While there is consensus that using a dishwasher is the most economical way to wash dishes, the opinions are divided as to whether it is better to leave the dishwasher door open or closed when not in use. The purpose of my post is to shed some light on the subject.
Immediately after the wash cycle is finished, it is best to leave the dishwasher door closed while the dishes are drying inside. Although releasing some of the steam from the dishwasher can speed up the drying process, it is mostly not good for our living space, as it promotes the formation of mold. After taking the dishes out of the dishwasher, it is best to leave the door open until the remaining moisture evaporates. If you won’t use the dishwasher for a long time, it is best to clean it thoroughly and then leave the door slightly ajar until it dries out entirely.
Is it better to leave your dishwasher open if you are not going to use it for an extended period?
If you don’t plan to use the dishwasher for a while, for example, if you are going on vacation, the first thing you need to do is to clean it thoroughly.
Remove all food residue from the machine, and wash the filter. If there is mold, be sure to clean it. Mold and black yeasts most often settle on the rubber seal around the door.
After you have cleaned the visible dirt, you can wash the dishwasher, preferably with a special dishwasher cleaning agent. If your dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle, choose that, but an intensive cycle with warm water will also work.
Leave the door of the clean dishwasher open for a few days so that the remaining moisture can evaporate.
However, it is not a good idea to leave the dishwasher out of use for too long, as the rubber seals may dry out, leading to water leakage. So, it should be used at least once a month.
Do dishwashers dry better with the door open?
Some dishwasher models automatically open the door slightly at the end of the wash cycle and release some of the steam to speed up the drying of the dishes.
However, to prevent mold in our living space, it may be a better choice to keep the steam inside the dishwasher. The condensing steam will eventually go down the drain.
A significant amount of steam released by opening the dishwasher early condenses on kitchen appliances and walls and promotes mold growth. In addition, if the air in the kitchen is cool, the condensing steam will result in the appearance of water droplets on the dishes that cool down too quickly.
Using a rinse aid also helps the drying process. It works by reducing the surface tension of water droplets, making it easier for them to roll off dishes. Talking of wet dishes, find out whether it’s a good idea to stack them up after you washed them.
How do dishwashers dry the dishes?
Some dishwashers have a drying cycle that heats the air in the machine and a fan to remove moisture. In some machines, the degree of heating can also be adjusted.
Modern Energy-saving dishwasher types rely on the heat remaining after the hot water cycle to dry the dishes, they do not have a special heater.
At the end of the washing cycle, these dishwashers drain all the water and then spray some cold water on the side walls to cool them down. Steam evaporating from the dishes condenses on these cold surfaces. This process is repeated several times, thus ensuring a cold surface continuously.
Is it better to leave the dishwasher open or closed?
If you do not intend to use your dishwasher for an extended period, it is best to clean it and dry it thoroughly, then leave the door slightly open.
After washing and drying the dishes, unload the dishwasher, then leave the door open until the moisture evaporates from the machine. This way, you can prevent the possible appearance of mold and unpleasant odors, especially if you use your dishwasher less than once a week.
If you do not plan to use the dishwasher for an extended period, it is best to clean it and then leave the door slightly ajar.
Final thoughts
So at the end of the washing cycle, it is better not to open the dishwasher door immediately, but to wait for the dishes to dry. This applies to dishwashers that use heated air to dry dishes as well as those that use the residual heat for drying.
By opening the door at the end of the cycle and letting some steam out, the dishes may dry faster. However, the escaping steam is not necessarily good for the health of our living space, because the humid air helps the growth of various fungi and mold.
After removing the clean, dry dishes from the dishwasher, it is best to leave the door open until the remaining moisture evaporates. This reduces the possibility of mold and musty odors, especially if you don’t intend to use it for an extended period.