The short answer
Heat Dry uses the dishwasher’s heating element to warm the air or tub at the end of the cycle so water evaporates. Extended Dry is a stronger version of the same idea. Depending on the brand, it raises the final rinse temperature, runs the heat for longer, or both. The names and exact behavior vary between manufacturers, so your manual is the final word.
What Heat Dry does
Heat Dry turns on an internal heating element near the end of the cycle to create warm air around the dishes. Water droplets evaporate faster, and one retailer guide puts the added time at around half an hour. It is a good everyday choice for glass, ceramic and metal.
Its limits are familiar: plastics hold less heat and may stay damp, and concave surfaces such as cup bottoms can pool water.
What Extended Dry does
Extended Dry typically makes the drying stage more intense. Depending on the model, it may heat the final rinse water more, run the heating element longer, or combine both. Manufacturers’ guides describe an added drying time that varies by brand. It can help with stubborn plastics, tightly packed loads and humid kitchens.
The trade-offs are a longer cycle and higher energy use.
Side-by-side comparison
| Heat Dry | Extended Dry | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Heating element warms the tub near the end | Hotter final rinse and/or longer heating time |
| Cycle length | Adds time | Usually adds more time |
| Energy use | Higher than air drying | Typically higher still |
| Best for | Everyday loads | Plastics, crowded loads, humid rooms |
Heat dry vs high temperature options
These are different settings. A high temperature (or similar) option raises the water temperature during the wash and sometimes the rinse to help with grease and baked-on food, and it can also help with drying because hot dishes dry faster. Heat Dry is about the drying phase. Some machines combine them, so check your manual. For commercial machines, “high temperature” has a specific meaning, covered in our article on the high temperature dishwasher final rinse.
Which one should you use?
- Use Heat Dry if your dishes are mostly glass, ceramic and metal and you want a faster, cheaper cycle.
- Use Extended Dry if you wash a lot of plastic, pack the racks tightly or still get wet items.
- Turn off heated drying altogether if you want to save energy and can open the door at the end of the cycle to let steam out.
Dishes still wet? Troubleshooting
- Check rinse aid. An empty rinse aid dispenser is a common reason for poor drying. Refill it.
- Load differently. Tilt cups and bowls so water runs off, and avoid nesting items.
- Move plastics to the top rack. They dry less well than other materials.
- Open the door slightly after the cycle ends.
- Check whether the heated dry option is switched on. Some models turn it off by default or after a change in settings.
- Suspect the heating element. If dishes are cold and wet even with heated drying selected, the element or its wiring may have failed. Testing and replacing it involves mains electricity, so switch the machine off at the breaker and call a qualified technician.
If the dishwasher has other problems, such as not filling, see our dishwasher troubleshooting guide.
What about the ball of tinfoil tip?
You may see advice to put a ball of aluminum foil in the dishwasher, usually to reduce spotting or rust marks. Results are mixed and anecdotal, and foil can scrape or shed pieces that block the filter or spray arm. It is not an approved method, so consider your manual first, and try rinse aid and proper loading instead.
What is a prewash cycle?
A prewash is a short early stage, sometimes a selectable option, that rinses or soaks dishes before the main wash. It helps loosen baked-on food so you do not need to rinse by hand. Some machines also run a prewash automatically as part of a normal cycle.
Are dishwashers programmed?
Yes. Each cycle follows a programmed sequence of fill, wash, drain, rinse and dry stages, with timing and temperatures set by the manufacturer. Sensor-based cycles may adjust these steps depending on how soiled the load is. Details vary by brand and model.