Is your dishwasher modern and stylish? I guess your daily chores are easier now. Times, when you had to wash a grip of dirty plates and glasses by hand, are in the past. Wiping wet surfaces with a towel seems to be awful. It’s exhausting and not hygienic. What are your best alternatives? Let’s compare air dry vs heat dry dishwasher cycles. Both these options save your time. It doesn’t let germs and bacteria spread around. Which solution do you prefer? It’s your personal choice, but there are some subtle aspects.
What is Air Dry Setting on Dishwasher?
I am sure you don’t like wet dishes. Putting them away into your kitchen cabinet is not hygienic. Dust and pollen settle on smooth and porous surface in summer, forming a cake-like residue. A study proves that it induces bacteria growth. In 48 hours they multiply and proliferate. They might cause food-borne infections.
Drying wet dishes might be tricky. Your glasses and cooking pots trap water. Plastic and ceramic surfaces come with a hydrophobic coating. They repel water. On the contrary, glass is hydrophilic. It attracts water. But drying is essential. Therefore, your best dishwasher for wine glasses uses any of drying methods, such as:
- heated air;
- fan;
- heated rinse;
- air dry.
What does air dry mean on dryer? It turns, putting on air, but it provides no heat. This setting may make your dishwasher open the door. It lets humidity and steam escape. Besides, this cycle may also use pumps to circulate room-temperature air. In 24 hours, surface of your dishware is safe and bacteria-free. It reduces contamination risk, for sure.
Is It Better to Let Your Dishes Air Dry?
Your kitchen appliance may feature a heating element. It increases air temperature to make dishes dry faster. An exhaust fan forces moisture through the vents: it circulates hot or room-temperature air through your dishwasher. This process finishes the cycle.
Do you want to shorten washing time? Dishwasher quick wash vs normal wash is faster. But it’s not heavy-duty. Both of them commonly apply air-dry option. Shall you use heat to sanitize your glasses and cutlery? Let’s check the difference.
| Criteria | Air Dry | Heat Dry |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Consumption | reduced | 15-20% more energy |
| Time | several hours | 30-45 minutes |
| Efficiency | leaves drops of water | removes moisture |
| Dish Surface Protection | sensitive | harsh |
Does rinse aid help dry dishes? It prevents water spots. If your water is hard, it might be necessary. Your glasses and frying pans also dry faster due to the chemicals. Modern dishwashers also use heated rinse method. They increase water temperature by the end of every washing cycle. It pulls moisture away from your cups and glasses. Therefore, professionals call it “condensation drying method”.
Why Are My Dishes Still Wet after Dishwasher Cycle?
Air dry method is perfect. It’s healthy, energy-saving and gentle. Using this setting or option, you can easily put solid plastic items in your dishwasher. Without high heat exposure, washing won’t melt or warp them.
FDA recommends air dry dishes before stacking them. The Agency has developed food code. It aims to safeguard public health and reduce risk of illnesses. Your best organic natural dishwasher detergent is another healthy solution. Using non-toxic cleaning products that are free from harsh chemicals is beneficial.
Nevertheless, putting upside-down your dank jars and bowls, prefer heat exposure. Simply opening your dishwasher’s door is not efficient in this case. It works on smooth surfaces, like:
- glass;
- stainless steel;
- silicone;
- ceramic.
Plastic is harder to dry. After a washing cycle, you may find some moisture and drops of water on its surface. But if you still need to clean your delicate items, select low-heat option. Removing them from dishwasher, place them in a drying rack. Let plastic dry completely.
Why Won’t My Dishwasher Dry my Dishes?
Modern dishwashers are much quieter than outdated models. They are becoming hella energy-saving and eco-friendly. Therefore, many of them don’t offer a heated dry cycle. This method is not conventional or popular nowadays.
Energy Star requirements are strict. According to the standards, air-dry feature is essential and obligatory. Every top-quality branded dishwasher should offer it. Otherwise, it won’t pass tests and get a certification mark.
Modern kitchen appliances may come with both options: heated and air dry opportunities. It may be helpful, as seasons and indoor conditions are ever-changing. Air humidity significantly affects the speed of air drying. This method saves a lot of energy. It prolongs your dishwasher life. But it has a gnarly disadvantage.
It makes drying cycle be longer, and it’s not always acceptable. For example, in San Francisco, you can easily use an air-dry method in summer. Summers are warmer and drier than winters. But even in summers, weather in the city is often foggy, windy, and damp. In December, during the rainy season, air-drying would take hours. I would apply heat in this case or leave my dishwasher’s door open overnight.
Bottom Line: Air Dry vs Heat Dry Dishwasher
Should dishes be dry after dishwasher? It’s healthy and hygienic. Dry surfaces are safe, as it doesn’t let harmful bacteria grow. Which drying method will you use? It depends on your climate and air humidity. Types and materials of your kitchen stuff also matter. As well as air-dry, heated rinse works well on stainless steel, ceramic and glass surfaces. Plastic items can remain a bit wet. Thus, selecting a new dishwasher, prefer a modern model that offers both options. It gives you a suitable alternative in any case, at any conditions.
The battle between air dry and heat dry dishwashers has raged for decades. Even though air dry has hosted several recent victories, heat dry is still the most popular method used for dishwashing.
Most people think that air drying is faster than heat drying, but this is not always the case. If you are drying dishes after washing them, and you have a heat drying dishwasher, it is best to heat dry them as opposed to air drying. Why is this? Heat drying will not only take less time, but it will also make you more comfortable. Air drying will make you work harder and is very uncomfortable.
Heat dry dishwasher lifts the water out of the clothes at the same time as they are being washed. Short wash cycles mean less detergent is used and less energy is used, allowing you to use less water. The heat drying cycle also prevents mold and mildew from forming and extending the life of your dishwasher. Clothes come out of the wash smelling fresh, and smelling fresh means you’ll be more likely to wash them again.
The debate over using an air dry or a heat dry dishwasher is a heated one among many people. While both dryers work, the heated dryers are more efficient and some claim they are better for your dishware. The heated dryers are more energy efficient, but they also take up more space in your dishwasher. Air dryers are easier to use and require less water, but they do not dry the dishes as effectively.