Why Is My Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes?

Having a dishwasher is all about convenience and ease. Dishes should go in dirty and come out clean without any extra steps. So why should you put up with unloading dishes that are still wet day after day? If you’re dealing with a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying dishes all the way, you don’t just have to live with it. We’ll show you what you need to finally say goodbye to hand-drying clean dishes.

Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes? Here’s What to Do…

“Why are my dishes not drying?” Your heated dry dishwasher is extremely handy, but it isn’t magic. Getting clean, dry dishes requires proper placement, dishwasher settings, and unloading techniques. Not doing any of these things can result in a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying properly. Here are the most common problems and steps you can take to fix them.

Dishes Aren’t Loaded Correctly

The most common mistake people make when using their dishwasher is loading it incorrectly. This can also be one of the reasons why your dishwasher doesn’t clean well. You should always avoid overcrowing and leave enough space between each dish for hot water to reach and air to evaporate. Otherwise, your Whirlpool dishwasher leaves dishes wet.

Make sure you’re loading it properly, with these tips:

Proper placement: Plates, cookware, large kitchen items go on the bottom rack. Mugs, Bowls, and other small things go on the top rack. Silverware goes into the silverware cabinet.
No nesting: Nesting is what happens when dishes of similar size overlap, creating pockets of unwashable areas. Avoid this by alternating silverware, and not stacking bowls too closely.
Upside-down: Placing bowls, mugs, and other items that can fill with water upside-down will prevent them from filling up with water- something that will mean your Whirlpool dishwasher doesn’t dry.

Unloading Out of Order

Are you wondering, “Why does my Whirlpool dishwasher not dry the dishes?” The answer may lie not in how you load, but how you unload.

Unloading a dishwasher top rack first can sometimes result in water falling on the clean dishes below it, turning a successful cycle into a drippy mess. Instead, unload the silverware first, then the bottom rack, then the top.

Washing Plastic Items

One reason for a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying dishes could be the material those dishes are made out of. Metal and ceramic retain heat well and dry more quickly. Plastic dishes lose heat easily making them harder to fully dry. Too many plastic items in the same cycle can decrease the overall temperature inside your dishwasher, making it harder to dry.

Not Using Rinse Aid

One of the most often overlooked reasons for a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying completely is a lack of rinse aid. Rinse aid is often touted in advertisements as something to make your dishes shine more. What it really helps with though is the drying process. Rinse aid works to decrease the surface tension of water, which is the property of water to stick to itself and surfaces. Adding rinse aid may fix the drying issues you have.

Not Using Heated Dry Setting

As we’ve shown, the key elements which make your dishwasher dry are; Heat, airflow, and water condensation. Make sure you select the “heated dry” setting or any cycle that has a heated dry, as this will speed the process along. A Whirlpool dishwasher heated dry not working could mean something more serious: a defective part.

Defective Whirlpool Dishwasher Parts

If you’ve tried all of the above but no luck, your dishwasher may have one or more defective components. Some of the usual suspects include the dishwasher vent, heating element, or circulation fan. At this point, we recommend a professional Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting technician to resolve the issue.

That’s where we come in! Callahan’s Appliance is the premier supplier of fast, professional dishwasher repair service. Our experience can supply you with the best repair, as well as expert dishwasher maintenance tips so you can keep your appliances in tip-top shape.