How to Fix a Dishwasher That Is Not Drying Dishes Properly

Most dishwasher drying problems are rinse aid and cycle settings — not a failed heating element.

Most dishwasher drying problems are rinse aid and cycle settings — not a failed heating element. Check those first before replacing any parts.

What you need

• Finish Jet-Dry rinse aid ($6–$10, fills the dispenser for months)
• Multimeter ($15–$30, for testing the heating element)
• Dishwasher heating element replacement ($20–$60, model-specific)
• Rinse aid dispenser replacement ($10–$25, if dispenser is cracked or won’t close)
• Dishwasher thermal fuse ($5–$15, model-specific)
• Cascade Platinum dishwasher pods ($20–$35, built-in rinse aid helps drying)

---

Check rinse aid first

Open the dishwasher door. The rinse aid dispenser is a round cap next to the rectangular detergent dispenser, usually labeled with a symbol that looks like a star or sunburst. Twist the cap counterclockwise to open it. Look inside — you should see liquid. If the chamber is empty or nearly empty, refill it with liquid rinse aid.

Set the dosage dial (inside the dispenser cap) to 3 or 4 to start. Run a full load and check results. Rinse aid alone fixes the majority of dishwasher drying complaints.

If the dispenser cap is cracked or the door flap does not spring open during the rinse cycle, the dispenser is the problem — replace it.

---

Check the cycle settings

Every dishwasher has at least two drying options. Locate the control panel buttons and confirm which setting is active.

• Heated dry: activates the heating element after the final rinse. Best drying results. Use this setting.
• Air dry, energy saver, or eco dry: turns off the heating element and relies on residual heat and airflow. Dishes often come out wet, especially plastic.

Select heated dry and run a test cycle. If your dishwasher does not have a labeled heated dry button, check the manual — some brands hide it as an “extra dry” or “boost dry” add-on button.

---

Test the heating element

If rinse aid is full and heated dry is on and dishes still come out soaking wet (not just damp plastic), test the heating element.

1. Unplug the dishwasher or turn off its breaker.
2. Pull out the lower rack. The heating element is the exposed loop of metal at the bottom of the tub.
3. Remove the lower access kick panel (two screws at the base of the dishwasher front).
4. Locate the two wire terminals connected to the element from underneath.
5. Disconnect the wires. Set the multimeter to resistance (Ω). Touch a probe to each terminal.
6. Read the result: 10–30 ohms is a working element. Open circuit (OL or no reading) is a failed element.

Also check visually: any crack, burn mark, or white powdery deposit on the element indicates failure.

---

Replace the heating element if failed

1. With power off, remove the lower rack and spray arm (lift and turn counterclockwise).
2. Inside the tub, the element is held by two mounting brackets and two nuts accessible from underneath.
3. Remove the nuts from beneath the tub (lower access panel), then lift the element out from inside the tub.
4. Install the new element, threading the terminals through the tub base, and hand-tighten the mounting nuts from underneath. Do not overtighten — the tub floor is plastic.
5. Reconnect the wires, reinstall the spray arm and rack, and restore power.
6. Run a test cycle.

Order the replacement element using your dishwasher’s model number (printed inside the door on a sticker along the door edge).

---

Why plastic items never fully dry

Plastic has low thermal mass — it does not hold heat. During the heated dry cycle, glass and ceramic stay hot from the wash water and continue evaporating moisture for several minutes. Plastic cools almost immediately and stops evaporating, leaving water droplets.

This is physics, not a dishwasher failure. To handle plastic:

• Use rinse aid — it makes the biggest difference for plastic by preventing water from beading
• Angle plastic items on the top rack so water drains off rather than pooling
• Open the dishwasher door a few inches at cycle end to let steam escape
• Hand-dry any plastic that needs to be immediately used

---

Related guides

• How to Fix a Dishwasher Not Cleaning — filter, spray arm, and water temperature fixes
• How to Fix a Dishwasher Not Draining — standing water at the bottom of the tub
• How to Fix a Dishwasher Not Starting — door latch, control board, and power troubleshooting