The essential guide to Samsung dishwasher cycles, options, and settings

Last Update date : Dec 12. 2023
A Samsung dishwasher with the door slightly ajar

Your dishwasher saves time and energy, but to maximize its efficiency, it's essential to understand its various cycles, options, and settings. Depending on the type of load and soil level, selecting the right cycle can make a significant difference in cleaning performance.

Note: The availability of cycles, options, and settings may vary by model. Refer to the user manual for specific information.

Your Samsung dishwasher offers a range of cycles tailored for different cleaning needs:

Auto (Smart Auto on older models): Detects soil level and automatically selects the optimal cycle.

Chef: Ideal for a mixed load of heavily and lightly soiled items. Use the Zone Booster area for heavily soiled items.

Delicate: Designed for fragile items like fine glassware. Avoid using for regular glassware to prevent clouding or etching.

Express 60 (Quick+ on older models): A quick cycle for lightly soiled dishes, approximately 60 minutes without drying time.

Heavy: For heavily soiled dishes.

Normal: Standard cycle for everyday dishes. The dishwasher's energy label is based on this cycle.

Pots & Pans: For hard-to-clean, heavily soiled items.

Rinse Only: For rinsing items not immediately washed. Do not use detergent.

Self Clean: Cleans the dishwasher tub. Use when the Self Clean indicator blinks. Run the cycle with the dishwasher empty.

Customize your wash with these options:

  • Delay Start: Delay the start of a cycle. Adjust the time using the Delay Start button.

Note on Delay Start option:

Set the delay time: Press or hold the Delay Start button to increase the delay time. The display will show the hour when the wash will start. Depending on the model, the delay time can be adjusted in one-hour increments up to 24 hours, or in three-hour increments up to 9 hours.

Activate Delay Start: After setting the delay time, press the START button and close the dishwasher door. The dishwasher may drain any existing water but will delay the start of the wash cycle.

Changing the delay time: If you need to adjust the delay time after setting it, turn off the dishwasher, then turn it back on. Select a new cycle and adjust the delay time as needed.

Canceling Delay Start: To cancel the Delay Start feature, continue pressing the Delay Start button until the hour display disappears. Alternatively, you can touch and hold the START button for three seconds to cancel the entire cycle, including the Delay Start.

  • Dry+: Increases water temperature in the final rinse and extends drying time.

  • Heated Dry: Activates the heater during the drying process.

  • Hi-Temp Wash: Increases the main wash temperature for tough, baked-on food.

  • Lower Rack (Half Load on older models): Activates only the lower rack nozzle for small loads.

  • Sanitize: Increases water temperature in the final rinse for sanitation. The light indicates when the temperature is reached.

  • Smart Control: Monitor and control the dishwasher remotely via Wi-Fi using the SmartThings app.

  • Speed Booster: Reduces washing time.

  • Storm Wash: For heavily soiled items like pots and pans. Use the marked area in the lower basket.

  • Upper Rack: Activates only the upper rack nozzle for small loads.

  • Zone Booster: Intensive washing for heavily soiled items in the left part of the lower rack.

Samsung dishwashers typically feature a settings menu for customizing various functions. To access this menu, you need to touch and hold two specific buttons for 3 seconds. Once in the menu, the current setting will be displayed, and you can use one button to navigate through the settings and another to adjust the selected setting.

For instance, in some models, the process involves touching and holding the Sanitize and Delay Start buttons. You would then press the Sanitize button to navigate through the settings and the Delay Start button to confirm your choice.

It's important to consult your user manual to identify the specific buttons and methods for adjusting the settings on your particular model. If the user manual doesn't mention a settings menu, then your model may not include this feature.

Settings options:

  • A1/A0: Auto Release Dry function. A1 is on, A0 is off.

  • B0 to B5: Adjusts LED brightness. B0 is off, B5 is the brightest.

  • J1/J0: Alert for Auto Release Dry. J1 is on, J0 is off.

  • F1 to F6: Rinse aid dispensing level. F4 is the factory default.

  • S on/SoFF: Mutes or unmutes sounds.

  • U1/U0: Mutes or unmutes sounds, separate control for Auto Release Dry.

Familiarize yourself with these common icons:

Half load dishwasher icon Half load dishwasher icon

Half Load

This icon indicates that the Lower Rack or Half Load option is used.

Delay start dishwasher icon Delay start dishwasher icon

Delay Start

This icon indicates that the Delay Start option is used.

Rinse Aid dishwasher icon Rinse Aid dishwasher icon

Rinse Aid

This icon indicates low rinse aid and may look like a star, snowflake, or sparkle.

Sanitize dishwasher icon Sanitize dishwasher icon

Sanitize

This icon indicates that the Sanitize option is used.

Hi-Temp Wash dishwasher icon Hi-Temp Wash dishwasher icon

Hi-Temp Wash

This icon indicates that the Hi-Temp Wash option is used.

Child Lock dishwasher icon Child Lock dishwasher icon

Child Lock

Please refer to our troubleshooting article if you are unable to start your dishwasher.

Note: Please check your user manual if you do not see your dishwasher’s icons listed.

Follow these steps for running a cycle:

Step 1. Open the door, and then load the dishwasher.

Step 2. Add detergent and rinse aid.

Step 3. Press POWER, select a cycle and options.

Step 4. Press START and close the door within 3 seconds.

Note: To change or cancel a cycle, press and hold START for 3 seconds. Resume a cycle after opening the door by pressing START and closing the door.

The control panel of a Samsung dishwasher The control panel of a Samsung dishwasher

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