No matter how proficient you are at hand-washing dishes, a dishwasher is the most efficient alternative. Simply discard the food waste into the garbage, place the plate in the dishwasher, and run it. But, how long can you safely put dishes in the dishwasher?
You can leave dishes in the dishwasher for up to four days, whether clean or soiled. Any longer allows bacteria to survive, breed, and spread, compromising the sterility of the dishes and dishwasher.
These appliances not only save you time, but they also conserve energy and water and are more sanitary than hand-washing. Yet, we frequently stack dishes for a few days before running the dishwasher or leave them in there to dry.
Read on if you’re wondering how long you can safely leave dinnerware in the dishwasher. We will also explore why you should use your dishwasher more often and why regular deep cleans are necessary.
How Long Can You Leave Dirty Dishes In the Dishwasher?
Maximum four days. Bacteria thrive on soiled dishes and will breed exponentially. Moreover, the food particles harden and adhere to the dirty plates, making it harder to clean them.
Here’s why you shouldn’t be leaving those dirty dishes in the dishwasher for extended periods.
1. Breeding Grounds for Bacteria
Bacteria will multiply overnight on dirty dishes. The longer they sit, the more likely the bacteria will spread to around your kitchen, which you do not want.
2. Haven for Pests
Dirty dinnerware could attract critters. Common household pests like cockroaches are drawn to the food residue on the plates and cups. And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up with an infestation.
3. Stinky Dishwasher
When bits of leftovers are exposed to the air, they start to rot—the food waste on the dirty dishes ferments, producing a distinctive smell. Additionally, bacteria eat the stuff on your dishes and excrete.
The combination of these two processes will most likely stink up the dishwasher.
4. Consumes Extra Resources
The mess might be more difficult to clean the longer you let it sit. You may have to run the dinnerware through an extra cycle to remove the stains and bacteria trapped within microscopic cracks. This consumes more energy, water, and time.
How Long Can You Leave Clean Dishes In the Dishwasher?
Your best bet is anywhere between 1 – 4 days. After the fourth day, the dishes may harbor bacterial colonies and a few specks of dust— even though they appear clean to the naked eye.
Some people claim they have left a load in their dishwashers while away on vacation. And after about a week, the dishes were still clean. However, not everyone agrees.
A couple of people believe that any leftover bacteria will breed after several days. And if the door remains completely shut after a wash cycle during this time, mold may grow due to the damp conditions. The water left in the dishwasher will begin to smell after a while.
Running a quick cycle with some white vinegar will eliminate any odors and sanitize everything inside the dishwasher. Or simply run a ‘rinse only’ cycle, and you’re good to go.
Should You Rinse Dishes Before Putting Them In The Dishwasher?
You don’t have to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. All you need to do is dump any food scraps into the garbage bin before setting them in the dishwasher.
Although it seems almost natural to rinse the dinnerware before setting them to wash later, it might be unnecessary. Modern-day dishwashers are made with the latest technology, making them more effective than earlier-day models. Check your machine’s specs. You could be wasting your time and energy on a futile task.
Dishwashers nowadays have hi-tech features. For instance, the soil sensor detects the dirtiness of a dish and sprays any tough food or stains away. The spray jets are specially made to release water to slough off dirt and leftovers with enough pressure.
Other than the amazing capabilities of present-day dishwasher machines, there are several advantages of forgoing the pre-rinse. Read on to see how it benefits you.
Prevents Water Wastage
A modern dishwasher uses approximately 6 gallons of water for each cycle. When combined with the amount used for rinsing, it adds to a lot of wastage.
By skipping this step, you will undoubtedly save water. If every household follows suit, we will be one step closer to promoting environmental sustainability.
Saves Time
You’ll be grateful that you can do away with one more chore. You no longer have to spend close to thirty minutes pre-washing after meals.
Use this time to unwind, catch up with family, or go on a stroll to aid digestion.
Detergent Works Better on Dirt
Did you know that dish detergent manufacturers discourage pre-washing or rinsing dishes? Dish detergent is meant to stick to food crusted on dishes.
Rinsing them prevents the cleaning product from working as it should.
Should You Leave the Dishwasher Door Open When Drying?
Yes, you should. Closing it produces a warm, damp atmosphere ideal for mold and other bacteria growth. It’s best to leave the dishwasher door open for a few minutes after completing a cycle.
When the wash cycle is completed, switch off the dishwasher and crack the door open to enable the dishes to air dry. This saves roughly 15% of your dishwasher’s energy consumption.
How Often Should You Run a Dishwasher?
At least once a week will suffice. This keeps the motor seals working properly. If you’re rarely home, run your dishwasher whenever you are around. The dishwasher can be run on a short wash to keep it in good shape.
If you have a lot of dishes, you should run the dishwasher every day. If it is not full, you do not have to waste electricity and water running the dishwasher empty. It is totally safe to leave your dishes in the dishwasher for a day or two.
But if you’re entertaining a group of dinner guests or feeding a large family, a dishwasher will stack up faster. You may have to run it every day.
How Long Can a Dishwasher Go Without Being Used?
A dishwasher may develop issues after 2 – 4 weeks of inactivity, reducing efficacy. A small amount of water is constantly left at the bottom to moist the motor seals. As the water evaporates, the seals dry up, causing problems with the motor and inducing leaking due to clogged pipes.
Try this eco-friendly method to keep it from malfunctioning whenever your dishwasher sits idle for 2 – 3 weeks.
- Pour in half a cup of liquid bleach to suppress bacterial growth.
- Run a short cycle.
- Add about three tablespoons of mineral oil to coat the water’s surface, inhibiting evaporation.
Although your dishwasher may still function properly after months of disuse, it does not imply that it is safe to use. It would be best to eliminate pathogens and remove smells, lime, and mineral build-up.
Opt for cleaning tablets approved by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and are safe to use on stainless steel and plastic dishwashers.
How Often Should the Dishwasher Be Cleaned?
It would help if you cleaned the dishwasher at least once every month. Deep cleaning is necessary to eliminate undissolved detergent, grease, built-up food residue, scum, and unpleasant odors.
A common misconception is that dishwashers don’t need to be washed. The premise is that it gets cleaned as you run the wash and rinse cycles. The fact is, residue accumulates in the machine every time you use it. Thus, the need for a deep clean every month.
Here is a guide on how to go about giving your dishwashing machine a thorough cleaning:
- Empty the dishwasher.
- On the top rack of your dishwasher, place a glass measuring cup filled with two cups of vinegar. The vinegar dissolves grease and grime.
- Run a regular cycle without any detergent or dishes.
- When the cycle is finished, remove the measuring cup and pull out the bottom rack.
- Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. To remove any stubborn stains, scrub gently using a toothbrush.
- Run a quick hot-water cycle without any detergent or dishes. Baking soda absorbs odors and leaves your dishwasher clean and odor-free!
This isn’t to say that you must wait two fortnights to wash the dishwasher (sounds ironical, huh?). A month is just the recommended waiting time.
Some factors play a role when determining how often you should clean the dishwasher, such as:
Excess Build-Up
If you’re always making greasy foods, the rate build-up accumulates is much faster than a strict vegetarian whose plate has nothing much left after sloughing off the leftovers into the bin.
Rate of Use
Residue collects quicker if you use the dishwasher daily or in a commercial establishment. A weekly clean-up would be sufficient in such cases.
Personal Preference
Neat freaks, germaphobes, and people with conditions like cleaning OCD will probably wipe and sanitize on a much more regular basis.
In Summary
Whether you’re planning to leave the dishes in the dishwasher before or after a wash, they shouldn’t sit for more than four days.