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?

I just pause the Start button, wait a couple of seconds for the water to stop, open the door, put the mug in, shut the door, hit the Start button again. I do it all the time.

I use whatever cycles are needed. If I have heavy pots and pans then I select that. If I have mostly cups, glasses and plates I select that one. Equally there is a quick 30 min one that I use for the dogs bowls as I am in a hurry. Yes there is an eco one but I tend not to use it.

According to page 17 of this www.winningappliances.com.au/public/manuals/Siemens-SN26M282AU-Freestanding-Dishwasher-User-Manual.pdf

the eco uses the least energy of all the cycles (0.64kWh - can anyone beat that?) and less water than all but the quick cycle (12 litres).

Ooh thanks for this, I have been wondering if the 4 hour (!) eco cycle on my washing machine is actually energy saving or just less water.

Like PPs it doesn't matter to me how long it takes, I put the dishwasher on in the evening, I'm not in the kitchen then. I would use the faster cycles if I wanted to run more cycles in a day but this is unlikely for the dishwasher.

I def open mine when it's on but usually to take something out.

3.5h is the eco cycle using least energy according to the manual. Mine also has a 45min cycle if you’re entertaining and need to get stuff through fast.

We put it in about 8pm after dinner and go up to bed with it still in but dh in particular is unlikely to be sound asleep before it finishes. He reads till 11:30/12.

DadDadDad.

The link is broken, but thanks for taking the time to compare cycles. I don't have an eco D/W so my manual would not show that.

Anyway, I know you all mean well, but an extra pound or two or whatever in water (not on meter) and electricity is worth it for my sanity. It's what I'm used to I suppose.

BTW I drive a hybrid car, have a fully insulated house with good double glazed windows, loft insulation etc. I do my bit!

Don't click on the link if you suffer from anxiety,

but if you really worry about fire, do you switch off your fridge freezer every night when you go to bed or when you leave the house?

fire training
which fire risk

Ours is 3 hours 15 mins!

The link is broken because I pasted the wrong thing. Here it is: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/25/eco-appliances-energy-saving-hints-for-dishwashers

Dad,

No worries, thanks for the new clicky link. It works!

Both my dishwasher and washing machine have eco cycles that take 3 hours, that's fairly standard now isn't it? I've never been in such a hurry for my dishes that it's a problem.

My PIL do this every time they put the dishwasher on "because it takes too long" and then they wonder why the dishes are not clean 😬. Gives me the rage.

They also wash all their clothes on 15 min quickwash and, you've guessed it, wonder why they're not clean. Double rage 😡

I do it all the time. My dishwasher has a pause button so you don't get sprayed.

*Nicola" I just leave it running when I leave the house. I know it could possibly catch fire daytime too but if anyone left in the house they may notice hopefully and if no-one at home, well not much you can do about that, I'm certainly not sitting in the kitchen waiting for the appliances to finish.

Don came to say the same thing. My aunt was turning off the WiFi router overnight for fear of fire. I pointed out the fridge was much more of a risk! Not sure if she turns that off now....

3 hours??? Wow - is there a shorter, more economical cycle?

Longer cycles are more economical because they can work at lower temperatures

It's on the same principle as using far less fuel to drive a certain distance at 50mph than at 70. You get to the same destination but it takes longer.

I know two people who lost the entire content of their houses due to dishwashers running when the house was empty.

Ours just goes on after dinner usually. Never really considered how long it takes - we don't usually have a dish emergency where we need stuff within an hour! I just leave it to it and go off and carry on with life and empty it when it beeps I or DP can be bothered. I think our eco cycle is 3 hours ish but I only know that because the display says so.

Why is it so hard for people to grasp that it's more economical to run it for longer but at a lower temp? Yes car journey analogy perfect.

Chester - that's terrible and very bad luck. The data I could find suggests around 200 fires caused by dishwashers each year. There must be 10 million (?) dishwashers in use round the country (bit of a guesstimate, suspect it's more), so the annual risk of a d/w fire is less than 0.002%.

There's a website that lists product recalls which shows some models that are risky: (linked mid-list, but list continues for several pages covering all kinds of appliances) www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/categories/kitchen-appliances/?p=3

200 fires a year caused by dishwasher sounds like a lot to me.
I will still chose to run mine when I’m in thanks.

3 Hours?
It's quicker (and cheaper) to do it by hand,surely?

ChesterGreySideboard looks like fridge/freezers cause many more fires than 200 per year... Maybe you need to stay in when they're switched on as well?

www.google.com/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/equipment/fridge-fire-hazard/amp/

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3183412/amp/Could-fridge-burn-house-t-switch-packed-inflammable-insulation-toxic-gas-s-dangerous-appliance-all.html

I only put mine on when it's full, so isn't an issue!
Also on economy 7 so it's set through the night when I'm fast asleep!

Same as my washing machine, dryer (on the very rare occasions that I use it) & the fridge freezer is, obviously, left on constantly.
Would rather use less energy & water, and if it's cheaper for me too, it's a bonus!