Dishwasher Tips: Understanding Different Cycles

In your daily work, you may be faced with different brands of dishwashers...and each one may have different washing cycles.  Here is some information about the dishwasher cycles you may see:

• Standard dishwashers offer at least three wash cycles: light, normal and heavy (or pots and pans). Each cycle operates at a different speed, water temperature, and pressure. The lighter the cycle, the lighter the wash.
• Auto clean: An electronic sensor that automatically adjusts the cycle depending on how dirty the dishes are.
• China/crystal: a light wash and rinse and not-too-hot drying cycle that won't chip or crack delicate items.
• Delay wash: this feature lets you delay the start of the preferred cycle. This setting can be used to wash dishes once you are away from the kitchen or have gone off to bed (electricity rates are often cheaper at night).
• Half load: This allows you to wash just one rack at a time.
• Quick wash: You might select this cycle if you have pre-rinsed dishes.
• Rinse/hold: This allows you to rinse dirty dishes if you don't have a full load and aren't ready to run a full dishwasher cycle.
• Plate warmer: Once your dishes are clean, this setting will warm dishes to a perfect temperature right before you serve food.
• Power wash: This cycle uses a concentrated jet of hot water to clean off caked-on foods.
• Sanitize: In this cycle, the dishwasher warms the water as high as 140 or 150 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any bacteria that may be present. Most cycles only heat up to 120 degrees.