"M.H." > wrote in message
link.net...
> Is it normal for there to be a small pool of water in the rear, above
> the drain pan, with a small amount of fine sized (not sure if from
> detergent, rinse aid, something else) suds? Thanks.

This is really two questions; 1 Is the pool of water normal? 2. Are the
suds normal?

Many, but not all, dishwashers leave a little visible water in the bottom.

But you should not see suds after the rinse cycles have completed. Even
before the rinse cycle, there should be very little in the way of suds since
dishwasher detergents are formulated to avoid producing suds and foam.

Assuming that you are using a detergent intended for automatic dishwashers,
confirm that your machine is filling and emptying during each cycle. Also,
be sure that it is loaded so that none of the dishes / pots inside can hold
water during the cycles. In most cases, the "recommended" amount of
detergent is a lot more then needed except with the most dirty greasy loads
and hardest water. Use the minimum detergent needed to get the job done and
you will minimize the quantity of detergent residues getting into your
food. A good starting point is usually about a quarter of what is
recommended. Personally, I don't bother with an additional "rinse aid" or
wetting agents beyond what is already in the detergent. Try it without, and
then if spotting drying spots are an issue for you can always add it back
in, starting with a much smaller amount.