KitchenAid Dishwasher Cycle Guide

ℹ️ 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.

Dishwasher Options

Option	Can Be Selected With	What It Does	Time Change 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. Dries dishes with heater or with heat and fan on some models (default on with some cycles).	1	NA
ProDry Max	Tough, ProWash, Normal	Increases the energy used for drying the dishes. This may lengthen the cycle time. Dries dishes with heater or with heat and fan on some models.	1:30	NA

Control Feedback and Operations

The control panel features several buttons to manage your dishwasher's cycles and 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.

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

You can interrupt a cycle and restart the dishwasher from the beginning using the following procedure.

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.

	KitchenAid Dishwasher Cycle Guide: Cycles, Options, and Controls Comprehensive guide to KitchenAid dishwasher cycles, wash options, dry options, and control panel functions. Learn how to operate your dishwasher efficiently.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher Cycle Guide and Operation Manual Comprehensive guide to KitchenAid dishwasher cycles, including ProWash, Tough, Normal, Express, and Rinse Only. Details wash and dry options like Hi-Temp, Sani Rinse, ProDry, and ProDry Max, along with control functions and operational procedures.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher Operating Instructions and Quick Reference Guide A comprehensive guide for operating your KitchenAid dishwasher, covering safety warnings, loading tips, cycle and option selection, control functions, and basic maintenance like filter cleaning. Includes links to full manuals.
	KitchenAid 47dBA Dishwasher: Total Coverage Wash & Auto Open Air Dry Explore the KitchenAid 47dBA Dishwasher featuring Total Coverage Wash Action and Auto Open Air Dry. Learn about its performance, drying innovation, and design options for models KDTS424S, KDTS624S, and KDTS724S.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher User Guide Comprehensive user guide for KitchenAid dishwashers, covering safety instructions, operating procedures, key usage tips, troubleshooting, and warranty information.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher Operating Instructions and Quick Start Guide Comprehensive guide for operating your KitchenAid dishwasher, including safety warnings, loading tips, cycle descriptions, and maintenance instructions. Features quick start steps and troubleshooting advice.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher Quick Start Guide A quick start guide for KitchenAid dishwashers, covering essential steps from preparation and loading to cycle selection and starting. Includes tips on detergent, rinse aid, and filtration system maintenance.
	KitchenAid Dishwasher Quick Start Guide: Operation, Cycles, and Maintenance Concise guide to operating your KitchenAid dishwasher, including loading tips, cycle selection, rinse aid, filter cleaning, and troubleshooting. Learn how to use your appliance efficiently.