid dosing.
- Dish placement blocking the water path.
Safe DIY checks
- Clean the filters and spray arms.
- Check that the arms can spin freely once dishes are loaded.
- Confirm salt, rinse aid, and detergent type for the selected cycle.
When to stop
- Stop if the dishwasher is also reporting a leak or drain fault.
- Stop if water is collecting under the appliance.
Next step
Turn the guide into a real FixLens diagnosis
The guide narrows the problem, but the FixLens diagnosis also accounts for the exact brand, model, and error code.
Related codes
Directly related error-code pages
Bosch · E:61-03
Dishwasher Drainage Issue Detected
The dishwasher reports a drainage fault or restricted drain path. Start by checking the filter, pump area, and siphon connection.