What is the best cycle to run your dishwasher on?

Dishwashers make cleaning dishes much more convenient than washing by hand. However, to get the best results from your dishwasher, it’s important to understand the different cycle settings available. Most modern dishwashers have several options to choose from depending on your load. The various cycle settings determine factors like wash temperature, water pressure, dry time, and how long the cycle runs. Understanding the functions will help you get the best cleaning performance while also protecting more delicate items.

Normal cycle

The Normal cycle is intended for average loads containing a mix of dish types with typical food residues. It’s the standard cycle you’ll use most frequently. On a Normal cycle, the dishwasher will:

• Wash for an average time of 1-2 hours using moderate heat, usually around 140°F. This temperature is high enough to kill germs and sanitize dishes without being too harsh.
• Use standard water pressure from the spray arms to tackle light-to-medium soils stuck on plates, glasses, utensils, cookware and most small plastic items.
• Incorporate a rinse and dry cycle at the end to remove detergent and thoroughly dry your clean dishes.

The Normal cycle strikes a good balance between cleaning power and efficiency. It handles everyday loads that include a variety of spoons, cups, bowls, and cookware, along with heavy-duty pots and lightly soiled glasses. Dishes will come out clean without wasting energy. For dealing with an average mix of dishes, the Normal cycle delivers solid performance without fuss.

Heavy duty cycle

The Heavy Duty cycle is designed for loads with heavily soiled or baked-on food items. This includes cookware like pots, pans, and casseroles along with stained plastic tupperware that can be especially difficult to clean. During a Heavy Duty cycle, the dishwasher will:

• Run longer than normal, typically around 2-3 hours. The extended time allows for tougher soils to fully release.
• Use higher water pressure from the spray arms for stronger cleaning power. The forceful jets of water can help break down older, stuck-on messes.
• Wash at higher temperatures than normal, from around 140°F up to the maximum heat of 180°F. The extra hot water helps dissolve and sanitize hardened grease and residue.
• Incorporate an intensive booster wash and rinse phase in some models for heavily soiled sections like pots. Additional sprays of water target problem areas.

While taking more time, the Heavy Duty cycle uses higher heat and water pressure designed specifically for heavily soiled cast iron pans, baked-on casserole dishes, and plastic containers that require robust scrubbing to remove built-up grime. It’s perfect for cleaning very dirty cookware like new.

Quick wash

The Quick Wash cycle provides a speedy option for lightly soiled loads when time is limited. It’s ideal for situations where you need dishes cleaned fast, such as after a small meal or party. During a Quick Wash:

• The wash cycle will be significantly shorter than normal, usually finishing within 30 minutes to an hour.
• Wash temperature is typically around 130°F to 140°F for safety with delicate and heat-sensitive items.
• Water pressure from the spray arms is also lowered to a gentler spray best for lightly dirty dishes and glassware.
• Full drying time may be omitted entirely to save further time since the load is not heavily soiled.

While not as effective on larger or heavily soiled loads, the Quick Wash is perfect when you need clean dishes in a hurry. It makes fast work of loads containing items with light food residue like glasses, silverware, plates and shallow bowls without spots or caked-on leftovers. The abbreviated dishwasher cycle efficiently washes items with minor dirt just enough to be usable while drastically cutting the time.

Read more: How Does a Dishwasher Work?

Glass or delicate cycle

The Glass cycle is tailored specifically for washing delicate glassware, including wine glasses, stemware, and other delicate or glass items that require extra care. During a Glass cycle:

• The wash time is short, often under 2 hours to minimize the risk of damage.
• Wash temperature stays low, typically around 120°F which is the safest level for glass. Higher heat can sometimes cause brittleness, clouding or cracking.
• Water pressure from the spray arms is further reduced to a very gentle spray, utilizing the lowest setting possible. Harsh sprays could cause the glassware to move and break.
• Rotating wash arms move with additional care and slower speed when washing glass items to prevent collisions that may chip pieces.

The soft cycles are carefully designed to keep glassware intact. The gentle water, low heat, and cautious machine movement effectively clean lightly soiled glass without subjecting fragile pieces to harsher conditions known to compromise glass over time.

Sanitize cycle

The Sanitize cycle provides a high-temperature wash option intended to sanitize dishes, especially important after washing items used for raw meat and poultry to prevent contamination. During a Sani cycle:

• The wash temperature starts at 150°F or higher, well above the EPA-recommended minimum of 140°F for sanitizing purposes.
• The extended heat works to eliminate common foodborne bacteria and microbes that can cause illness if left on dishes.
• The cycle duration is generally longer than standard wash cycles, reaching upwards of 4 hours to maintain the higher temperature for an appropriate time.
• Some models may also utilize additional higher heat drying to thoroughly sanitize the exterior of items.

The Sani cycle guarantees dishes holding raw meat juices or poultry adhere to or surpass the FDA food code temperatures for complete sanitization, safe handling and reuse. This cycle provides thorough sterilization for dishes, utensils, and cookware, reducing health risks from pathogens. Whenever sanitizing dishes is necessary, it is highly recommended to meet health safety standards.

Read more: How to Clean a Dishwasher (with Video!) – AppliancePartsPros Blog

Other cycles

Pre-wash or rinse hold

• Useful if not all dishes are dirty or you need to load at a different time than running the cycle.
• Prevents food residue from drying and sticking further until the full wash occurs.
• Some models have a separate rinse spray arm that provides thorough rinsing without water spots before holding.

Auto cycle

• Sensors inside the dishwasher detect how dirty the load is based on factors like the concentration of food residue in the water.
• The dishwasher automatically adjusts the cycle time and temperature based on the soil level, reducing energy usage for lighter loads.
• Takes the guesswork out of choosing a cycle for families with varied dish types and soil levels daily.

China crystal cycle

• Gentler than even the delicate cycle thanks to ultra-low temperatures under 100°F.
• Wash and rinse arms move at a snail’s pace to minimize vibration for delicate items.
• Drying is either very light heat or air only to avoid thermal shock that could cause cracking.
• Best for handmade dishware, antique plates and collectibles that require extremely careful handling.

Eco cycle

• Significantly reduces water, energy and dry time compared to the standard dishwasher cycle while still cleaning well.
• Ideal for households aiming to conserve resources and lower utility bills.
• May not be as effective on heavily soiled items but works great as a daily cleansing cycle.

Read more: Dishwasher Not Fully Cleaning Dishes: Top 5 Reasons & Fixes

What’s the Best Dishwasher Cycle for Regular Cleaning?

When it comes to keeping your dishes sparkling clean, choosing the right dishwasher cycle is key. The cycle you select determines the wash time, water temperature, and intensity of the cleaning. Here’s a look at the factors to consider when picking the best cycle for regular dishwasher loads:

Dishwasher Load Contents

• The types of dishes and cookware you’re washing matters. Loads containing pots and pans or baked-on food require more intense cycles.
• Lighter loads of everyday dishes can clean well on quick or light cycles.
• Make sure you don’t overpack your dishwasher. Allow room for water circulation.

Wash Cycle Setting

• Heavy cycles use the highest water temperatures, longest wash times, and extra heated drying. These are best for very dirty pots and pans.
• Auto cycles automatically adjust the wash time and intensity based on soil sensors. These work well for mixed loads.
• Quick cycles use less water and energy but aren’t as thorough. Only use for lightly soiled loads.

Water Temperature

• Hot water dissolves and removes food better than cold. Ideal wash temperatures are from 120°F to 150°F.
• Check your dishwasher’s internal water temperature during cycles. Older models may not heat water sufficiently.

Detergent and Rinse Aid

• Use dishwasher detergent (not hand washing detergent) to lift and remove food residues.
• Rinse aid improves water sheeting so dishes dry cleaner. Make sure to refill it regularly.

Drying Performance

• The heated dry option evaporates moisture so dishes air dry spot-free. This uses the most energy.
• If your model lacks a heating element, or to save energy, use the air dry setting. Dishes take longer to dry.

What is the Most Efficient Way to Run a Dishwasher?

When it comes to running your dishwasher efficiently, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

Dishwasher Load

• Place dishes in so water can reach all surfaces
  • Make sure dishes are not nestled or overlapping
• Load utensils in compartments or baskets
  • Separate utensils to ensure adequate cleaning
• Alternate items facing up and down
  • Allows water to spray all sides

Dishwasher Area	Recommended Items
Bottom rack	Pots, pans, plates, bowls
Top rack	Glasses, cups, small plates
Utensil basket	Fork, knives, spoons

Wash Setting and Water Temperature

• Match cycle setting to soil level and load size
  • Light, normal, heavy, pots & pans
• Set water temperature according to the cycle
  • Heated water removes food better
• Avoid cycles with extra heat or water unless needed
• Skip rinse aid option for better efficiency

Drying Performance

• Use air dry when possible
  • Saves energy
• Use heat dry option for poor air circulation
  • Helps evaporate the remaining moisture
• Ensure dishes are angled to allow drainage
  • Avoids pooling water spots

Properly loading your dishwasher and selecting the right settings for your dishes’ soil level and load size is key for efficiency. Adjusting some simple habits like allowing dishes to air dry can also optimize cleaning performance. With some small adjustments, you can ensure clean dishes while saving water and electricity.

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope you found this information on dishwasher cycles useful. If you have any other appliance needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our thousands of free videos and troubleshooting guides available. If you need any dishwasher replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more.

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