How To Fix A Dishwasher That Misses A Part Of A Cycle

Dishwasher wash cycles incorporate several parts, usually a rinse and a wash and dry before the cycle ends and your dishes are ready for removal. There are several reasons why your dishwasher skips parts of its cycle, including problems with the internal computer, mistakes programming the cycle or a lack of hot or cold water. Checking all these potential causes helps cure or give a better indication of the problem affecting your dishwasher.

Step 1

Go over your dishwasher's controls to ensure you haven't selected an option that removes part of the normal cleaning cycle. You might have selected "No Rinse" or "No Dry" in the past and accidentally carried it over to other cycles. Some dishwashers let you select an abbreviated cycle for quicker cleaning times.

Step 2

Check that the dishwasher is able to receive everything necessary for the cleaning cycle. Make sure the hot and cold water pipes supplying the appliance are straight and free of kinks. See if the shut-off valves at the wall are both in the open position.

Step 3

Ensure you are adding the correct amount of detergent. Too much detergent causes suds to fill the dishwasher and the cycle to stop while the bubbles decrease. Check if the drain in the bottom of the dishwasher is clear of food scraps and other debris. A blocked drain activates the flood sensor and stops this cycle.

Step 4

Unplug the dishwasher from its power supply and wait five minutes. This allows the internal computer to cool down and reset itself in the event of a software problem. Reconnect the power and try your cleaning cycle again. The cycle should complete as normal.