Taking dripping wet dishes out of the dishwasher can get old when you have to dry off each one. Before you throw in the dishtowel, we’ll review common causes for an LG dishwasher not drying dishes. Preventing errors like improper loading and a lack of rinse aid can be all you need to make sure dishes are dry.
LG Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes? This Could Be Why
So why does my LG dishwasher not dry my dishes? Oftentimes simple user errors can make the difference between wet and dry dishes. Avoiding these common mistakes can prevent wet dishes and improve dishwasher function.
1. Improper Loading
Two of the most common reasons for an LG dishwasher not drying dishes are overloading or improper loading techniques. Squeezing too many items in each rack restricts the flow of hot air that dries dishes. Make sure you leave adequate space between each item to allow hot air to flow properly.
Improper loading of your dishwasher makes it difficult for dishes to dry but can also be why your dishwasher isn’t getting dishes clean. Follow these rack-by-rack loading tips for cleaner, drier dishes:
Upper Rack:
- Place glasses and bowls upside down so they don’t collect water.
Bottom Rack:
- Face dishes inward and make sure they’re not touching so hot air can easily dry each item.
Silverware Basket:
- Avoid nesting by alternating forks, spoons, and knives in each slot or compartment.
2. Unloading the Top Rack First
One of the simplest reasons your LG dishwasher leaves dishes wet is unloading the top rack before the bottom. When you unload the top rack first, any residual moisture from these items can fall on the dishes below, making them wet.
Unload the bottom rack first so lingering water from top rack items won’t affect dishes below.
3. Heated Dry Not Selected
In order for your dishwasher to use the heated dry function this setting has to be manually selected. Make sure you press the button for a heated dry cycle before starting your dishwasher. This will engage the heating element or drying fans at the end of the wash cycle.
If you find your LG dishwasher not drying to your liking, additional settings may improve the dryness of your dishes. If they’re available, make sure you select one of these options before starting a wash cycle:
- Night Dry: select this option if you run the dishwasher at night. Drying fans will circulate intermittently throughout the night to dry dishes.
- Sanitary Rinse: this function will create hotter dishes that dry off more slowly, improving overall drying.
- Extra Dry: choosing this setting increases the temperature of the heated rinse and extends the drying cycle.
4. Plastic Items Still Wet After Washing
Your LG dishwasher doesn’t dry plastic items as well because plastic can’t retain heat as well as glass and other dishware materials. Consequently, any plastic items may still be wet at the end of a typical wash cycle.
If you have plastic containers, cups or dishes, consider washing them in a separate load. This allows them to dry at a slower pace without affecting the drying cycle.
5. Not Using Rinse Aid
One of the most common reasons for a dishwasher leaving dishes wet is a lack of rinse aid. This essential LG dishwasher drying agent alters the shape of water droplets so they run more easily off dishware and glasses. This leaves less water for the drying cycle to remove, creating drier dishes.
Use rinse aid before every wash cycle by filling the rinse aid dispenser to the maximum fill level. You can also adjust the level of rinse aid your dishwasher uses to improve your dishes’ dryness.
Don’t own an LG dishwasher? Most dishwasher brands will experience drying issues similar to the issues we’ve listed above. Check out this article for reasons your GE dishwasher won’t dry by Wes Strickland, a skilled appliance repair technician.
If your LG dishwasher not drying continues, it’s possible that a component has malfunctioned. In this case, a dishwasher repair service can help diagnose and fix the problem.
