When you find yourself towel-drying every item, you may wonder, “Why does my dishwasher not dry the dishes anymore?” Loading errors can limit air circulation, leaving dishes wet. Learn more reasons for a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying dishes and the simple ways you can improve drying performance.

The most common reasons for a Whirlpool dishwasher not drying dishes are usually resolved with simple maintenance or changing your use and practice. From a lack of rinse aid to the need for hotter water, here’s what’s behind most drying issues.

How you load the dishwasher and what you’re loading affect more than just drying performance. The right loading practices can increase dishwasher efficiency , resulting in cleaner dishes and preventing a smelly dishwasher .

These are common loading issues when your dishwasher isn’t drying :

Rinse aid is essential to optimum drying performance. This is because rinse aid alters the surface tension of water droplets, making them easily roll off dishes and glassware. 

Add rinse aid to the designated dispenser before each wash cycle. If your Whirlpool dishwasher leaves dishes wet, adjust the amount of rinse aid by turning the dispenser’s adjuster to a higher setting.

Most Whirlpool dishwashers automatically employ the Heat Dry setting for most wash cycles. When using the “Quick” or “1 Hour” wash cycles, you need to manually select the Heat Dry setting.

If you feel your Whirlpool dishwasher does not dry dishes adequately, you may be able to alter or enhance drying features. Some models offer the option of a “High” or “Low” Heated Dry function, enabling you to choose a higher setting for dryer dishes. Other models have an “Extended Dry” option that increases drying from 25-35 minutes, depending on your wash cycle.

A Whirlpool dishwasher not drying sufficiently may need hotter water. Hot water evaporates faster, resulting in dryer dishes. Running the hot water in your kitchen sink before starting a dishwasher cycle can make heated water readily available. Ensure that your home’s hot water supply is hot enough by keeping your water heater set to at least 120℉.

Is your Whirlpool dishwasher not drying dishes even after these troubleshooting tips? It could be that a part malfunction is impacting drying ability.

The following part malfunctions can leave dishes wet and require a professional repair:

The team at Reliable Appliance Service Parts & Service can handle most Whirlpool dishwasher repair issues. Contact us today!