Miele Dishwasher Cycles Explained (Also Bosch, GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire Dishwasher)

Embark on a journey through dishwasher cycles with Miele, Bosch, GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire.

Uncover the enigma behind each cycle and understand their functionalities.

In this article, discover the perfect cycle for your specific cleaning needs for your dishwasher brand.

Dive into this comprehensive guide for in-depth insights and expert recommendations.

Dishwasher Different Cycles

Dishwashers come with several cycles, which have different purposes in a dishwasher. However, if you have used the default settings for years, you miss out on a dishwasher’s fun parts.

Although changing default settings might be a bit uncomfortable, you should explore the capability of your dishwasher by playing with the settings. Changing your cycles might give you even cleaner dishes and reduce the water you use in your dishwasher.

I have outlined some essential tips you can use to change the cycles of different brands of dishwashers. The settings don’t differ much in these dishwashers, but knowing what your dishwasher can do would be better.

Miele Dishwasher Cycles Explained – How Do I Change It?

Before I explain how you change a dishwasher cycle, you must understand what processes are and what they do. 

Standard dishwashers have three primary cycles: light for easy-to-clean dishes and medium and heavy processes for hard-to-clean dishes. 

These cycles are further divided into more processes, each with a different purpose for your dishwasher.  

Although dishwasher manufacturers will set the dishwasher in the default setting, you can adjust the settings to fit your dishes.

If you own a Miele dishwasher, you might refresh the dishwasher and have a few adjustments to get the best out of your dishwasher. However, changing the cycles in Miele is not complicated and should be done every wash.

• If you have been running your dishwasher in default settings, you are missing a lot from your dishwasher.
• The dishwasher typically detects how heavy your load is to determine what temperatures your dishwasher will run.
• The dishwasher heating system will then heat the water to fit the load. A dishwasher wash cycle runs with temperatures between 130-140 °F.
• If your load is heavy, the dishwasher will heat the water and set the dishwasher to a regular wash and dry cycle. Of course, your dishes will be cleaned and dried during the process. But do you know you can change the settings of your dishwasher to fit your needs perfectly?

Changing the cycles and resetting your dishwasher is possible once you get some resistance from your dishwasher. To explore the capability of your dishwasher, you will need to reset your dishwasher.

• Press the start button on your dishwasher control panel door to reset the dishwasher to default settings.
• If your dishwasher has circuit breakers, you should switch off the breakers for five to 10 minutes. This eliminates any power that might be stored in the dishwasher component.
• You can do a hard reset by disconnecting your dishwasher from the main power line.
• Disconnect the water supply and the hose drain from below the kitchen sink.
• If your dishwasher is under the bench, remove the screws holding the machine in place.
• Move the dishwasher from under the bench for a deep check. Check the state of the connections and other power outlets.
• Clean the dishwasher and check for possible damages to the heating elements.
• If everything is intact, you can install your Miele dishwasher back again.
• Connect the dishwasher to the drain, water supply, and electric cable.
• Ensure the circuit breakers are turned back on before you start using the dishwasher.
• Refill the dishwasher salt, detergent, and rinsing aid before you start using the dishwasher.

Load your dishwasher and start playing with the user manual to experience cycles like sanitizing and rinsing.

Bosch Dishwasher Cycles Explained

If you have been using your Bosch dishwasher for years without it misbehaving with you, it gets frustrating when it starts acting up. One of the issues you might experience is when the dishwasher stops working during a particular cycle.

Like most of us, we use the dishwasher directly without knowing how it works. However, I will give you steps to solve the issue of your dishwasher not working.

It is hard to know what cycle is not working in a dishwasher. To troubleshoot the dishwasher, you must disconnect it to give it a hard reset.

You will use the same steps to reset the dishwasher used for the Miele dishwasher. Once you have reset the dishwasher, you can explore the dishwasher cycles and select the most suitable cycle for your requirements.

Bosch Dishwasher Cycles

Normal Wash:

The Normal Wash cycle is a reliable and versatile option for everyday dishes that require more cleaning power than the delicate or express cycles. It generally runs for one and a half hours to 2 hours.

Heavy Wash

Perfect for heavily dirty dishes. Heavy Wash cycle offers a thorough cleaning for more than 2 hours.

Auto Wash

This cycle typically runs for 90 to 150 minutes. Adjusting the period of cycles and water temperature based on the dishwasher’s sensors ensures efficient cleaning and minimizes energy usage.

Delicate Wash

When it comes to fragile items like glassware, this cycle provides a gentle and shorter wash of approximately 80 minutes.

Express Wash

The Express Wash cycle is the quickest option for lightly soiled dishes. It takes time around 30 minutes.

Sanitize Cycle

Bosch dishwashers offer a Sanitize cycle that heats water more than 150 °F, effectively killing 99.9% of germs during the final rinse. It is recommended to sanitise baby bottles and children’s dishes and protect the immunocompromised.

Rinse-only Cycle

The Rinse-only cycle rinses the dishes with hot water in 10 to 15 minutes, which is perfect for quick rinsing without a full wash.

GE Dishwasher Cycles Explained – How to Change the Cycle?

GE dishwashers are mostly integrated. However, changing cycles in this dishwasher are not very different from other dishwashers. 

You will need to reset the dishwasher for the GE dishwasher when the cycle is running.

• Open the dishwasher door when it is still running. 
• Press the start button for one second and notice the lights go off. 
• Change the cycles and reset the dishwasher again. 
• Close the door, and you will have gotten rid of any captured power.
• If you are not pleased with the reset, you can do a hard reset. 
• Switch the circuit breakers on the power outlets. 
• Switch off the main electric line that powers the dishwasher. 
• Check if the dishwasher has all the cleaning elements and refill when necessary.

Reconnect your GE dishwasher, and the cycle will change entirely. 

Whirlpool Dishwasher Cycles Explained (How To Change the Cycle)

The Whirlpool dishwasher might start misbehaving after a long time of use. However, you can change the cycles for the dishwasher to work best for you. To change the process, you will need to understand the cycles of a dishwasher. 

You might start getting errors like e2 and f2 when the dishwasher runs. These errors happen when the control board does not get a signal from the user interface.

• Unplug the dishwasher from the power outlet for five minutes and plug it back.
• Give your dishwasher about 1 minute before you start running the washing cycle. This is what is called the hard reset. Hard reset gets rid of all the power trapped by the dishwasher parts. 
• Resetting a Whirlpool dishwasher will set the dishwasher to the default manufacturer settings. 
• You can use a user manual provided by the manufacturer to know the other cycles your dishwasher runs. 
• Alternatively, you can keep adjusting the settings until you fill satisfied with your dishwasher performance. 
• Do not forget to use a dishwasher detergent, sDo I Need Dishwasher Salt With Fairy Platinum?alt, and rinse aid for better results.

Although it is possible to change the cycles of your dishwasher, it would be better if you took good care of your whirlpool for it to serve you for a more extended period.

Whirlpool Dishwasher Cycles

Normal Cycle

The Normal Cycle is perfect for everyday dishes with the average leftover mess. It efficiently cleans without extra resources, completing the wash and dry in approximately 3 hours.

Quick Wash Cycle

Need your dishes cleaned fast? The Quick Wash Cycle, known as the 1-Hour Wash, utilizes more water, energy, and heat to clean lightly soiled plates and bowls quickly. Depending on your dishwasher model, the whole cycle can be completed in around one and a half hours to 2 hours.

Sensor Cycle

The Sensor Cycle takes the guesswork out of dishwashing. It automatically adjusts the wash and dry settings based on temperature, soil level, and load size, ensuring optimal efficiency with just the right amount of water and energy.

This versatile cycle is excellent for mixed loads or varying levels of soil and typically runs between 2 and a half hours to 3 and a half hours.

Heavy Cycle

Tough, hard-to-clean items meet their match with the Heavy Cycle. Also known as the heavy-duty pans cycle uses extra water and higher temperatures to tackle heavily soiled dishes. Estimated wash and heated dry time range from 2 to 4 hours.

Prewash Cycle

Say goodbye to soaking dishes before adding them to the dishwasher. Prewash cycles like Whirlpool brand’s Soak & Clean allow you to remove dried or baked-on food effectively.

Some models offer a rinse-only option if you prefer to rinse dishes before a complete cycle. Estimated wash and heated dry time vary from 6 to 8 hours.

Delicate Cycle

Fine dishware items require extra care. The Delicate Cycle, or the glass or light cycle, features a lower temperature to prevent damage and is specifically designed for delicate items.

High Temp Cycle

The High Temp Wash option is your go-to for stubborn baked-on food or greasy residue. Raising the main wash temperature to a minimum of 130°F enhances wash and dry performance, especially when combined with rinse aid.

Sanitize Cycle

Some dishwashers offer a sanitized cycle. This cycle raises the temperature during the main wash and rinses to sanitize dishes and glassware effectively. This cycle ensures the removal of germs and provides peace of mind regarding cleanliness.

Additional Options:

Heat Dry: The Heat Dry Option uses a heating element to circulate hot air, speeding up the drying process. Depending on your dishwasher model, it adds approximately 30 minutes to the cycle time.

Extended Dry: The Extended Dry Option, when combined with rinse aid, improves drying performance by increasing the final rinse water temperature or expanding the time for dry heat activation. This helps reduce water spots on your glassware and dishes.

How Do I Change the Cycle on My Frigidaire Dishwasher?

Knowing how our dishwasher works are helpful when saving some plumbers coins, but you will also be able to troubleshoot when your dishwasher has an issue. Frigidaire dishwashers are not any different from other dishwashers. It uses the same cycles as other dishwashers but is a bit unique. 

Frigidaire dishwasher comes with a user manual with all the specifications you need to run your dishwasher. However, if any issue arises, you will need to learn more than the features and specifications to fix your dishwasher. Luckily you can rely on this guide to provide the necessary information. 

If your dishwasher is not working as expected, there might be a problem. Most of the issues are fixable. However, if your dishwasher is completely damaged, you will replace it. 

An issue might arise if the dishwasher gets stuck between the cycles. To handle this issue, you will need to reset your dishwasher.

• You should set the dishwasher in different cycles for effective resetting when the dishwasher is running. 
• First, open the dishwasher door.
• Press the start button in every cycle for a few seconds to eliminate the trapped power. 
• Do that for every cycle. 
• To ensure no more power is held, you can hard reset your dishwasher by switching off the power line for a few minutes.

Resetting your dishwasher will make the dishwasher work effectively and last longer. 

Conclusion

Although each dishwasher is designed uniquely, some things are similar in all dishwashers. 

Reset and change the cycles in all dishwashers by pressing the power button for a few minutes to eliminate the trapped electric power. Then, disconnect the dishwasher from the power source to ensure the processes are entirely changed. 

James Miller

James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.