To open the dishwasher once it’s started?

[Allfednonedead]

If I’ve just pressed ‘start’ and it has 3 hours to run, and then I find another mug, is it ok to open the dishwasher and put it in?
I think it’s designed for this to happen, DH thinks I’m a vandal.
AIBU?

Oh and my eco, extra energy saving cycle takes 3hr 45mins. Everything comes out super shiny clean and according to the smart meter it certainly uses the least electricity, the machine tells you how much water it uses and this setting has the lowest value. No idea how it works but I’ve tried and tested many of the other options and, although lengthy, the eco eco is the most efficient and clean! I don’t usually run it daytime though, it normally goes on before I go to bed so I know I’ve got all the pots done for morning.

YANBU. The instructions for my dishwasher say:

Adding extra crockery
Without switching off the machine, open the door, taking care to avoid the escaping steam, and place the crockery inside the dishwasher. Shut the door and the cycle will begin from the point at which it was interrupted.

Oh, and one reason Eco settings on dishwashers normally take longer is that they use less heat on the drying part of the cycle - basically AIUI they let the dishes drain naturally and maybe just give them a bit of heat to finish them off, instead of going all out to steam the water off them from the outset.

Echoing what others have said:
-Absolutely no issue with opening after it's started (open cautiously so you don't get sprayed with water).

• Our eco cycle is 3.5 hours and according to the manual uses less electricity even than the 0.5 hour quick wash.

Umm .. can't you just do the one mug by hand?.

I do this but I’m careful as I was once squirted with hot water.

Wash it by hand.

Washing by hand uses more water (and energy), so why do that when you've a machine that can do it for you?

However, I might ask OP why you started the d/w when it wasn't full. I'm one of those sad people who spends ages trying to optimise the space to get as much in there as possible before I run it.

Doing the mug by hand would slightly undo the point of using an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher. Also, I have ADHD, if I start handwashing stuff, I’ll end up clearing out the under-sink cupboard, then leaving that half-way because I’ve found the silver polish and have to go looking for my silver jewellery that I KNOW I put away somewhere in the junk in my dressing table...

YANBU

I do it, but I always apologise to the dishwasher for disturbing it while it's doing its thing

I do too

Why are you putting dw on if it's not full
Cant you leave the mugs till next time

Of course it’s fine to add items throughout the cycle. YANBU.

Ha yes if only for the free facial steam.

These bloody eco cycles are madness. Some on my washer are three bloody hours.

Ive got a 26 year old 3 programme dishwasher that takes just over an hour at most

Our eco setting is 3 hours too. We eat late-ish and I won't have the dishwasher on once we're in bed so we always end up using a short programme!

I don't like opening it mid cycle but I have done if I needed to retrieve something from it urgently. I'd leave a cup in the sink until the next load though.

WhatWould - why don't you want it running when you're in bed? I love the fact that I can start it late evening and it will work while I'm asleep to have everything clean for the morning.

Yes the first time I did it with apprehension, not knowing what would happen! As a rule don't make a habit and try to make sure I get everything. If it's just a cup or one piece of cutlery I wouldn't bother and wash it up, but underneath I'd be annoyed. I just hate washing up, but sometimes have to do a pan or two (the easiest to clean ones) if can't fit all in.

Mine takes just over an hour! It's very old. I hope this 3 hour time is not the thing now? I'd have to wash up 😭

Mine takes 15-20 minutes. I can't see how it's better for the environment to have it running for 3 hours.

3-hour cycle is better because it uses less electricity and less water. It may be counter-intuitive but a number of posters have explained about their eco cycles that do this.

Mine has a 35 min express wash for a few items, it says - a couple of plates, mug, saucepan, cutlery. I just fill it up and it washes everything fine. Doesn’t dry though, so I just open the door to let the steam escape and then everything dries. It’s a slimline one.

Oh and yes, I can open it and put more stuff in. Except I can’t because it’s full.

I do it fairly often near the beginning with no ill- effects.

Our dishwasher is put on just before bedtime and emptied in the morning as the kettle is boiling so the cycle length doesn’t impact me day-to-day.

My ex once leaped across the room swearing because he saw a mug on the counter top and the dishwasher was on. He grabbed the mug, yanked the dw door open and then realised it was on a dw cleaning cycle so had to be run empty. He slipped the mug back on the counter and tried to pretend that he had seen a cat about to attack a blackbird which was why he had sworn... such a fucking bad liar, too. Why couldn't he just say "oops! My mistake"

I couldn't leave mine on during the night or when out It's not worth the risk of fire or water leaks. I know a couple of people who have luckily caught water leaks because they were at home.