KitchenAid Dishwasher Cycle Guide
IMPORTANT: The sensor in your dishwasher monitors the soil level. Cycle time can take less or over an hour longer than the nominal times listed as the sensor adjusts the cycle for the best wash performance. If the incoming water is less than the recommended temperature of 120°F or food soils are heavy, the cycle will automatically compensate by adding time, heat, and water as needed. This information covers several different models. Your dishwasher may not have all of the cycles and options described.
Dishwasher Cycles
| Cycle | Description | Average Wash Time* (Hours) | Water Usage (Gallons/Liters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProWash | Senses soil to automatically optimize cycle. ProWash is selected if START/Resume is pressed first. | 2:45 | 3.6 (13.6 L) |
| Tough | Use for hard to clean items. | 4:00 | 8.15 (30.85 L) |
| Normal | This cycle is recommended for daily, regular or typical use to completely wash and dry a full load of normally soiled dishes. This dishwasher's government energy certifications were based on the Normal cycle with only the ProDry option selected.** | 3:30 | 2.44 (9.25 L) |
| Express | Use when you need faster results. | 1:00 | 5.67 (21.45 L) |
| Rinse Only | Use for rinsing dishes, glasses, and silverware that will not be washed right away. Do not use detergent. | 0:30 | 2.05 (7.75 L) |
*The government energy certifications are not based on this cycle. See the Normal cycle description for the government energy certification cycle. Using the Sensor cycle may increase your energy usage.
**No other washing and drying temperature options were selected, and it was not subject to truncated testing. Rinse aid was not used, and there was no detergent used in the prewash.
Wash and Dry Options
| Option | Can Be Selected With | What It Does | Time Added to Cycle (Hours) | Added Water (Gallons/Liters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-Temp | Tough, ProWash, Normal | Increases main wash temp from 135°F (57°C) to 140°F (60°C). Increases final rinse temp to 140°F (60°C). | 1 | 5.71 (21.6 L) |
| Sani Rinse | Tough, ProWash, Normal | Sanitizes dishes and glassware in accordance with NSF International NSF/ANSI Standard 184 for Residential Dishwashers. See this section in the Owner's Manual. | 1 | 5.71 (21.6 L) |
| ProDry | Tough, ProWash, Normal, Express | Dries dishes with heat. Load plastic items in upper racks. | 1 | NA |
| ProDry Max | Tough, ProWash, Normal | Increases the Energy used for drying the dishes. This may lengthen the cycle time. | 1:30 | NA |
Dishwasher Controls and Operation
Control Functions
| Control | Purpose | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| START/RESUME | Press to start or resume a wash cycle. | If the door is opened during a cycle or power is interrupted, START/RESUME indicator light flashes. Cycle will not resume until door is closed and START/RESUME is pressed. NOTE: Push door firmly closed within 4 seconds of pressing START/RESUME. If door is not closed within 4 seconds, the START/RESUME button light will flash, an audible tone will be heard, and cycle will not start. |
| CANCEL/DRAIN | Press to cancel wash cycle. | Close door firmly. The dishwasher starts a 2 minutes drain (if needed). Let dishwasher drain completely. |
| DELAY (Varies by model) | Runs the dishwasher at a later time. | To delay the start: 1. Select a wash cycle and options. 2. Press Delay. Each time you press Delay, it will display the next available delay time. 3. Press START/RESUME to begin the delay countdown. NOTE: If the door is opened, such as to add a dish, the Start button must be pressed to resume the delay countdown. |
| CONTROL LOCK (Hold 3 Sec) | Control Lock avoids unintended use of dishwasher between cycles or cycle and option changes during a cycle. | To turn on Lock, press and hold heated dry for 3 seconds. Control Lock light will stay on, indicating that it is activated and all buttons are disabled. If you press any button while your dishwasher is locked, light flashes 3 times. Dishwasher door can still be opened/closed while controls are locked. To turn off Lock, press and hold heated dry for 3 seconds. Light turns off. |
Operational Procedures
Cancelling a Cycle
- Open the door slightly to stop the cycle. Wait for the spraying action to stop before completely opening the door.
- Press CANCEL/DRAIN. The CANCEL/DRAIN light will turn on.
- Close the door, and the dishwasher starts a drain cycle (if water remains in bottom of dishwasher). Let the dishwasher drain completely. The CANCEL/DRAIN light turns off after 3 minutes.
Changing a Cycle After Dishwasher Is Started
- Open the door slightly to stop the cycle. Wait for the spraying action to stop, then open the door completely.
- Check that detergent dispenser cover is still closed. If cover is open, you will need to refill the detergent dispenser before restarting the new cycle.
- Press CANCEL/DRAIN to reset the control.
- Select new cycles and options.
- Press START/RESUME.
Adding a Dish After Dishwasher is Started
- Open the door slightly to stop the cycle. Wait for the spraying action to stop, then open the door completely.
- Check whether the detergent dispenser cover is still closed. If it is open, the wash cycle has already started and adding a dish is not recommended.
- If detergent has not yet been used (detergent dispenser cover is closed), you may add a dish.
- Push door firmly closed and press START/RESUME within 4 seconds. If you take too long, the Start keypad light flashes, and you will hear an audible tone. Press START/RESUME again and close the door within 4 seconds.
Automatic Door Open Dry System
Some models have an Door Open Dry System that automatically opens the door at the end of the cycle to vent out moisture/humid air and accelerate drying. To disable this feature or enable it back, see the dishwasher setting menu in the Owner's Manual.
