Why Is The Dishwasher Top Rack Not Spinning? (Fixed) -

A functional dishwasher is one of the most useful appliances to have at home.

However, it has numerous moving parts and each one can break down if your maintenance schedule is off. This is why the best starting point is to figure out what the root cause of a problem is.

One problem people deal with is when the dishwasher top rack is not spinning.

If the dishwasher top rack is not spinning, the most common reason includes dirt or debris buildup on the spray arms. To fix the issue, take out the dishwasher basket, inspect the spray arms, and clean them using a cloth.

If the buildup is hardened, the best solution is to take baking soda and let it sit for 10 minutes.

This will help loosen the debris, which can then be wiped away using a clean cloth. Take your time with this process and make sure the debris is fully removed before re-installing the dishwasher basket.

This guide will break down each step in detail to showcase what you have to do if the dishwasher top rack is not spinning.

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Steps If The Dishwasher Top Rack Is Not Spinning

1. Remove The Dishwasher Basket

When the dishwasher arms are not spinning and the top rack is not being cleaned, you will have to go straight to the source of the issue.

This means the spray arms.

To get started, you will have to access the spray arms. To do this, you are going to have to take the dishwasher basket out to have proper access to the arms.

Most dishwasher baskets will slide out easily.

Take the dishwasher basket out and set it aside.

At this point, you should have full access to the spray arms and it will become obvious there is an issue with them. Older dishwashers tend to accumulate debris as time goes on and that’s normal.

If you are not cleaning the inside of your appliance regularly, it will start to break down on you.

2. Inspect The Spray Arms

If the dishwasher’s top rack spray arm is not spinning, it is time to take a look at the arm.

What are you looking for?

You are going to be looking for any sort of dust, debris, or grime that has accumulated on the spray arms.

This is common and it does happen as time goes on.

You will start to notice it along the surface of the spray arm. It will restrict how the spray arm moves, which means it won’t spin.

3. Wipe With A Clean Cloth

If the spray arm is not spinning in a dishwasher, you will need to get rid of the debris that has settled on its surface.

To do this, all you are going to need is a clean cloth.

Yes, there are some situations where you are going to have to step things up a few notches. This is going to include using baking soda to loosen the debris before wiping it away.

For now, you are going to keep it simple and look to wipe the surface with nothing more than a clean cloth.

You can wet it a little bit to remove the debris.

Otherwise, a dry cloth will be a good starting point too.

4. Apply Baking Soda If Debris Has Hardened

This is the last step.

You are going to want to apply a bit of baking soda where the debris is located. The goal of doing this is to loosen the debris.

A lot of people will need to do this if the debris has become rigid and difficult to cleanse.

This can happen when the spray arm has come to a halt.

Your best option is to make sure you are letting the baking soda sit for at least 10 minutes. If you do this, it will loosen the debris on the dishwasher’s spray arm.

Final Thoughts

Why is the dishwasher top rack not spinning?

If the dishwasher top rack is not spinning, this means there is debris on the spray arms. This can be dirt, grime, or general debris that has accumulated over time. To get rid of this debris, remove the dishwasher basket, inspect the spray arms, wipe with a clean cloth, and apply baking soda if the debris has hardened.

This should help get rid of the debris and allow the spray arm to move freely again.

Be thorough when you are wiping the dishwasher’s spray arm near the top rack. It will take time but it will be worth the effort.

This is all about focusing on the debris and ensuring things are spinning as they need to.

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