If your dishwashers come out a little damp after every cycle, there are a few simple adjustments that can help. Experts from the Home Care & Cleaning Lab have shared tips on how to make your dishwasher dry dishes better.
Like any appliance, your dishwasher needs to be properly maintained to work efficiently. So first things first, you'll want to clean your dishwasher. Don't forget to clean the filter and run a cleaning cycle for an extra deep clean. Then, you can start experimenting with different settings and products designed to help your dishes dry more thoroughly.
So, why isn't your dishwasher drying dishes effectively? It may be because you're using the wrong setting. Some cycles use less or no heat, which can lead to less thorough drying. It may also be because your heating element is malfunctioning, because you aren't using the correct products, or because the dishes weren't loaded correctly, according to Whirlpool.
Below, you'll find expert tips on how to make your dishwasher dry better. For more clever dishwasher hacks, read up on the dishwasher space-saving trick pros are obsessed with, the things you should never put in your dishwasher, and one viral dishwasher trick you should skip.
How to make your dishwasher dry better
Add rinse aid
Even if your detergent contains rinse aid, adding the liquid to the small compartment next to the detergent dispenser will help items dry more thoroughly. It makes water droplets less likely to cling, which helps eliminate spots and film, too. It's a must-have in households with hard water.
Opt for "Extra" drying
All dishwashers today offer options to boost drying performance. After selecting your cycle, look for and choose your machine's TurboDry, Dry Boost, Power Dry, or similar option for best results. Sure, it will use a bit more energy and extend the cycle time, but your energy and time are worth considering, too. Towel drying a few items usually isn't a problem, but towel drying an entire load can be quite tiresome.
Use the right detergent
Many dishwasher detergents contain rinse aid to help items dry more thoroughly. Some—like Good Housekeeping Seal Star Cascade Platinum Plus Action Pacs—have ingredients to help items dry better, and that even help eliminate or at least minimize the puddles of water that can collect in cup bottoms.
Load with drying in mind
Make sure items, especially cups and glasses, are angled or tilted so excess water runs off them. Use your machine's cup shelves or glassware holders, if you have them, and load plastic storage lids with the lips facing downward. And lightweight items that often flip upside down and fill with water should be anchored securely in place or hand-washed.
TIP: To keep towel drying to a minimum, start with the bottom rack when unloading. Doing so will keep any water that's puddled in the top rack from dripping onto the already dry items below.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
