5 Ways To Maximize Your Dishwashers Drying Cycle - DeWaard & Bode
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5 Ways To Maximize Your Dishwashers Drying Cycle

Posted on 8.23.22

Your dishwasher is one of the hardest working appliances in the home. It works diligently everyday to remove all the gunk and bacteria from your dishes so that you don’t have to soak, scrub, sanitize, and dry every time you use a dish. That’s why when it’s not working at its best, it can quickly become a big concern.

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There isn’t much more frustrating than picking out your pots and pans or glass cup from the dishwasher and flipping it over to put it away in the cupboard just to suddenly feel that wet trickle down your arm. What’s the deal? You bought this modern dishwasher not that long ago and already it’s stopped doing its job?! This is an outrage! But hang on, before you take your frustration out on the machine, put the baseball bat down and read this.

Below we discuss 5 ways to maximize your dishwasher’s drying cycle so that your clean dishes come out completely dry every load, as well as some other tips you can follow to keep your dishwasher working at its best.

Tips To Maximize Your Dishwashers Drying Cycle

Before you get down about your dishwasher not drying your dishes completely, here are a few super easy tips you can try out first before troubleshooting an actual issue.

1. Load Your Dishwasher Correctly

The easiest tip to try first is to make sure you’re loading your dishwasher the right way. While each dishwasher is designed slightly differently from other units, there are general rules you can follow that will maximize your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

For starters, dishes should all be facing down towards the water jets. A bowled turn upward will fill with water and will not be able to dry. Cups, bowls, and any other type of dish that has a lip on its bottom will need to be loaded at an angle to help the water roll off.

You will also want to make sure your dishes have enough space between each other. Dishes that are crammed on top of each other will not get enough airflow during the drying cycle and may come out pretty damp. Leaving enough space between dishes will also help make sure they’re being washed thoroughly.

If in doubt, seek the manual of your dishwasher which explains how to properly load that specific model.

2. Use A Pre Rinse Aid

Have you ever noticed that extra dispenser in your dishwasher is designed specifically for rinse aid? A rinse aid may seem so extra but it actually can significantly help your dishwasher dry clothes.

A rinse aid, or sometimes called rinse agent, is considered a surfactant, which means it reduces the surface tension of any liquid it is dissolved in.

Basically, it makes water less able to form into the type of droplets that turn into water spots. Instead, it will easily slide off your dishes so that your dishes dry easier.

If you’re looking for a more natural option, you can try using white vinegar instead of a rinse aid. It can offer some of the same effects while also removing odor.

3. Use The Heat

Your dishwasher doesn’t pull in your home’s hot water to wash your dishes. Instead, it uses a heating element to heat the water to a high enough temperature to easily remove debris and kill the bacteria on your dishes.

If your dishes aren’t coming out very dry you might not be using the correct cycle, try to run your dishwasher at a high-heat wash cycle, such as Sanitize, or use a heated dry cycle. Your dishwasher will use this extra heat to evaporate the water during the drying cycle, giving your dishes a better chance to fully dry.

4. Allow Airflow After Each Load

If you’ve tried the above tips and your dishes are still not fully dry, it may be not getting the airflow it needs for condensation to leave the unit.

After your next dishwasher load, simply crack the door open a few inches to allow the moisture to leave the unit. Don’t open it completely because you will still want to keep a majority of the heat inside the cavity to assist in drying.

Older units may need airflow more than newer units and this is an easy fix to try instead of prematurely replacing your unit.

5. Open Bottom Rack First

If your dishes are still coming out with water pooling on top of cups or bowls, the last thing we recommend is trying a certain unloading method.

After opening the door, don’t pull any of the top racks out first. This movement can make all the water fall off your dishes and onto the dishes below. Instead, start by pulling out the bottom rack and unloading it first. Then move to the middle rack and finally the third rack.

While the issue may not be completely resolved, this at least cuts the work of hand drying some of your dishes in half.

Repair or Replace?

If it’s determined that your dishwasher is actually dealing with a broken part, you may be looking at a costly repair. A typical dishwasher repair costs between $150 to $300 but can reach as high as $600 or more depending on your dishwasher's age, if it's under warranty or not, and the type of repair.

There may be some repairs you can DIY to save some time and money, but a general rule is that if it has to deal with water and electricity (motor, pump, heating element, or wiring) leave it to a certified expert for both you and your dishwasher’s longevity.

If you spent over $600 on your dishwasher and it’s only been a few years since you bought it, it’s probably worth getting the repair. The price of appliances has gone up so finding an equal replacement may get more costly than you’re willing to pay right now.

However, if you only spent a couple of hundred dollars and your repair will cost more than what you spent on the dishwasher, it may make more sense to replace it. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars more than your original unit to enjoy an upgrade. Even base dishwashers come with features and technologies that weren’t standard a few years ago.

And lastly, if your unit is getting really old and you’ve been putting off buying a new one, this may be the push you need to upgrade.

Shop Local And Save

If you’re looking for a “dishwasher store near me,” look no further! At DeWaard and Bode, we offer a large selection of dishwashers from the best names in the industry at price points that are sure to fit any budget. We also offer home appliance repairs on the products we carry. We are a factory authorized appliance repair center for virtually every appliance product we sell.

Visit us online to shop our catalog or visit a DeWaard and Bode conveniently located near you in Burlington or Bellingham to find a dishwasher near you. We also offer ding and dent dishwashers that are ready to be picked up today!

Call us, chat with us, visit us online, or stop by today!

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