When the dishwasher foams too much, it is annoying and sometimes soar a small disaster. This problem can have many causes. Some of them can be fixed on your own and within a short time, others need help from a repair service. Here are 4 causes that can make the machine foam and how you should react when there is too much foam in the dishwasher:
1st cause: you used the wrong dishwashing detergent
In general, the following applies to the use of the dishwasher under £300: use only tabs or powders which are suitable for this purpose according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If the tabs run out, it is better to wash the dishes by hand once and buy new tabs or powder promptly.
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2nd cause: blockages cause too much foam
A particularly common cause of too much foam in the dishwasher, are blockages in the strainer or drain hose. Sometimes, remnants of the powder or a tab that did not dissolve properly cause those clogs. If the water cannot drain well, the machine will not rinse and the foam will not escape.
The strainer and hose get clogged in many cases because food debris has gotten into the machine. You can easily avoid this by pre-rinsing. Rinse plates with clear water or at least scrape off the food residue well and transport it to the trash can. If the mishap has already occurred, you can loosen the strainer and rinse thoroughly. Visible food residues will be removed as well as fine deposits and foam residues.
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3rd cause: You have selected the wrong program
If you use the wrong dishwasher program, you also run the risk of creating an unnecessary amount of foam that cannot drain properly. If the water is not hot enough or simply underdosed for the amount of dirty dishes, a whole lot of foam will form.
Therefore, do not use short programs when the dishwasher under £400 is full. It is a fallacy to think that you will save energy or water at this point. Instead, it takes time, effort and water to remove the excess suds. Also, choose a temperature of at least 50 °C to prevent the foam from forming in the first place. Use only as much rinse aid as recommended by the manufacturer; the same applies to the amount of detergent.
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Cause 4: Many protein-containing foods still stuck to the dishes
If neither the strainer is clogged, nor the rinse aid or settings were faulty, another reason comes into consideration: You have recently eaten a lot of protein-containing food and have not pre-rinsed the dishes. This can cause a reaction in the dishwasher that produces a particularly large amount of foam.
Keep in mind the properties of protein: If food residues remain on the plates, there is mainly protein in the dishwasher under $500. This in turn has foaming properties. Therefore, be sure to rinse beforehand if you have eaten foods such as eggs, meat or fish. Otherwise, the protein can get stuck in the area of the strainer or drain and clog it.
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How should you react if there is too much foam in the dishwasher?
- If foam comes out of the dishwasher door during the wash cycle, you should turn it off immediately,
- Dry the surrounding area and
- Do not open the dishwasher under £500
- Wait for 1 to 2 hours. Then the foam should have evaporated by itself.
- Do not turn the dishwasher back on immediately after the foam has formed, but remove the dishes and rinse them under clean water. Remove the strainer and rinse away any white deposits that may be present.


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David Shaw
Dishwashers expert with over 10 years of experience. He writes articles and shares his knowledge on many sites. Helps you choose the best (portable, countertop, built-in) dishwashers on this site.