At a Glance:
How long before dinner is ready? How long before the pizza arrives? How long before we can eat dessert? It’s not uncommon to hear these questions in the kitchen, but not many will wonder “How long does a dishwasher take?” We agree, knowing when supper will be done is far more exciting, but knowing how long does it take for a dishwasher to run is important if you want to save money, time, and energy.
If you’ve noticed your current dishwasher seems to take forever to finish a load, take a moment to compare the times in this guide, where we tell you how long is a dishwasher cycle. Then, to see if you could use an upgrade with dishwasher reviews picked from our experts here at Bekins.
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In-Stock DishwashersPrewash Cycle
When it comes to pre-treating dishes, some say the step leads to bad results in the dishwasher. Even Cascade, the popular dishwasher detergent brand, cautions that pre-rinsing dishes can affect how well your dishwasher cleans. All the same, you’ll be pressed to find a manufacturer that doesn’t include this setting as part of its lineup, and for good reason.
Whether you like to use it or not, the prewash cycle is handy for loosening up caked-on messes such as lasagna, rice, scrambled eggs, and other foods that are hard to get off dishes. Keep in mind that the prewash and rinse cycles are not the same; the first happens at the start of a load, while the rinse portion happens toward the end and can last up to 30 minutes.
✅ The prewash cycle is short, lasting between three to eight minutes.
Recommended Dishwasher for Prewashing: The Fisher & Paykel DD24DDI9 N
Running an entire dishwasher to rinse just a few dishes is wasteful — unless it’s with these Fisher & Paykel double dishwasher drawers. By splitting 14 place settings into two independent dishwasher tubs, you can pre-treat small loads using half the energy and water, as little as 3.28 gallons per wash. Altogether, six wash programs allow you to handle the rest of your dinnerware inside a trendy and high-end dishwasher model that can be custom fitted with an inlay of your choice.
Fisher & Paykel DD24DTI9 N Reviews
Normal Cycle
The setting you’ll use most on your dishwasher is the normal cycle. Intended for everyday messes, this dishwashing mode handles plates, bowls, cups, and silverware with ease. However, plastic containers and heavy cookware might need a setting with a little more oomph. In a pinch, you can also include stemware into this a normal wash, but for best results, run them with the delicate cycle.
✅ So, how long is a normal dishwasher cycle? The exact duration depends on the brand and whether a dishwasher has sensor soils, but overall, the normal cycle on a dishwasher takes about two hours.
Recommended Dishwasher for Normal Loads: The Amana ADB1400AGS
Not every household has a busy kitchen, and for those, a basic setup is all that’s needed to clean dishes. This Amana dishwasher satisfies those needs with a stylish setup that is easy on the wallet, too. In one review, the no-frills cycles are considered a plus, saying, “It was easy to show my kids and husband, and we all can easily operate with ease.” Users will have no problem running the normal cycle on this model, or any of the other two wash settings this affordable dishwasher comes with.
Amana ADB1400AGS Dishwasher Reviews
Quick Wash Cycle
Asko dishwashers offer an impressive 20-minute speed wash on select dishwashers, although they’re outperformed by Miele commercial-grade dishwashers that can do small loads of dishes in 15 minutes. The speed cycle is a convenient way to give lightly soiled dishes a quick refresh.
Additionally, running the speed cycle on a dishwasher can help to cut down on energy and water. The setting runs at about half the water consumption and in far less time. Running the quick cycle setting periodically throughout the week is a smart way to keep a pantry full of clean dishes without having to run full loads every day.
✅ Of all dishwasher cycles, the speed mode is the dishwasher setting that varies most between brands. A quick wash cycle can be anywhere between 15 minutes to just under one hour.
Recommended Dishwasher with Time Indicator: The Bosch SHX878ZD5N
Modern dishwashers are extremely quiet, which is nice, but that makes it hard to determine how long a load needs to finish the job. This energy efficient dishwasher from the Bosch 800 Series solves that issue in two ways. First, it uses an exclusive InfoLight that casts onto the floor — if you see the beam, you know it’s running. It backs that up with a cycle chime that notifies you when a load is done. You’ll need that, too, with this dishwasher’s silent 44-dBA operation and EcoSilence motor. In the words of this buyer, “Good quality, silent and good performance.”
Bosch SHX878ZD5N Dishwasher Reviews
Sanitize Cycle
According to the National Sanitation Foundation, water temperatures during the dishwasher sanitize cycle must be at least 150 degrees to effectively eliminate harmful bacteria such as E. Coli, COVID-19, and salmonella. It’s also nice to have if your household has baby bottles that need to be safely washed. Unfortunately, not all dishwashers come with this function, and the add-on comes with an added price.
As you might’ve guessed, the increase in water temperature during this cycle also means a spike in the cost of operation. Fortunately, most of the harmful critters that might make their way onto your dinnerware are effectively killed by the water temperatures and detergents used with the normal cycle. For peace of mind, experts suggest running the sanitize cycle once a month to keep the interior of your dishwashing machine clean and safe.
✅ The sanitize cycle can add up to 1.5 hours to a regular wash for a total of up to four hours of cleaning.
Recommended Dishwasher with Sanitize Cycle: The KitchenAid KDTM404KPS
With an impressive 4.8/5 review, this top-rated KitchenAid dishwasher is an overall success, even being deemed the “Best dishwasher we ever owned!” to some. The Sani Rinse setting does add up to 1.5 hours to a regular wash, but luckily, this dishwasher is ENERGY STAR certified. Among its antibacterial qualities, this dishwasher is loaded with features from its ProWash technology with sensors to its flexible place settings, including FreeFlex third rack that provides 30 percent more loading capacity than other dishwasher third racks.
KitchenAid KDTM404KPS Dishwasher Reviews
Heavy-Duty Cycle
Serious cooks have one enemy in the kitchen: cleanup. Having to deal with baked-on lasagna or cake pans is enough to curb anyone’s appetite, but the heavy-duty setting on a dishwasher can lessen the blow. Not all dishwashers perform the same, so some heavy settings are more powerful than others, but the best models let you stick soiled cookware directly into the load without pre-treating.
There is a certain way to do it, though. Always place heavily soiled cookware on the bottom of the rack, and your dishwasher has a dedicated nozzle for tough messes, make sure to use it.
✅ The heavy-duty cycle typically runs between 2.5 and 3 hours.
In total, the average dishwasher run time is anywhere from 1.5 hours up to 4 hours for dirtier loads. However, factoring how long do dishwashers run and performance don’t always go hand-in-hand. For instance, if you run a normal cycle but your dishes still come out dirty, it may be an indication there’s something wrong with your dishwasher. It’s important to routinely check your dishwashing machine from the filter to the water hose; that way, it runs efficiently and effectively, which can affect how long a dishwasher needs to perform.
Dishwashers are hard workers, even if we don’t understand how long does a dishwasher take. If you’re curious to learn more about these appliances, including the latest features and technology that clean your loads in record time and with great results, visit a Bekins near you today!
Why Trust Bekins Appliances and Electronics?
Bekins is a local, family-owned, internationally acclaimed appliance and electronics company in West Michigan. It started as a service company in 1975 when Harvey and Barbara Bekins started their own appliance repair business out of their home in Grand Haven. We still view ourselves as a service company today, but now we also sell, install and service both appliances and electronics across West Michigan.
Scott started in the business as an 8-year-old holding the flashlight for his father. Scott rolled in the first appliances when Harvey and Barb opened our Grand Haven showroom in 1982. After Scott bought the company from his parents, Bekins started offering custom electronic services then expanded with another state-of-the-art, interactive showroom in Grand Rapids.
In all, Bekins has earned more than 21 national and international honors. That does not include their Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics or their Grand Haven Tribune People’s Choice Award for Best Appliances (17 years and counting!).
Shop Dishwashers at Bekins
Stop by Bekins Grand Haven location to see what a difference buying local with an experienced staff can make. Or shop dishwashers online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you answer all your dishwasher questions, including “How long does a dishwasher take?”— whether you call us at 616-288-1020, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
Learn More: How to Fix a Dishwasher That Isn’t Cleaning Well
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