Should You Open the Dishwasher During Cycles?

Opening the dishwasher door during a cycle can be dangerous as hot water and steam may escape. If you are caught by a burst of hot water or steam, it can lead to possible burns and scalds. Additionally, opening the door mid-cycle will cause the dishwasher to restart its cycle, leading to increased energy costs, wasted water, and reduced performance in terms of cleaning effectiveness.

Generally speaking, it is not recommended to open the dishwasher door during a cycle. If you absolutely must access something from the dishwasher, it’s safest to do so at the beginning or end of a cycle when temperatures inside will be cooler. Additionally, check with your manufacturer’s guidelines before attempting to open the dishwasher while in use as further advice is dependent on make and model.

On many modern dishwashers, it is possible to pause or delay a cycle. You may be able to do this by pressing the Start/Stop button once and then again to confirm. A minute or two after such input, you should hear a beep indicating that the dishwasher has been paused. Pausing can be done anytime throughout a cycle, but the door must still remain closed in order for your machine to keep its humidity and temperature levels stable.

If you only need to access something from inside the dishwasher, and not actually pause the cycle, it is generally safe to open the door. That said, it is still important to be careful and make sure that no excess steam or hot water escapes when you open the door. You should also take extra care not to lean too heavily on any hinges or handles, which can be broken if too much pressure is applied.