How often should you run your dishwasher?

You should run your dishwasher every 2 to 3 days, or at least once per week, even if it is not completely full, to prevent odors, mold, and mechanical issues. Running dishwasher regularly keeps seals moist, prevents food residue from drying and hardening on filter and spray arms, and prevents drain pump seals from drying out and leaking. If you run it only once every 2 weeks, food particles trapped in filter and sump decompose and cause foul odors and clogged drain. For best cleaning and energy efficiency, run dishwasher when it is full but not overloaded, which typically takes 2 to 3 days for average family of 4, and use Eco or Normal cycle to save water and energy, as modern dishwashers use only 3 to 5 gallons per cycle versus hand washing which uses 20 gallons. If dishwasher is not full after 2 days, you can run rinse only cycle to prevent odor. You should also run a cleaning cycle monthly with Affresh or 2 cups vinegar on hottest cycle with no dishes to remove grease and scale. Additionally, clean filter weekly by removing lower rack and rinsing filter under water if your model has removable filter. Leaving dirty dishes sitting for more than 2 days can cause bacteria growth, so scrape dishes and load promptly. Running dishwasher at night during off-peak electricity hours saves energy cost.