The spray arms are what actually get water onto your dishes, and their small nozzles are exactly the right size to be gradually blocked by mineral deposits and food particles, even in a dishwasher that’s otherwise running normally.
How to Tell They Need Attention
If dishes on one shelf are coming out cleaner than the other, or you notice certain spots on plates consistently missed by the spray, one or more nozzles is likely partially blocked rather than the wash cycle itself being at fault.
Removing and Cleaning Them
Most Bertazzoni dishwasher spray arms lift or twist free without tools. Once removed, hold each arm up to a light and check that every nozzle hole is clear, using a toothpick or thin wire to dislodge anything stuck in individual openings, then rinse thoroughly under running water.
A Realistic Schedule
We recommend checking the spray arms every one to two months for most households, and monthly if you’re in a hard-water area, where mineral buildup accumulates faster than food debris alone would cause.
Reinstalling Correctly
Make sure each arm spins freely by hand after reinstalling before running a cycle — an arm that’s seated slightly crooked won’t rotate properly even if the nozzles themselves are clean. For anything beyond routine cleaning, visit our Bertazzoni dishwasher repair page.