To protect your dishwasher, you’ll need to make sure it’s free from mould and bacteria. But how can you do this? And what role does the main door have to play in doing this? One presiding rumour amongst dishwasher users is that leaving the door open outside of use can help to protect from bacteria and mould.
But is there actually any truth to this? Would it not be more risky to leave the dishwasher door wide open? Today, we’re going to finally get some answers! Join us down below to see what we found out.
Should You Leave The Dishwasher Door Open When It’s Not In Use?
Yes. It’s actually best for your dishwasher to keep its door open when you’re not using it! The reason for this is that it helps to prevent the build-up of mould, and the gathering of bacteria.
When your dishwasher isn’t currently running a cycle, it’s likely that you’re slowly filling it. Each day you might drop in a few plates, some cutlery, and a few mugs. It might take a few days to fill the dishwasher up enough to run a cycle. Within that time, small particles of food stuck to your dishes may develop bacteria.
It’s recommended to keep the dishwasher door open when you’re not using it. This will allow air to enter the unit, to keep the central tub from becoming warm and moist.
If you were to leave your dishwasher door closed between uses, it would be much easier for bacteria to congregate. When the door of a dishwasher is closed, the central tub becomes incredibly warm. This warm environment is perfect for allowing bacteria to survive and thrive. If you have dishes that are moist, then bacteria are even more likely to thrive! Moist dishes can also result in mould developing in your dishwasher with the door closed.
Opening the dishwasher door even just an inch allows plenty of fresh air to enter the central tub. This helps to keep it cool, which in turn keeps bacteria and mould from thriving.
Should You Open The Dishwasher As Soon As A Cycle Has Finished?
After your dishwasher has finished its cycle, it’s worth leaving the door closed for 30 minutes to allow the dishes to cool. Before finishing a cycle, a dishwasher will dry the dishes by heating up the central tub. This naturally means that the dishes are very hot right after the cycle has finished!
If you were to open the door the second your dishwasher finished its cycle, you would also be inundated by hot steam. If you’re not careful, this could easily result in burns!
Should You Close The Dishwasher Door After Emptying It?
After you’ve emptied your dishwasher it’s best to leave the door open. Even after you’ve removed everything from the dishwasher, there will still be some moisture clinging to the warm surface of the tub.
Keeping the door open allows the moisture to naturally evaporate, and for the tub to dry. As well as that, it also allows the tub to cool down.
After your dishwasher has finished a cycle, the central tub will be very warm and moist. As such, you should keep the door open after unloading it. This allows moisture to evaporate, and for the tub to cool down.
If you were to close the door shortly after emptying your dishwasher, all of that warm moisture would linger. This, coupled with the incredible warmth of the tub, would allow bacteria and mould to quickly make a home in your dishwasher!
Should You Leave The Dishwasher Door Open When Away From Home?
At this point, you might wonder if leaving your dishwasher door open for too long could create its own problems. Should you leave it open when you’re going to be out of the house for a while?
If you know you’re going to be away from home for a few days, it’s best to leave the dishwasher door open. However, you only need to have it open with a 1-inch gap. This helps to ensure there’s plenty of airflow in the dishwasher, to keep bacteria and mould from developing.
However, you should make sure that the dishwasher is empty, and not filled with dishes waiting to be washed. While it’s okay to slowly build up a set of dishes in a dishwasher, you should avoid leaving dishes in there for too long. Even with the door open, bacteria and mould can still thrive on dirty dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Leave The Dishwasher Door Open When Not In Use?
Yes. Whenever your dishwasher isn’t being used, it’s best to keep the door open. You only need to leave it open by about an inch. This helps to keep the central tub cool and dry, to keep bacteria and mould from thriving.
Is It Better To Leave The Dishwasher Open Or Closed When Away?
Even when you’re away from home for a while, it’s best to keep the dishwasher door open a few inches. This helps to prevent the build-up of mould in the central tub. Just make sure the dishwasher is empty if you plan to leave it unused for a while. Even with the door open, leaving dirty dishes gathered in the dishwasher is perfect for bacteria and mould.
Should You Run Your Dishwasher If You Don’t Use It?
Your dishwasher should be just fine if you leave it unused for a while. However, leaving your dishwasher totally unused for more than a year may cause it to become faulty. As such, it’s best to use your dishwasher a few times throughout the year to keep it nice and healthy.
