HOW DOES A DISHWASHER WORK?

Dishwashers are nothing short of mighty when it comes to cleaning dishes and leaving them ready for use next time. They can significantly cut down on cleanup time, especially when compared to washing everything by hand. If you’ve ever wondered how dishwashers do such a stand-up job at cleaning your dishes, read on to learn how a dishwasher works, its key parts and how each cycle helps leave your dishes clean.

DISHWASHER PROCESS

In general, a typical dishwasher cycle can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, depending on the cycle you choose. Keep reading for a step-by-step look at what happens inside a dishwasher.

1. WATER FLOWS INTO THE DISHWASHER TUB

The water inlet valve, located on the inside of the dishwasher tub, opens to allow water to flow into the bottom tub. Once the desired level of water is reached, the inlet valve closes.

2. WATER TEMPERATURE HEATS UP

Depending on the model, your dishwasher may use hot water from your faucet, or it will heat the water using the heating element at the base of the dishwasher tub. The water is typically 120-145ºF during the main wash phase of the cycle and 140-155ºF for the final rinse.

3. DISPENSER RELEASES DETERGENT

The detergent dispenser releases detergent once the water reaches an optimal temperature. The hot temperature of the water dissolves and activates the enzymes in the detergent to help clean your dishes.

4. SPRAY ARMS CIRCULATE WATER

Once the circulation pump pushes water into the spray arms, they spray water in a steady stream throughout your dishwasher to help wash away food particles and grime from your dishes.

5. DIRTY WATER DRAINS

After the wash cycle is finished, dirty water and food debris filter out through the bottom of your dishwasher tub and drain into your garbage disposal or home’s waste system.

6. RINSE WATER CIRCULATES

The rinse cycle begins, spraying water throughout your dishwasher to clear away any leftover residue from the detergent. This water is drained through the dishwasher hose.

7. HEAT DRIES THE DISHWARE

Once the rinse water has been drained, the dishwasher’s heating element raises the interior temperature to help dry your dishware and evaporate any remaining water. Specific heating cycles depend on your dishwasher and may feature fan-dry, open door dry or heated dry. Check your product’s manual for more specific information.

Learn more about the wash cycles and settings on your dishwasher. Your dishwasher may have an air gap, which is a cylinder fitting that connects the kitchen sink drain to your dishwasher and prevents contaminated water from re-entering your dishwasher. This helpful plumbing tool pushes used water away from the dishwasher, through the drain hose and into the garbage disposal, preventing backflow.

Skip soaking, scrubbing and pre-rinsing with Maytag brand engineering that puts an end to pre-work. Select Maytag^® dishwashers offer industry-exclusive Dual Power Filtration, which combines 100% microfiltration and a 4-blade stainless steel chopper to filter out then dispose of any food in its path.

SHOP MAYTAG^® TOP CONTROL DISHWASHERS

THE KEY COMPONENTS OF A DISHWASHER

There are three elements to dishwashing that help enable it to leave dishes bright and shiny. Dishwashers combine detergent, wash systems and heat to help your dishes come out clean. Specific parts of a dishwasher may vary by make or model—be sure to check your product guide for more details.

1. DETERGENT

An important component of dishwashing is the detergent that will be dispensed during the cycle. A combination of chemicals that help remove food particles and residue, detergent also typically includes water softeners, anti-corrosion chemicals and enzymes that help boost wash performance.

The detergent dispenser releases the detergent at the beginning of the wash cycle, which is when the water has reached the optimal temperature and pressure. This ensures that the detergent has enough time to break down and remove food soils from your dishes.

While you should always stick to dishwasher detergent and never use dish soap, the specific kind of dishwasher detergent you use is completely up to you. In general, tablets and pods are more effective than powder, liquid or gel detergent.

Don’t use dish soap—it creates suds that help when handwashing but may leak out of the dishwasher. Regular dish soap also hurts the wash performance of a dishwasher, since the foam generated cannot be pumped out so water can no longer be recirculated. Always check your machine’s use and care guide to ensure you are using the appropriate detergent.

Though often overlooked, rinse aid is also an essential part of dishes that sparkle by reducing leftover spots and white residue. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the dried water droplets that sometimes form on your glassware, the use of rinse aid can help prevent this problem.

2. WASH SYSTEM

Water from your home’s water supply enters the dishwasher through the water intake valve, which opens and closes to let in the proper amount of water needed during each cycle. Once the water intake valve opens, water pressure moves water into the dishwasher and begins to heat up.

Once the water is in the dishwasher, an electric motor powers the circulation pump, which forces water up into the spray arms during the wash cycle. These spray arms wash away food and soils from the dishes. These soils are collected by filters to prevent them from being redeposited on dishes then disposed of through the drain system.

After the wash cycle is complete, the dishwasher uses heated, clean water to rinse detergent residue. Then, water is once again drained out of the dishwasher through a hose.

3. HEAT

Your dishwasher has a heating element that is usually located at the base of the tub, which heats up the water to help improve detergent activation, loosen food soils and support sanitizing or drying options when selected. The water in a dishwasher can reach temperatures upward of 155ºF—hotter than the hot water from the faucet. The high water temperature is what helps break down food, while also dissolving and activating the detergent. Select Maytag^® dishwashers feature a Rapid Sani Cycle that eliminates 99.999% of food soil bacteria by adding a high-heat final rinse to sanitize dishes and glassware.¹

While technically an optional step, the last stage of a cycle is a heated dry. The dishwasher heating element that heats the water during the wash cycle will heat the tub and in turn evaporate the water off the dishes. However, if you prefer to conserve energy, you can skip this step.

Dishes being cleaned inside a dishwasher

Maytag^® dishwashers

Dishwashers that muscle through messes

Unload dishes confidently load after load with powerful features on select Maytag^® dishwashers

SHOP NOW

SHOP MAYTAG^® FRONT CONTROL DISHWASHERS

FAQS

Get answers to frequently asked questions on the functions of a dishwasher.

Dishwashers typically come equipped with a control that will regulate how long the dishwasher runs. They also have sensors that can detect how much soil is present on the dishes, which allows the dishwasher to know how much water to dispense and how long to run the cycle.

Most dishwashers have a “quick wash” that will run 30 to 60 minutes, a typical “normal” cycle that runs about 90 to 120 minutes and a “heavy-duty” cycle that can last up to four hours. Some options, like heated dry, add time so check your settings if you want a shorter wash. Your home and hot water heater temperatures can significantly alter run time.

Learn more about how dishwashers can help save water.

Today’s dishwasher cycles are able to use low amounts of water, but cycles last slightly longer. A new ENERGY STAR^® certified dishwasher uses less than half as much energy as washing dishes by hand and saves an average 5,800 gallons of water within the machine’s lifespan.

Compare different types of dishwashers to determine which option is best for your household.

How you load your dishwasher can affect how well your dishes get cleaned and, on sensor cycles, how much energy and water your dishwasher will use. Proper loading allows for water and detergent to reach the entire surface area of your dishes so they get clean the first time.

Loading your dishwasher properly can also help prevent blockage issues that may cause damage to your dishwasher over time. It can also help prevent residue on plates or cloudy glasses. This happens when detergent gets trapped in tiny pockets and doesn’t dissolve properly.

Dishwashers do not fill all the way with water. Typically, a small basin at the bottom of the dishwasher fills up instead, using a pump to propel water up to the spray arms. A dishwasher will typically use around three to four gallons of water; however, water usage may vary between dishwashers.

The sanitize cycle increases the wash temperature up to 140°F and the final rinse temperature up to 156°F to sanitize dishes and glassware. According to the National Sanitation Foundation, these cycles can eliminate 99.999% of food soil bacteria when the water is heated to a minimum of 150°F.

SHOP ALL MAYTAG^® DISHWASHERS