KitchenAid dishwasher KDI16

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Can someone explain a dishwasher SOAK cycle?

For KitchenAid, the machine filled up with water just like a typical pre-wash (with detergent).  then the machine circulated water for 2 minutews.  then paused and "soaked" the load.  The auxilliary timer kicked in and "soaked' for about 11 minutes.  Then it proceeded throiugh the rest of the cycle sequence.  Erly on, KitchenAid apparently had a very high phosphate special detergent (and maybe enzymes) which worked on the soil of the load while it"soaked" and loosened the soil.  Then the dirt was removed with the rest of the cycle sequence.  This was early versions.  The Superba models "differeed" in that the heating element was energizied and heated the water.  for the KDS18, there were two soak periods and 2 or 3 water circulations during the soil loosening proess.  (All this is kind of from memory of reading the service manuals.).  I'm sure John or Tom will chime in.  Other brands had prolonged prewash and or main wash phases where the water continued circulating and spraying the load.  Like my GE PotScrubber, on PotScrubber cycle and the main wash, was up to 45 minutes long.  whirlpool's Power Scour had a prewash that was thermistaticallyt held until correct water temperature was reached.  It then also did a thermostatically held main wash too.

 

But, I do believe KitchenAid pioneered the concept of a very special cycle for extremely soiled dishwasher and utensils.  I will confess, I"ve never used a KitchenAid with a Soak'n'Scrub cycle yet.  I look forward to the day when I'll be able to do that.  The only machines I"ve used with this feature were a WP PowerClean-based Kenmore and my GE PotScrubber.   My first house hade a D&M Kenmore with Pots Pans cycle which was ok, but compared to the PotScrubber's results, was pathetic. 

[this post was last edited: 2/18/2013-20:18]
 
One more pre-wash would have been more effective

Even in my youth, I thought the KitchenAid "soak" cycle was an idiotic marketing ploy. A herald of future dishwasher cycles now that most of them run at least twice as long as they did in the Sixties and most of the dw detergents have enzymes in them. I think that's one reason I have high regard for the Mobile Maids; even with today's dw detergent they can accomplish in less than 22 minutes what contemporary dishwashers need an hour and a half to do.
 
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