Quick answer
Check first: rinse aid (often empty), the programme, not opening the door too early, and correct loading. Plastic naturally dries less. If dishes are cold and wet despite all that, the heater, fan or sensor needs checking.
Overview
Most dishwashers dry using residual heat from a hot final rinse plus rinse aid, which makes water sheet off surfaces; some models add a fan or automatic door opening.
So many drying complaints are solved by setting rinse aid correctly and choosing the right programme.
Likely causes
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1
Rinse aid empty or low
Without it, droplets cling to surfaces and dry slowly, leaving spots.
Related parts: Detergent & rinse-aid dispenser
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2
Short or eco programme
These use a cooler final rinse, so drying is weaker.
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3
Plastics and hollow items
Plastic doesn’t hold heat, so it dries less; items placed wrongly trap water.
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4
Opening or unloading too early
Unloading straight away, or the lower rack first, lets water from the top rack drip down.
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5
Heating or fan fault
If the final rinse is cold, or the fan doesn’t work on models with one, drying clearly suffers.
Related parts: Heating elementDrying fanTemperature sensor
Safe checks before calling a technician
Unplug the dishwasher before any check, and close its tap if there is a leak. Wear gloves when checking the sump in case of broken glass, and don’t open the side or bottom panels.
- Fill the rinse aid and set the dose per your manual.
- Enable extra-dry if available and use a normal programme.
- Angle items so water runs off, and don’t overload.
- Wait 15–30 minutes after the programme before unloading, and empty the lower rack first.
- Check dishes are warm at the end of the programme.
Parts involved
Detergent & rinse-aid dispenser
Holds detergent and releases it at the right time, and doses rinse aid in the final rinse.
Heating element
Heats wash and final-rinse water, and helps drying on many models.
Drying fan
On some models, helps vent steam and improve drying.
Temperature sensor
Measures water temperature so the board can control heating.
When should you call a technician?
- Dishes are cold and soaking on every programme.
- HE or tE appears.
- The fan doesn’t run (on models with one).
Need a Samsung repair technician?
Send us the model, the error code and a description of the fault — or book a technician visit in Amman, Zarqa, Salt, Madaba or Sahab.
Related error codes
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t plastic dry?
It doesn’t hold heat like glass and china, so more water stays on it — normal in most dishwashers.
Is rinse aid necessary?
Yes for good drying, especially with hard water; some tablets include it, but filling the reservoir usually gives better results.
Does opening the door after the programme help?
Opening it slightly a few minutes after the end releases steam and helps drying; some models do this automatically.