Dishwasher leaving glasses cloudy: causes and safe checks

Usually simple

Quick answer

Cloudy film on glasses is usually limescale from hard water, not an appliance fault. Keep the salt reservoir topped up with dishwasher salt, set the water hardness on the machine, use rinse aid separately from your tablets, and descale the dishwasher regularly.

Also covers: white film on glasses · dishwasher leaving white residue.

This can be normal

Bosch says a cloudy film on glasses is not an appliance fault. It usually comes from hard water that isn’t softened enough, or a machine that needs descaling.

Likely causes

What you can safely check yourself

Stop and call a qualified engineer if:
  • The code or problem comes back after you’ve done the safe checks on this page.

Work through these in order. Stop as soon as one of the signs above applies.

Top up dishwasher salt and rinse aid

  1. If the salt indicator is on, fill the salt reservoir in the base of the tub with dishwasher salt and screw the cap back on firmly.
  2. Fill the rinse aid dispenser. Manufacturers recommend rinse aid even if your tablets contain it.
  3. Set the water hardness on the dishwasher to match your local water. Your manual explains how.

Never use table salt, sea salt or cooking salt in the reservoir.

Run a dishwasher maintenance wash

  1. Clean the filters first.
  2. Run an empty hot programme with a dishwasher cleaner, or your machine’s care programme if it has one. Follow the cleaner’s instructions.
  3. Wipe the door seal and door edge, where the wash water doesn’t reach.

For this fault: Bosch recommends descaling regularly in hard water areas. Use a descaler made for dishwashers and follow your manual.

Related problems

More dishwasher problems and codes, or use the fault finder.

Sources

Last checked against these sources: .

We write every page in our own words from manufacturer guidance and check it against the sources above. If your manual says something different, follow your manual. How we check.