Picture it: You’ve just filled up the dishwasher, set it going on eco-mode, and kicked up your feet in front of the TV. Suddenly, you remember that there’s one extra dish that you meant to throw in there! There’s nothing more annoying than forgetting to add something to the dishwasher before starting a cycle.

But is it possible to open the dishwasher up and drop the item in while it’s running? Is it safe to do it?

If you’re prone to accidentally forgetting dishes on your kitchen counter, or you simply want to know what would happen, you’ll want to keep on reading down below. In this article, we’re going to find out whether you can open a dishwasher that’s running!

Can You Open A Dishwasher While It’s Still Running?

This will depend on the dishwasher model that you have! Many modern dishwashers allow users to open the door once the cycle has started. These dishwashers will pause the washing cycle while the door is open, to ensure that water doesn’t come flooding out! As such, it might take a few seconds for your dishwasher’s door to unlatch.

If your dishwasher does not allow you to open it during a cycle, then do not try and force it open. Not only could you completely break the door, but you also risk hot water flooding your kitchen. This water has an incredibly high temperature, so it can be a great burn risk!

Most dishwashers make use of a latch, found in the door. This latch holds the door securely shut and also signals to the dishwasher that the water is completely sealed in. If your dishwasher allows you to pause a cycle to open the door, the latch will only let go when the water has stopped moving, and enough has drained. Once you are done loading the dishwasher, all you need to do is close the door until the latch locks in place again!

Many modern dishwashers allow you to open the main door while in use. This is useful if you find you’ve forgotten that one extra dish. If your dishwasher does not offer this function, do not force it open.

Again, it’s important to note that you should not force the door of your dishwasher to open while it’s working. The water splashing around the tub is incredibly hot and is pushed around the tub with powerful jets.

Is It Bad To Open A Dishwasher While It’s Running?

No. It would only be bad to open your dishwasher door mid-cycle if it were forced open. When you go to open up a dishwasher mid-cycle, the dishwasher first pauses the cycle and drains some of the water. You may have to wait a few seconds before being able to pull the door open! This not only helps to ensure water doesn’t come flooding out. It also ensures that hot steam doesn’t burst out of the door as soon as it opens.

Accidents happen, and sometimes, you forget to add a dish or two to the dishwasher. Opening the dishwasher mid-cycle is not bad for the unit. However, you should avoid doing it multiple times in one cycle.

As such, it’s not bad at all to open your dishwasher in the middle of a cycle. Especially if you want to drop in a few forgotten dishes. However, you should avoid doing it frequently during a single wash. This could impact how well each of the dishes already contained in there get cleaned! As well as this, if you leave it too late to open the door, there may not be enough time for your new items to be cleaned!

Can You Stop A Dishwasher While It’s Running?

In some cases, you may need to stop your dishwasher while it’s still in the middle of a cycle. Luckily, most dishwashers, including much older models will allow you to easily do this.

Don’t expect to be able to open the dishwasher door right away. You may need to wait a bit for the water to be drained, and for steam in the tub to dissipate. Once the dishwasher door is unlatched, feel free to open the door. We would recommend opening it only a fraction and allowing some of the steam to escape. Leave the dishes to air dry for a few minutes before removing them. This allows any final drops of water to dry and allows the dishes to cool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Open A Dishwasher While It’s Running?

Yes. Most modern dishwashers will allow you to open the door in the middle of a cycle. However, in order to allow for this, the door cannot simply be opened right away. When you want to open the dishwasher, the cycle will first be paused. This allows water to be drained, and for the dishes to cool down slightly. If your dishwasher does not allow you to open the door mid-cycle, do not force it!

Should You Unload A Dishwasher Straight Away?

You don’t strictly need to unload a dishwasher right away at the end of a cycle. We recommend cracking the dishwasher door open a bit, and allowing the dishes to cool. If you were to grab the dishes right away, they would still be incredibly hot! We would also recommend that you unload the dishwasher within 24 hours of the cycle finishing. This prevents the spread of bacteria!

Is It Bad To Leave Dirty Dishes In The Dishwasher Overnight?

Not necessarily. If your dishwasher is only half full at the end of one day, it’s totally fine to leave the dishes there overnight. Just ensure that they have been rinsed first. This can help to stave off bacteria and mould. However, we would recommend that you do not leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher for too many days in a row!

Should You Leave the Dishwasher Door Open?

If your dishwasher has just finished a cycle, it’s worth leaving the door open for a bit. This will allow the dishes to cool down slightly so that you don’t burn yourself on them! It’s worth leaving the door open even after unloading the dishwasher so that the tub can air dry completely.