How to use dishwasher with broken soap dispenser

If you are looking for a Guide on How to use a dishwasher with a broken soap dispenser, then you are on the right article.

If the Dishwasher detergent dispenser is broken or not working during the wash cycle and you have done some troubleshooting But can’t fix the issue.

The Good thing is that you can still use your dishwasher with a broken dispenser. You can wash dishes with a dishwasher. Even the soap dispenser does not release the soap.

Below are the steps to follow when using a dishwasher with a broken soap dispenser to wash your dirty dishes.

How to use dishwasher with broken soap dispenser

If the dispenser of your dishwasher has malfunctioned and, during the cycle, the lid won not open at the right time, Try this trick:

 Add soap directly inside the machine

If the soap dispenser is no longer open, You can add soap directly inside the machine instead of the compartment (with the door fully open).

For most of the part, this trick can wash dishes with a broken dispenser for years. You just need to simply toss soap into the bottom of the dishwasher before turning on your dishwasher each time.

The only downside of this trick is that it may need to be more efficient, as you admire.

There are some reasons for questions that arise: Why? 

This is because at the pre-wash, directly added detergent soap can dissolve a little quickly, and after pre-wash, during the main wash stage, it may have not adequate soap. 

In most cases, the pre-wash rinse parts are too short to disintegrate the packet completely, so throwing soap in there is the easiest way to fix a broken soap dispenser.

Try it out. If it works and you get clean dishes, keep doing it until you decide on repairs.

How to use dishwasher with broken soap dispenser – Pour detergent into a bowl or cup and place it on the bottom:

Another option is to put the soap in a pitcher or bowl and place the bowl on the bottom of the dishwasher rack.

How it works!

After doing that, the water circulated through the dishwasher will become mixed with the detergent, which will clean your dishes. 

Ultimately, You might have to replace the whole soap dispenser, and it is not that pricey, and replacement is an easy job.

Troubleshooting a soap dispenser that won’t open

You can use the ways below to troubleshoot that won’t open until you decide to replace the whole soap dispenser of your dishwasher. We are sharing some hacks that you can try if your dispenser won’t open and lumps of un-dissolved soap are being left in there:

Check the water temperature:

The soap dispenser that won’t open could be due to the water not being hot enough, so turn on the heater for water heat and a bit to enable soap to dissolve properly.

Re-arrange the dishes:

If you are facing this issue, your issue could be a remarkably simple fix. It would help if you tried this. Check if large utensils are blocking the door from flipping to open.

There might be something large in size in the front, like a tall bowl or pan, that keeps the door closed and doesn’t let it open for the detergent dispenser to come out.

You have to ensure that nothing is preventing the soap dispenser from popping open. The soap dispenser

to come out.

Clean the Whole Soap Dispenser 

You can face this issue due to the buildup of calcium/lime deposits, especially if you are using hard water. Therefore, you must wipe down all the moving parts in the dispenser.

Use a piece of clothing to wipe down all the parts. Ensure that the dispenser stops acting up.

Try to dry the detergent cup before each load by cleaning every load to clear any wetness that could make the door stick to the cup.

You can Try vinegar:

You can face this issue due to the buildup of calcium/lime deposits, especially if you are using hard water. Therefore, you must wipe down all the moving parts in the dispenser.

Use a piece of clothing to wipe down all the parts. Ensure that the 

dispenser is acting up.

Try to dry the detergent cup before each load by cleaning every load to clear any wetness that could make the door stick to the cup.

After applying the above methods, the soap dispenser is still sometimes closed? See if there is any utensil blocking it. If yes, try Vinegar to descale the utensil.

You can Try ascorbic acid:

A common cause that you can notice of dispensers opening hitches is mineral buildup. Vinegar can break the deposits very fast and can be an excellent solution.

What You Need To Do

Run a wash cycle with your dishwasher empty. Put a cup of vinegar inside it before starting the cycle.

Another option is to fill the dispenser with the ascorbic acid/Lemonade powdered tang and then run a standard wash cycle.

The lemonade powder/ascorbic acid and these products can clean deposits. Your dispenser will get rid of the issue.

Check the lid spring:

You can also check the dispenser lid spring to see if it works or not. If it’s it’s dented, corroded, broken, or ruined, replace the spring. You can Watch the video to fix it.

Replace the lid latch assembly:

There could be a dispenser issue with the dispenser lid latch assembly that could be broken.

If you notice it is damaged during the inspection, get a replacement.

Check the wax motor: 

This motor is used to release the door catch. To determine if it works, you can test the motor for continuity with a multimeter.

Get a replacement, If faulty.

Check and Fix the timer:

To control the operation of the detergent dispenser, some dishwashers use a timer that automatically controls the wash cycle. 

The soap dispenser will not work if the timer is faulty. You might wonder negatively if the whole soap dispenser is faulty.

In this regard, checking the timer is always a good idea.

Ensure that the connection between the door catch and the timer is working, and check if it is operating as intended. 

Second, check the cam on your dishwasher’s timer and confirm it works correctly. If you find the timer is faulty, replace it.

How to use dishwasher with broken soap dispenser – Conclusions

If you have an issue with the soap dispenser and want to wash dishes, add the detergent pods at the bottom of your dishwasher.

Ultimately, it’s best to fix or replace the soap dispenser.  

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