Dishwashers make doing the dishes as effortless as possible. These appliances clean and sanitize kitchenware using much less water and power than washing dishes in the sink.
But dishwashers all have a variety of different functions, which can make figuring out how to use your Bosch dishwasher pretty tricky if you don’t have the user manual.
This article can guide you through the process of figuring out your Bosch dishwasher.
How Does A Bosch Dishwasher Work?
Most dishwashers clean and sanitize dishes with a similar process. The machine heats water and releases detergents at the right time. The heated water shoots through various spray arms and drains the dirty water before repeating the process and rinsing the kitchenware.
Even so, Bosch dishwashers typically have a few different programmable settings that allow you to get spotless dishes after each use. So it’s essential to understand the different wash cycle settings.
But before you start choosing the settings, you must set up the appliance.
Setting Up Your Dishwasher
You will only need to set the water hardness level for your dishwasher once unless you move the machine to a new area where the water hardness level might differ.
Measure The Water Hardness
Your dishwasher will need soft water that contains low levels of lime to prevent spots and limescale marks on dishes. Hard water can ultimately be detrimental to the overall performance of your dishwasher. Glassware and cutlery that is washed in hard water will become grimy and cloudy or covered in limescale film over time.
In addition, very hard water can also eventually cause damage to dishwasher parts.
If you have purchased a new dishwasher, it should come with water hardness test strips. Otherwise, you can buy these test strips at a local hardware store.
Use the strips to determine the water hardness from the faucet the dishwasher will use.
Adjust Water Softening System
Now that you have determined the water hardness level, you can adjust the dishwasher’s internal water-softening system accordingly.
To adjust softness, hold the start button until the salt light appears. The water softness will be set to medium by default. Turn the dial to increase the number of lights and the water hardness level; when all the lights are on, water hardness levels are highest, while no lights will set the water as soft as possible.
Programming Your Bosch Dishwasher
Now that you understand how your dishwasher works and which items are suitable for the machine, you can program your dishwasher.
These symbols and settings are seen on the control panel of most Bosch dishwasher models.
Eco 50°
The economy wash cycle symbol is the word and number “Eco 50°.”
Select this wash cycle for a longer programme using minimal water and less electricity than other settings. The eco setting offers the most efficiency.
Auto 45° – 65°
The automatic cycle setting symbol is the word “Auto.”
The automatic setting is suitable for everyday use as a standard dishwasher setting.
One Hour Programme
The one-hour programme symbol is an image of a stopwatch with the number and letter “1h” inside.
Select the one-hour setting on your Bosch dishwasher to wash and dry kitchenware within one hour.
Express 45°
The express 45° programme symbol is a stopwatch with a mug and a wine glass.
The express setting washes kitchenware at 45°. This programme is most suitable for glassware and delicate tableware due to the lower water temperature.
Express 60°
The express 60° symbol is a stopwatch with plates stacked below.
The higher temperature of this programme is suitable for washing tableware quickly.
Glass 40°
The glassware symbol is a wine glass with “40°” written below.
This programme is the best setting to use when washing a load of glassware for perfectly clean results.
Intensive 70°
The heavy-duty wash cycle symbol on your Bosch dishwasher is a pot and two plates stacked on top of each other.
This dishwasher cycle is best for very dirty dishes like pots and pans as it uses higher water temperatures to remove stubborn dirt and even dried-on food stains.
Machine Care
The machine care symbol is a square with two lines inside representing a dishwasher. There is a star on the top right side of the symbol.
Your dishwasher needs care too. Use this cycle with detergent to deep clean the appliance and ensure optimal performance.
It’s best to use this programme at least once a week.
Additional Bosch Dishwasher Settings
Depending on the Bosch dishwasher model, you might also have these additional dishwasher settings to suit every cycle to a unique load of kitchenware perfectly.
These additional settings are not available on older models, but most newer models will have these settings on the control panel.
SpeedPerfect And SpeedPerfect+
The SpeedPerfect symbol is a stopwatch with two arrowheads on the left side of the image pointing to the right. The SpeedPerfect+ symbol is the same image with an extra arrowhead.
This setting will speed up the cycle time and shorten a cycle by 66-75%, depending on the selected rinsing setting.
Hygiene And Hygiene+
The hygiene and hygiene+ symbols are the written words, as seen below.
These settings increase the water temperature during the final rinse to 70 °C to ensure kitchenware is properly disinfected.
Use this setting for items like chopping boards and baby bottles.
IntensiveZone
The IntensiveZone symbol is a square with several broken lines inside that represent a water shower.
This setting can be added to any programme on your Bosch dishwasher to increase the spray pressure and water temperature in the bottom dish rack.
This setting is best for heavily-soiled kitchenware.
Shine & Dry
The Shine & Dry symbol is a wine glass with a star on the top right-hand side.
This setting will add extra water to the rinse cycle while also extending the time of the drying phase. Even though this function will increase power consumption, it will prevent watermarks and thoroughly dry dishes.
Extra Dry
The Extra Dry symbol is three wavy lines and a plus sign on the right.
This function will increase temperatures during the rinse cycle while extending the drying time to offer the best drying results for the cycle.
Half Load
The Half Load symbol is a square with the half fractional symbol inside.
While it’s recommended to start your dishwasher when fully loaded to prevent wasting electricity, some Bosch dishwashers have a half-load setting to save water, power, and time when washing only a few items in the machine.
Timer
The Timer symbol is seen as the numbers “9h, 6h, and 3h,” with an analogue clock on the right-hand side of these numbers.
This setting allows you to select the number of hours in a cycle. By selecting this option, you can choose between nine, six, and three hours.
Make Sure Dishes Really Are Dishwasher-Safe
Unfortunately, not all kitchenware is dishwasher-safe; some types of plastics will melt in hot water temperatures, and you should also avoid loading antique, hand-painted, and any metal-rimmed china. Cast iron, copper, and non-stick pots and pans are also not dishwasher safe. In addition, crystal, delicate glassware, high-quality knives, wood, insulated containers and mugs are not dishwasher-safe.
Look for dishwasher-safe symbols on kitchenware if you need more clarification. These symbols are usually on kitchenware packaging or printed onto the items.
The universal dishwasher-safe symbol is an image of a wine glass and a place with slanted lines representing water rinsing or washing the items.
This symbol indicates that an item can be washed in a dishwasher without damage. However, this symbol does not mean that items won’t fade or become discoloured over time.
The dishwasher-safe symbol shows plates or glasses in a dishwasher rack.
This symbol is a variance of the universal dishwasher-safe symbol.
The dishwasher-proof symbol shows five slanted lines and an angular line on the bottom right. Above the slanted lines, the number 500 is written. The number on this symbol will vary depending on the item’s quality.
This symbol is seen on utensils and tableware and mostly appears on high-quality kitchenware items.
The number on the symbol indicates the number of dishwasher cycles the item can handle before it becomes damaged. Therefore, the higher the number on the symbol, the more durable it is.
Loading Your Dishwasher
Loading a dishwasher must be done correctly to ensure the appliance properly cleans each item.
Avoid Overloading Dish Racks
Overloading the dish racks will result in dirty dishes at the end of the cycle, while incorrectly loading dishes can have a similar result.
Use the dish rack slots correctly and face the dishes downward to allow the water to drain at the bottom of the appliance.
Never pack items on top of each other to prevent nesting and uneven cleaning.
Pack Large Dishes On The Sides
Load larger dishes at the sides, back, or front of the dishwasher. Face these items inward toward the centre of the appliance, and remember to angle all dishes downward.
Loading Silverware
Silverware must be loaded in the silverware basket.
It’s best to load knives with blades facing downward for safety, while forks and other cutlery items should be loaded with the handles down to ensure even cleaning.
Adding The Right Detergents
Once you have set up your Bosch dishwasher and programmed the machine to the desired setting, you’ll need to add the correct detergents.
Avoid using alternatives to recommended dishwasher detergents because common options like regular dishwashing liquid will create too much foam in the appliance. Overfoaming can cause the machine to leak and trip.
Top Up The Dishwasher Salts
It’s essential to use dishwasher salts in the salt dispenser for each use. These salts help the water-softening system to function correctly.
Open the dishwasher door and locate the salt dispenser at the bottom of the appliance. Remove the screw cap and fill the dispenser to the top before screwing the cap back on.
Don’t Forget A Rinse Aid
Another essential product to keep for your dishwasher is a quality rinse aid. The rinse aid ensures clear and streak-free glasses while cutlery is spotless and shiny.
The rinse aid liquid solution will be next to the dishwasher crystals compartment.
Add Dishwasher Detergent
Now fill the dishwasher detergent compartment with crystals, capsules, or your chosen detergent product.
Always use dishwasher detergent and never substitute this product for regular dishwashing liquid because the appliance will produce too much foam. The excess foam can cause poor machine performance, leaking, and even tripping the appliance.
Simple Tips For Perfect Results
Now that you know how to use your Bosch dishwasher properly, these simple tips will ensure you can achieve perfect results every time.
Clean The Dishwasher Filter Regularly
The dishwasher filter is located on the floor of the dishwasher. You will need to pull the bottom rack forward to access the part. The filter will collect debris over time and can therefore become blocked unless cleaned routinely.
Remove the filter and rinse all dirt off the component by hand in the sink. It’s important to clean the filter at least once a week.
Scrape Food Bits Off Dishes, Don’t Rinse Them
It’s a common misconception that you should rinse dishes off before loading them in the dishwasher.
Because dishwasher detergent contains an enzyme that breaks down food particles, the powder can eventually cause a chalky film on items if there are no food particles to break down.
Always Use A Rinse Aid
Even though your dishwasher will clean kitchenware without a rinse aid, it will rinse items better with this additional detergent.
Don’t Open The Door During A Cycle
Unless you absolutely need to open the dishwasher door during a cycle, it’s best to keep the door closed.
Opening the door can cause the machine to get stuck on a programme, while the wash cycle time will increase.
Bosch dishwashers are quality appliances that are built to last. These appliances are also fairly straightforward to use. But beyond proper appliance use, you must also clean and maintain your dishwasher weekly for optimal results.
