LG Dishwasher Error Codes: Why LG Tells You to Put Milk in It

LG's published fix for a bE error code is to put a bowl of milk in your dishwasher and run it. That is not a forum remedy. It is step two of LG's own instructions, on two separate support pages.

bE stands for bubble error, and LG explains the logic: "The dishwasher is designed to display the error code bE when oversudsing occurs, thereby preventing leaks." Milk breaks down the foam. We will come back to the exact quantity, because LG gives two different numbers for it.

Here is every code LG publishes for its dishwashers, with the force drain shortcut that solves a good share of them.

The full LG dishwasher code list

LG groups them like this, and the bracketed labels are LG's own:

Code	LG's label	What LG says
AE, EI, FE	Leakage or overfilling	"This error occurs when a leak is detected." LG adds it "may occur if the water supply exceeds the standard amount."
IE	Inlet error	"appears on the display when a specified amount of water is not supplied to the tub."
OE	Outlet error	"appears on the display when the tub is not fully drained."
bE	Bubble error	Oversudsing. See the milk section below.
nE	Vario pump issue	"may occur when the impeller does not spin normally." LG's first step is to reorganize the dishes and restart.
LE	Cleaning motor	"may occur due to an issue with the cleaning motor."
tE	Temperature sensor	LG says this one "requires inspection from a service technician."
HE	Heater error	Also requires a service technician.
PE	Water level sensor	"indicates an issue with the water level sensor. (Applicable to certain older models)" Requires service.
F31	Heat Dry fan	"displayed when the heat dry fan motor does not operate."
F35	Heat Dry temperature	"displayed when the temperatures of Heat Dry components cannot be measured."
F37	Auto open door error	"displayed when the Auto Open Door feature does not function." LG adds: ensure nothing is interfering near the door.
CL	Control lock	Not a fault. See below.

LG's own caveat: "error and notification codes can differ depending on the product model."

bE, and the milk instruction in full

First, the cause. LG is blunt that this is a detergent problem, not a machine problem: "If a regular handwash or liquid dishwashing detergent is used, excessive bubbles may be generated, causing leakage to the outside." And elsewhere: "Do not use dish soap; Dish soaps cause leakage."

LG's recommendation is to "use a powder detergent or solid-type dedicated detergent for dishwashers," and if you do use liquid dishwasher detergent, only a small amount. It also flags a cause people would not guess: "If you use an eco-friendly type 1 detergent or a large amount of detergent, excessive bubbles may be generated and bE may be displayed."

Now the procedure. LG's steps:

1. Set the rinse aid level to L0. Both LG pages say this first.
2. Add no detergent. Place a bowl of milk in the middle of the upper rack. LG says "Operating the dishwasher with milk inside helps to reduce foam."
3. Run a cycle. One LG page says the Standard cycle with the Extra Dry and Rinse options. The other says the Normal cycle. If foam remains, repeat.
4. Set the rinse aid level back to where it was once you are done.

LG also offers the simpler first attempt of running the dishwasher "without adding any detergent nor loading any dishes," which is worth trying before the milk.

On the quantity, LG contradicts itself. We are reporting this rather than picking one, because both figures are on LG's own pages:

• LG's error code guide says to place a bowl with 200ml, which it gives as 7 oz., of milk, while the caption on the same page says 200 to 300ml.
• LG's dedicated bE article says 200ml to 300ml in its steps, and its image caption says 200ml.

The safe reading is that roughly 200ml, about 7 ounces, is the figure every version agrees on, and up to 300ml appears in two of the four places. Any ordinary cup of milk is within LG's range.

If bE appears and there are no suds in the machine at all, LG says to request service.

OE, and the force drain most people never find

OE is the most common LG dishwasher code, and LG describes it as a drain issue "most often resulting from food clogs or an installation issue."

The step worth knowing is the force drain, because it empties the tub without running a full cycle: power on and press and hold the start button for at least three seconds. LG says "Force drain will proceed for two to three minutes."

LG's checks, in its order:

1. Clean the filter. LG advises cleaning it "once every one or two weeks," and on its OE page suggests at least monthly in hard water areas.
2. Check the drain hose for kinks and straighten it, then run a test cycle. LG also says to check for a frozen drain hose, which is the only cold weather mention in its dishwasher content.
3. Check the air gap.
4. Check the garbage disposal connection, particularly on a new dishwasher or new disposal.
5. Force the drain as above.
6. Request a repair. "If you tried all the options above and the OE error code displays again, the unit will require a repair service."

Two installation figures from LG: the drain hose should not exceed 12 feet in length, and the hose end must sit at least 12 inches, or 305 mm, above the base. Its guide page gives the same minimum as 30 cm. LG's page also prints a maximum height figure whose inch and millimetre values do not match each other, so we are not repeating it. Check your installation manual for the ceiling.

LG also suggests running an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar or a dishwasher cleaner to clear buildup.

AE means the dishwasher is already protecting itself

If you see AE, EI or FE, something useful is already happening. LG: "your dishwasher will keep draining to protect the appliance and floor from potential leaks."

So a dishwasher that seems stuck pumping is not malfunctioning, it is deliberately refusing to hold water. LG's checks are to load big plates and pots upside down, use dishwasher specific detergent rather than dishwashing liquid, and confirm the unit is level. If it is level and the error continues, LG says to request service. And if there is no water on the floor but the message is showing, LG's instruction is to unplug the dishwasher and request service.

Note the overlap with bE here: both AE and bE are codes LG partly blames on using the wrong detergent. Hand dishwashing liquid in an LG dishwasher can produce either one.

CL is a lock, not a fault

LG: "When a lock icon is illuminated or when [CL] is displayed, the control panel is locked and cannot be operated."

To clear it, long press the CL button for 3 seconds. On models without a dedicated button, LG gives a specific combination: "long press the buttons [Half Load] and [Energy Saver] for at least three seconds."

That second one is the reason people conclude their panel has died. There is no obvious lock key, so the machine looks unresponsive rather than locked.

Frequently asked questions

Does LG really say to put milk in the dishwasher?

Yes. For a bE bubble error, LG's published steps are to set the rinse aid to L0, add no detergent, place a bowl of milk in the middle of the upper rack, and run a cycle. LG says operating the dishwasher with milk inside helps reduce foam. Set the rinse aid back afterwards.

How much milk?

LG gives two figures across its pages: 200ml, which it also writes as 7 oz., and 200ml to 300ml. Around 200ml is the amount every version agrees on.

What causes bE on an LG dishwasher?

Suds, almost always from the wrong detergent. LG names hand dishwashing liquid and dish soap as causes of leakage, and also flags eco friendly type 1 detergents and simply using too much. It recommends powder or solid detergent made for dishwashers.

How do I force an LG dishwasher to drain?

Power it on and press and hold the start button for at least three seconds. LG says the force drain runs for two to three minutes.

What does OE mean on an LG dishwasher?

The tub has not fully drained. Clean the filter, check the drain hose for kinks or ice, check the air gap and the garbage disposal connection, then force the drain. If it returns after all that, LG says it needs repair service.

Why is my LG dishwasher control panel not responding?

Check for a lock icon or CL on the display. Long press the CL button for 3 seconds, or on models without one, hold Half Load and Energy Saver together for at least three seconds.

Does LG explain what the letters in its codes mean?

Only for bE, where it says the code "stands for bubble error." LG does not publish a general naming convention for its dishwasher codes.

Sources: LG's guide to dishwasher error codes, its bE error code article and its OE error code article. Codes differ by model, so your manual is the final word.

Related guides: LG washer error codes, LG dryer error codes, Whirlpool dishwasher error codes, and dishwasher not draining.