Open the door mid-cycle. Does the water look clear instead of grey? That is the sludge leaving the building.
By cleaning your drain hose with vinegar, you are extending the life of your drain pump by years. You are also ensuring that "clean" water isn't sitting in the hose, growing bacteria, and washing back onto your plates. If you have a small chrome cylinder on your countertop (an air gap), check it. If water spurts out of it during the cycle, your drain hose is still clogged, or the air gap itself is clogged. Pop the cap off and scrub the inside with a pipe cleaner dipped in vinegar. Final Thoughts You do not need a technician. You do not need harsh chemicals. You need two gallons of vinegar and twenty minutes of patience. clean dishwasher drain hose with vinegar
You run another cycle. It gets worse. Now your kitchen smells like a swamp. You call a repair technician, and they quote you $250 to "diagnose" the issue. Before you pull out your wallet, I have a secret to share: Open the door mid-cycle