By Erin Bennett
Test Data Lead | Hautū Raraunga Whakamātautau
Dishwashers have two jobs: wash and dry. But our latest test update revealed two dishwashers that can leave your dishes dripping like they’d been “dried in a rainforest”.
Drying is an important part of the dishwashing process. You don’t want to have to leave the dishes drip drying for ages after a wash – they should be ready to go straight in the cupboard.
Our dishwasher testing includes both washing and drying performance. Our drying test looks at how dry the dishes are 30 minutes after the wash cycle has finished. During this time, we leave the door closed, unless the dishwasher has a feature that opens the door automatically at the end of the programme.
2 of the worst dishwashers at drying
3 of the best dishwashers at drying
5 things you can do to improve a dishwasher’s drying performance
Drying is not all up to the dishwasher. Here are some tips for improving the drying performance of your dishwasher.
Use rinse aid.
Don’t overload the racks.
Stack the dishwasher well, with space between the dishes.
Open the door to release steam when the cycle has ended. If you’re concerned about the steam released then you can place a tea towel over the opening to help absorb it.
Empty the bottom rack first.
Hand-wash hard-to-dry items.
For more drying tips, see our article Why isn’t my dishwasher drying?
