Dishwasher wash cycles

Advertisers often use the phrase "wash cycle" in relation to dishwashers. This raises a reasonable question: what is a dishwasher wash cycle? Simply put, a wash cycle is a program built into the dishwasher whose job it is to start, wash the dishes, rinse them, dry them, and then finish the job properly. We won't settle for such a simple explanation, especially since we have a whole publication for a more detailed discussion.

The main stages of the program implementation

Modern dishwashers can have many programs or wash cycles. The control modules of some models can "remember" up to 12-15 programs. While all these programs are different, they also have one thing in common—the basic steps involved. Almost all wash programs include:

• pre-wash;
• main sink;
• rinsing;
• drying.

Pre-wash is a crucial step in the program. Pre-wash removes food residue from dishes, and if the dirty dishes have been dried, the pre-wash softens the dirt and makes it more pliable. At this stage, the machine doesn't use detergents or tablets, and it doesn't heat the water much.

During the main wash, the machine can heat up the water to 60-70⁰C. This stage is the longest. The machine actively uses powder and tablets, thoroughly washing the plates, cutlery, glasses, and other items loaded into the baskets and trays with the resulting solution. After the main wash, the dishwasher begins the rinse cycle. The machine intensively rinses the dishes twice to completely remove any detergent residue.

Lastly, the dishwasher dries the dishes. Drying can be either convection (as in most dishwashers) or forced air (using a tube dryer). Forced drying involves quickly drying items inside the washing chamber using a flow of hot air coming from a fan. This is where the dishwasher's work ends.

Cycle duration

Dishwasher cycles vary in length. The shortest programs can last 30-40 minutes, while the longest can last over 5 hours. Why this difference? The programs have different purposes. One program cleans lightly soiled dishes with minimal effort. Another program is designed for heavily soiled dishes. A third program is needed to clean incredibly dirty dishes. You get the idea. Professionals distinguish four types of programs based on their duration. Let's list these programs.

1. Quick (high-speed) wash. The shortest cycle, lasting 30-50 minutes. This program rinses rather than washes dishes, so it's only suitable for washing glasses and wine goblets.
2. Normal Wash. This is a standard program that can last from 1 hour 20 minutes to 3 hours. It's ideal for everyday washing of moderately soiled dishes. As long as there are no burnt-on items or other heavily soiled dishes, this program is suitable.
3. Economy wash. A unique wash mode that can be customized in some machines, for example, Bosch dishwashersThe purpose of its use is to optimize resource consumption during dishwashing.

The duration of one economy cycle may differ from another depending on the dishwasher model.

4. Intensive Wash. The dishwasher's "heavy artillery." This mode showcases your appliance's full capabilities in the fight against the toughest stains. This cycle is long (3.5 to 6 hours) and the most time-consuming, but it can clean even the dirtiest pots and pans.

The length of wash cycles on your dishwasher depends on its model. Check your manual. There should be a table listing the duration of each program.

When the washing is finished

At the end of the wash cycle, many users rush to remove dishes from the dishwasher baskets. This is a mistake. After the cycle is complete, the dishwasher dries the dishes, but even after drying, don't rush to remove them. The problem is that dishes in the wash chamber become very hot, so you should open the door slightly and let them cool slightly. Only then can the dishes be removed and placed on the shelves.

There are dishwasher models that automatically open the door of the washing chamber at the end of the program.

Some dishwashers beep at the end of the cycle to let the user know that the dishes are clean.This is extremely inconvenient when starting the machine at night. This alarm can easily wake everyone in the apartment, so many models have an option to disable it.

Resource consumption per cycle

What is the water and energy consumption per wash cycle for a dishwasher? It depends on the wash cycle and the specific dishwasher. To find out exactly, you need to check the specifications of your dishwasher. The manual usually lists the average consumption per wash cycle, but you can also find information on the consumption for a specific cycle.

A modern dishwasher can use 6.5 to 12 liters of water per wash cycle and less than 1 kW of electricity per hour. While quite economical, it's far from a record. Models that are twice as efficient as current models will soon appear. Perhaps then, using a dishwasher will truly be cost-effective.

   

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