10 Bosch Dishwasher Cycles Explained (Plus How Long They Run)

I’ve been using a Bosch dishwasher for over a year, and I must say that it’s a good value. So, in this guide, bosch dishwasher cycles explained so you can understand them if you’ve decided to stick with the brand.

Auto wash, rise-only cycle, heavy wash, sanitize cycle, delicate wash, normal wash, and express wash are all Bosch dishwasher cycles. Most units have five primary cycles and additional add-ons for drying and sanitization.

Understanding Bosch dishwasher cycles lets you get the most out of the appliance. In other words, you know what cycle to run, why it should be run, and when it should be run. You’ll have an easier time running the unit this way.

Regarding dishwashers, Bosch has distinguished itself by manufacturing some of the most dependable—not to mention quietest—dishwashers on the market.

However, before purchasing a Bosch dishwasher, or any dishwasher, it’s a good idea to learn about the various wash cycles available.

Most Bosch dishwashers will have 5 washing cycles, with some also having additional washing settings to cut through tough stains. Depending on the model, you can expect the following dishwasher cycles: auto, heavy, delicate, express, normal, sanitize, half-load, and rinse & hold.

If you’re considering buying and installing a Bosch dishwasher in your home, you may have a few more questions. For example, how do dishwasher cycles differ, and which one should you use? The answers to these questions are provided below.

Bosch Dishwasher Cycles Explained?

Modern Bosch Dishwasher wash cycle express has a variety of distinct wash cycles that allow you to clean dishes quickly. They are as follows:

	Cycle	What it Does
1.	Auto wash cycle	The built-in sensor checks dishes and determines what cycle your dishes require.
2.	Heavy wash cycle	It is ideal for loads of dishes full of stains and dirt particles
3.	Delicate wash cycle	You should select this cycle only if you want to wash delicate dishes
4.	Express wash cycle	Best for cleaning lightly soiled dishes
5.	Normal wash cycle	Choose this to wash normal dishes that don’t require heavy cleaning
6.	Sanitize wash cycle	Select it if you would like to clean dishes at the highest temperature to remove 99.9% of germs
7.	Rinse-only wash cycle	Only for rinsing dishes
8.	Quick wash cycle	Select it if you would like to clean dishes at the highest temperature to remove 99.9% of germs

Bosch dishwashers are known for their versatility. This is obtained by selecting one of several dishwasher cycles from a Bosch-made dishwasher.

Depending on the model, you may have as few as five cycle settings or as many as seven or more! To find out what dishwasher cycles are available in your model, go to the official Bosch website and look for the downloadable instruction manual.

To simplify things, I’ll review the five “mandatory” dishwasher cycles found in most Bosch dishwashers and many more commonly used add-on cycle settings.

Auto Wash Cycle

The auto wash cycle determines which cleaning method is best for your dishes. The technology automatically adjusts cycle durations and water temperature to clean your dishes.

The Auto Wash Cycle activates Bosch’s sophisticated soil-sensing capabilities, making it ideal for removing solid food waste from a mixed load of dishware.

It also activates cutting-edge sensors that automatically adjust water temperatures to cut through thick grease while consuming the least energy. On the Auto Wash Cycle, your dishwasher will run for up to 135 minutes, wash at 162°F, and rinse at 162°F.

Heavy Wash Cycle

As we’ll see later in this guide, the heavy wash cycle on a Bosch dishwasher has the longest runtime. This is best if you wash many pots and pans with dirt and stains.

This is the best cycle to use when washing dishes with grease or oil. Even the largest load of dishes, pots, and pans that the dishwasher can safely hold (according to the instruction manual) can be cleaned using the Heavy Wash Cycle, saving the user time that would otherwise be spent soaking and scrubbing by hand.

When washing and rinsing with water at 162 degrees Fahrenheit, the bosch dishwasher cycle times is approximately 135 minutes. Since this cycle may alternate between cold and hot water, it consumes the most power during the wash.

Delicate Wash Cycle

The delicate wash cycle on the Bosch dishwasher operates at the lowest temperature of all cycles. It’s also the best option for delicate dishes. It can clean china, crystal, and delicate dishes, particularly glass ones.

Thanks to Bosch’s Delicate Wash Cycle, you can clean your fine china, silverware, and crystal dishes without damaging these priceless heirlooms. Bosch dishwashers have an 80-minute cycle that uses low-temperature water jets to remove light stains from fragile items. Washing and rinsing temperatures are 122 and 156 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.

Express Wash Cycle

The Bosch dishwasher’s Express cycle is the quickest. This option cleans lightly soiled wine glasses, dishes, and silverware.

The Express Wash Cycle is Bosch’s quickest available cycle for the dishwasher. Light stains can be removed from dishes, glasses, and silverware in just 30 minutes with this method. This is the setting if you don’t need the dishwasher to remove stubborn grease. It washes at 162 degrees Fahrenheit and rinses at 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Normal Wash Cycle

If you want to clean your dishes regularly, use the normal wash cycle. These are usually relatively easy to clean. They will, however, require more than what the delicate or express wash cycles can provide.

I prefer to use the standard wash cycle on my Bosch dishwasher over the other options. It is the most dependable option that complements the unit’s add-on functions.

If you’re unsure which cycle to use or want a basic cleaning done, the Normal Wash Cycle is the way to go.

To ensure that no solid or greasy residue remains on the surface of your dishware and to maximize energy efficiency, it combines the best of the Express Wash and Heavy Wash Cycles. The average time for a normal wash cycle is between 90 and 115 minutes. The load is washed and rinsed in water heated to 156°F.

Sanitize Cycle

The sanitized wash cycle, also known as the hygienic setting, delivers the highest temperature capable of heating water to 151 degrees Fahrenheit. During the final rinse, the cycle can kill up to 99.9% of germs on your dishes.

It would help if you ran the sanitizing cycle before beginning to wash your dishes; otherwise, it would be ineffective. In other words, you must select this option in addition to the wash cycle that you want to run.

The main goal of the Sanitize Cycle is to kill as many germs and bacteria as possible on the surface of your dishes and cutlery. It accomplishes this by spraying powerful jets of heated water (typically 151°F) on the surfaces of all loaded items.

This is, however, usually an add-on mode to any of the other wash cycles. As a result, while it still uses detergent, it may need to provide better cleaning capabilities as a stand-alone wash cycle.

This wash cycle is great for heating and sanitizing your plates, bowls, and cutlery. You won’t have to worry about heating anything before serving homemade meals this way, though you will still need to wipe away any residual water droplets.

Half-Load Cycle

Depending on how many dirty dishes you have, you may only need to load your dishwasher to half capacity or less.

Instead of loading dirty dishes and waiting for a fully loaded dishwasher, use your Bosch Dishwasher’s Half-Load Cycle. It functions similarly to the Regular Wash Cycle but uses significantly less water and energy due to the reduced wash load. As a result, the Half-Load Cycle will take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete while using 162°F water to wash and rinse.

Rinse & Hold Cycle

After thoroughly cleaning your dishes, you select the rinse-only wash cycle. The cycle’s purpose is to rinse your utensils with hot water.

You can use the Rinse & Hold Cycle to quickly clean your dishes and kitchen tools with high-pressure water jets and then leave them in the dishwasher overnight to dry.

This 15-minute wash cycle is intended for use after washing the dishes with soap and scrubbing them clean. After using one of the other dishwasher cycles, you can activate the Rinse and hold Cycle for an extra clean.

60-minute or Quick Wash Cycle

The 60-minute cycle on a Bosch dishwasher is also known as the quick wash cycle. A quick wash cycle can clean your dishes in 60 minutes or less using more water, energy, and heat. The bosch dishwasher quick wash is an excellent option for quickly cleaning a batch of mildly dirty plates, bowls, and cups.

Delay Wash Cycle

This isn’t technically a wash mode because it only delays the wash cycle. Assume you want your dishes done by the next morning but frequently need to remember to turn on the dishwasher.

By selecting the Delay Wash Cycle option, your Bosch dishwasher will remain in standby mode for up to 24 hours before beginning one of the previously mentioned wash cycles. You can override the Delay Wash Cycle by starting another wash cycle manually.

How Long is each cycle on a Bosch dishwasher?

The table below shows how long each cycle on a Bosch dishwasher lasts in minutes:

	Cycle	Cycle’s Duration
1.	Auto wash cycle	95 to 135 minutes
2.	Heavy wash cycle	115 to 135 minutes
3.	Delicate wash cycle	80 minutes
4.	Express wash cycle	30 minutes
5.	Normal wash cycle	90 to 110 minutes
6.	Sanitize wash cycle	60 to 90 minutes
7.	Rinse-only wash cycle	10 to 15 minutes

The cycles tend to last longer, which I believe is because Bosch has programmed them to clean your dishwasher thoroughly.

Bosch Dishwasher Auto vs Normal Cycle: What’s the Difference?

The primary distinction between auto and regular wash cycles on a Bosch dishwasher is what they do and how long they take to complete.

On the one hand, the regular wash cycle is adequate for cleaning everyday dishes as long as they are not as delicate as utensils that require delicate or express wash.

The normal cycle lasts 90 to 115 minutes and is more reliable than other wash cycle options. It is also more flexible due to its compatibility with add-on functions.

On the other hand, the auto wash runs for 95 to 135 minutes and uses built-in sensors to determine which cleaning mechanism the dishes require.

The auto wash adjusts the cycle and temperature at the hardware level to thoroughly clean dishes and optimize energy consumption.

How to Choose the Right Wash Cycle on Bosch Dishwasher?

To properly clean your dishes, you must select the appropriate wash cycle. Most of the time, the cycle you choose will be determined by:

• The type of dishes and cookware that you wish to clean
• How much dirt do you wish to remove and
• Your dishes’ cleaning requirements
• For instance, if you serve light food on regular dishes, use the normal wash cycle to clean them.

Cooking food for a dinner party means you’ll have a lot of dirty pans. After loading the dishes, you should use a heavy wash cycle.

If you need help deciding which cycle to use, the general-purpose dishwasher cycle is your best bet.

How Long Should a Bosch Dishwasher Cycle Run?

Bosch designs its dishwashers so that each cycle runs for a specific time. Many models in the brand’s series last between 30 and 120 minutes, some lasting longer.

Then there’s you, the user, who decides how long you want a cycle to run. If your dishwashers are heavily soiled and need to be thoroughly cleaned, use the heavy wash cycle, which runs for 115 to 135 minutes.

That’s a lengthy cycle. Combined with the eco-mode setting, you’ll use less energy and save much money on your power bills.

Other factors that influence the overall running time of a wash cycle include the detergent used, the number of dishes stacked in the racks, and the water temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

I hope this post has helped you learn more about Bosch dishwasher cycles, particularly their significance and duration.

If you’ve decided to buy a Bosch dishwasher, you’ve made the right decision. Having used one for over two years, I can attest that Bosch takes dishwasher construction seriously.