Why is my AEG dishwasher not cleaning properly?
Poor cleaning in AEG dishwashers usually stems from blockages, detergent issues, or spray arm problems rather than major faults. Most causes are fixable in under 30 minutes without engineer callout.
Most likely causes
- 35% Food debris clogs the spray arm holes, reducing water pressure on dishes.
- 25% Dirty filters prevent water circulation and trap debris in the wash chamber.
- 20% Detergent fails to release during the wash cycle or dispenser door sticks.
- 12% Water inlet valve or pump malfunction reduces water flow or pressure.
- 8% Limescale accumulation blocks nozzles and reduces cleaning effectiveness.
How to diagnose it
- 1
Check and clean spray arms
Remove the upper and lower spray arms by twisting anticlockwise. Hold each arm up to a light and poke out food debris from every hole using a toothpick or straightened wire.
- 2
Remove and rinse filter
Unscrew the cylindrical filter at the bottom of the wash chamber by turning anticlockwise. Rinse under warm running water and scrub with an old toothbrush to remove trapped food.
- 3
Inspect detergent dispenser
Open the detergent dispenser door on the inside of the door panel. Check that it springs open freely and that no detergent residue is preventing it from closing properly.
- 4
Run a hot empty cycle
Add a commercial dishwasher cleaner to the empty machine and run on the hottest programme. This removes limescale and internal buildup that affects cleaning.
- 5
Check water inlet hose
Turn off the water supply under the sink. Disconnect the inlet hose at the back of the dishwasher and inspect the filter screen for debris or mineral deposits.
- 6
Test with correct loading
Ensure dishes don't block the spray arms and aren't stacked too densely. Place heavily soiled items on the lower rack where water pressure is stronger.