Removing White Film From Dishes

Cleaning Chalky Film Off Glasses

My daughter did not let me know that we were out of dishwasher soap and proceeded to use the liquid Jet Dry as soap. Every dish had a chalky film on it. The plastics washed clean after a few washes, but the glass glasses are still chalky looking after several weeks of use. I thought of trying to clean them with vinegar, but wasn't sure if that would help. Anyone ever deal with something like this?

Tawnda

---

RE: Cleaning Chalky Film Off Glasses

I would think white vinegar would be the way to go. You could drench a rag with some white vinegar and try rubbing the glass and see if it removes the film. If that works you could try soaking them with a ratio of 1:3 vinegar and water for a couple hours, then take them out and clean with rag and it should remove the film. (05/08/2004)

By Anne H.

RE: Cleaning Chalky Film Off Glasses

Yes, vinegar will work. Run your dished though a complete cycle and add vinegar to the water when the machine fills.You can even add the vinegar several times throughout this cycle This should take care of the film on the dishes! Sandy (05/10/2004)

By Sandy

RE: Cleaning Chalky Film Off Glasses

Try soaking your glasses in white household vinegar. I would first run a load in the dishwasher with 2 cups vinegar and no soap. If this doesn't work, you will probably need to soak them for a few hours. This has always worked for me. Good Luck (05/11/2004)

By J Walker

---

White Film on Glasses

How do you get white film off glasses from the dishwasher? It's a new machine and the glasses look foggy.

Linda from Saratoga

---

RE: White Film on Glasses

Try the Mr. Clean sponge, that thing takes off everything. I had a burnt tile in my kitchen that looked like a coffee stain for years. I used every chemical there was to remove it and finally gave up. One day I tried the Mr. Clean sponge and it removed the entire spot. (12/06/2006)

By Anna

RE: White Film on Glasses

The same thing happens with my dishes. I've been told that its because we don't have a water softener. I've tried lots of different things to remedy this, but I find that adding 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle keeps the glasses clear. I also don't have to use jet dry anymore because the vinegar does the trick, so it saves me money too! (12/07/2006)

By Melanie

RE: White Film on Glasses

Yes, use white vinegar. When you hear the water beginning to fill for the finale rinse quickly, open the door and add 2 cups of white vinegar. It will do a wonderful job for you. Later rinses can probably get by with using 1 cup, but that first one has a bigger job. (12/07/2006)

By Grandma Margie

RE: White Film on Glasses

I have a 15 year old dishwasher that does the white film on glasses every now and then. It's the dishwasher powder you use. Watch certain brands. When I stay away from certain brands of dishwasher powders, my old Whirlpool dishwasher does great. (12/08/2006)

By Glinda

RE: White Film on Glasses

I agree to use vinegar, when our softener is low on salt the dishes get a film on them. Just put some vinegar in a shallow dish and roll the glasses in the vinegar. It will come off right away. I put the used vinegar in an empty bottle under my sink, I have used it over and over many times. (12/08/2006)

By PICO

RE: White Film on Glasses

Vinegar doesn't work for me. I've tried full-strength vinegar on a rag, and then a solution of 1:3 vinegar:water, soaking the glasses. I put the solution in a pitcher, put the glass inside the pitcher, and put some solution inside the glass. I've tried bleach and Soft Scrub. I'm getting ready to toss the glasses. (01/17/2008)

By Robin

RE: White Film on Glasses

I fill my sink with 50% CLR and 50% water. I put all my drinking glasses in there and it takes the white film right off. Then I put them back in my dishwasher to get the CLR off of them. (02/08/2008)

By Susan

RE: White Film on Glasses

I purchased some wine glasses at an auction, half of which had a white film that just would not come off. I tried CLR, Windex, warmed White Vinegar, bathroom cleaners, everything! Finally, just as I had decided that these glasses could not be saved, I noticed my glass cook top cleaner among my cleaning supplies. I applied to both inside and outside of glasses, let it dry to a haze, then polished off with a soft cotton cloth. It worked like a charm! (05/27/2008)

By Dene-Stone Pathway

RE: White Film on Glasses

The answer is glass magic. You can get it at Hy Vee by the dishwasher soap. You pour it in the bottom of the dishwasher before you start it. I have thrown away glass, but when it happened again, I tried this and it worked! (10/24/2008)

By KRIS

RE: White Film on Glasses

Thank you Dene-Stone Pathway! You gave me the only suggestion I have found that removes the film on my glassware. The glass cook top cleaner works like a charm. The glasses look like new! Thanks! (01/25/2009)

By Betty

---

White Film On Dishes

I am using the borax and washing soda dishwasher soap mixture as well as white vinegar in the rinse aid holder. My dishes are still coming out with a white film on them. I have tried the light wash, the normal wash, and the pots and pans wash settings on my dishwasher. Nothing is helping. Is there anything else that I can do or use to get cleaner dishes? Thanks.

Cathy from Grand Rapids, MI

---

RE: White Film On Dishes

Fill rinse cup with Jet Dry instead of the vinegar. It works for me. (09/15/2008)

By Lee

RE: White Film On Dishes

Are you up to date on putting the dishwasher salt in your dishwasher? A little thing like that may make a difference. (09/16/2008)

By cett

RE: White Film On Dishes

We put a "filter" under our sink to filter the water that goes to the ice maker, dishwasher, and the water at the sink. These filters can be purchased at Lowes or Walmart, or hardware stores. The filter has helped with the "white film" on drinking glasses, and other clear items. So I believe that the dark colored items, and patterned dishes are better, too.

Also, if you use the convenient drinking "powders" that contain Splenda, you will have a "cloudy" look to your drinking glasses. I sent an e-mail to a particular company, (we drink lemonade all the time) questioning the "cloudy" look. They sent me several coupons to purchase some more of their product, and apologized for the "cloudy" look to the glasses. They are aware of their product causing clear glasses, and pitchers to become cloudy, but evidently there isn't anything they can do about it. (09/16/2008)

By Barb in Tennessee

RE: White Film On Dishes

I sometimes dump 4-6 cups or more of white vinegar right into the bottom of the dishwasher before a normal wash. I use dishwasher soap, too. It seems to take a large amount of vinegar once in a while to clean all the gunk out of the dishwasher. Give it a try. Vinegar is cheap and this method always works for me. (09/16/2008)

By loved1

RE: White Film On Dishes

Several months ago I purchased my second dishwasher and I asked the salesman how to keep the dishes from becoming clouded and he said to put a bowl of vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and put it through a regular cycle with no dishes in it and do this once a month. So far no cloudiness. (09/16/2008)

By Annette

RE: White Film On Dishes

I don't know what the borax and washing soda mix is, so I don't know what that is trying to accomplish.

I have found that different types of soap work better in some water than in others, so my first suggestion would be to try a variety of detergents.

My second thought on this is that the vinegar and washing soda may be canceling each other out, as soda is a base and vinegar an acid, and they combine to form salt water. Also if you are using a lot of soda in comparison to the vinegar you may be neutralizing the vinegar so it can't do the job it might do.

If I were you, I would go back to a regular detergent, and try using vinegar in the rinse cycle. You may not be getting enough vinegar in the water to make a difference. I used to toss in about a cup when I had this problem in one place that I lived.

I suspect that the film is a hard water film on your dishes. The poster that suggested a filter may have the long term solution, but in the meantime, try the vinegar, as it is an acid which should dissolve the hard water lime deposit on the dishes.

If several cups of vinegar don't do the trick you may have to go to something like CLR to clean out the gunk in the dishwasher first. It is a much stronger acid, but maybe that is what you need to get rid of buildup. (09/17/2008)

By louel53

RE: White Film On Dishes

I have tried a similar mixture, borax and baking soda, with a vinegar rinse in lieu of dishwasher detergent, but came up with the same results. Cloudy dishes. Dishwasher detergent contains phosphates, so that is why I tried a home version, trying to be kinder to the environment. So far I have not found a combo that leaves the dishes without a film. Sigh, so I am back to Electrosol, it works great for dishes, but not so great for the earth. Trish in CT (09/25/2008)

By GirlNumber5

---

White Film on Glasses

How do I get my glasses to come out of the dishwasher clear instead of with this milky looking film on them? You can't feel the film or taste it, but it makes my glasses look terrible.

By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC

---

RE: White Film on Glasses

Crystal glasses should never be put into the dish washer, it makes them "etch", tiny scrapes on the polished surface. A glass, made of glass, will do the same thing over time. Since it is actually cutting into the polished surface, I am unsure if it is fixable. (04/23/2009)

By Dedeswrkshop

RE: White Film on Glasses

A repairman told me this is from too much soap. Don't use the name brand detergent. Go to the dollar store and get their large inexpensive box of dish washer detergent. Put your glasses in the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar to help get the film off and then use the cheap detergent. After a few washings, the glasses will be spotless. You can also use the Walmart Great Value brand. (04/28/2009)

By kwgzzs

RE: White Film on Glasses

Make sure that you have some kind of rinsing agent like Jet Dry in your dishwasher. To remove the film just fill a dish with enough vinegar so that you can roll the glass in it, the film will come right off. Put back in dishwasher. I save the vinegar and reuse it for the same purpose if needed again. (04/28/2009)

By PICO

RE: White Film on Glasses

Sometimes this is etching, and sometimes it is caused by the quality of the water or the type of detergent. When I had this problem, I tried different detergents, and found one that kept the glasses shining. In another house, with different water, I had to pour a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle every time.

When I had some "unbreakable" duralex glasses, they always had a film on them. My friend who handwashed never had a problem. I have a couple of glass mugs that are cloudy; they are very old. However, I have a glass that I know is at least 36 years old, and it has been washed in the dishwasher for all of those years, and it is just as shiny as when it was new. So, sometimes, it is the quality of the glass, and there is not much that you can do. I don't think the price of the glass has anything to with it as jam jars are less likely to film than fancy glasses. (04/28/2009)

By louel53

---

White Film On Dishes

How do I clean my dishwasher? My dishes have a film on them.

By Pat L. from Phoenix, AZ

---

RE: White Film On Dishes

Put a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid in the detergent cup and run it with no dishes. If this doesn't help then maybe it's just your dish soap. I use BioKleen automatic dish powder and my dishes are spotless. Hope it works! (01/31/2010)

By CuckooNest

RE: White Film On Dishes

It is permanent etching from using an automatic dishwasher. Hand wash (great for your hands) and you won't ruin the finish on your dishes or glasses. Thrift stores are full of originally beautiful dishes and glassware that looks like that. My 50 (a good many) year old glassware and dishes that have been hand washed nearly everyday still look brand new. Sorry you didn't know this sooner. (02/03/2010)

By EGGZ

RE: White Film On Dishes

I have hard water that does this. We find putting vinegar in the rinse cycle helps eliminate the film. (02/03/2010)

By Pennypacer

RE: White Film On Dishes

Try putting vinegar in where you normally put the Jet Dry, first! That's it! When your dishes start to look like they are getting the white film again, refill it. You will be surprised how long in between refills, and how much vinegar fits in that little hole. I have been doing that for years. Good luck. (02/03/2010)

By freebyrdz

RE: White Film On Dishes

I had the same problem. I tried the stuff that cleans dishwashers, as well as, putting vinegar in every load, which made it a little better. I finally tried the Cascade Complete. What a difference. It is more expensive, but well worth it as I was putting half of the dishes back through again or hand washing them when they came out. Some of the dishes I thought were permanently stained, but after several washes they actually looked better. (02/03/2010)

By Gail216

RE: White Film On Dishes

I'm in Tucson and just about 2 weeks ago started having the same problem (again). The only thing I've found that works is a product called LemiShine. I found it at Fry's and it's kind of expensive (about $5 for a container like a smallish coffee creamer). It was in the dishwashing section.

I put regular detergent (I use Great Value from Walmart which is rated as highly as Cascade Complete, but is a lot cheaper) in the pre-rinse cup and LemiShine in the main cup, then run as usual. Everything came out clear and the film was gone.

I don't know why this happens. It has happened three times in the 8 months I've lived in my house and it goes as mysteriously as it comes. I've been using this combination for a couple of loads and hope to stop soon. Good luck! (02/03/2010)

By Katie A.