If you’re reading this right now, you likely understand how frustrating it can be when your Bosch dishwasher doesn’t dry your dishes properly. It can be a huge pain to have to dry everything off before putting it away. If you’ve been experiencing this issue with your Bosch dishwasher, don’t worry – we’re here to help. We’ll discuss five reasons why your Bosch dishwasher leaves dishes wet. We’ll also provide some tips on how to fix the problem.
Bosch Dishwasher Leaves Dishes Wet: Causes and Fixes
There are several reasons why your Bosch dishwasher isn’t drying dishes properly. Let’s dig into the most common ones.
1. Unloading Dishwasher Out of Order
When asking why does my Bosch dishwasher not dry my dishes, many people don’t realize that the order in which you unload your dishwasher can impact how wet or dry your dishes are. If you empty the top rack first, the water from that rack will drip down onto the dishes on the bottom rack, leaving them wet. To avoid this, always unload your dishwasher starting with the bottom rack first.
2. Loading Too Many Dishes
Another common mistake people make is loading too many dishes into their dishwasher. When the dishwasher is too full, it can’t circulate the water correctly, and as a result, your dishes won’t come out as clean or dry as they should be.
If you want to avoid this, only load your dishwasher about 2/3 full, or to the specifications on your model’s use and care manual.
3. Adjust Dishwasher Drying Options
A condensation drying process is used in Bosch dishwashers rather than a heating element. They use a final hot rinse, which works with the cold stainless steel interior to stimulate condensation rather than a heating element. Water runs off of the dishes faster and more effectively due to this.
For varied loads, we recommend starting with the Auto Cycle option. Most dishwashers have a drying option that you can adjust. If your dishes are coming out wet, it’s likely because the drying setting is too low. To fix this, adjust the setting to “extra dry.”

4. Don’t Forget to Use Rinse Aid
If you’re not using rinse aid, that could be why your dishes are coming out wet. Rinse aids act as a Bosch dishwasher drying agent to help the water runoff of your dishes more effectively and help prevent spots and streaks. We recommend using a Bosch-approved rinse aid for best results.
To use rinse aid:
- Open the dishwasher door and pour the rinse aid into the labeled “rinse aid” compartment.
- Start your dishwasher on a regular cycle.
- Observe the first few cycles to ensure that the rinse aid is dispensing correctly. If it isn’t, check the manual for troubleshooting tips.
5. Dishwasher Not Drying Plastic Items
Plastic items don’t retain heat as well, and as a result, they often come out of the dishwasher wetter than other items. The extra dry setting will again be your best option to fix this. Plastic items placed on the bottom rack of a Bosch dishwasher will not be harmed; they can safely be placed there because it lacks a heating element.
We hope that this guide has helped shed some light on why your Bosch dishwasher leaves dishes wet. If you follow the tips we’ve provided, you should be able to fix the problem and get your dishes dry in no time! If you’re having any issues like your dishwasher won’t start or any more severe cases, call the professional dishwasher repair service team at Twin Appliance to get your dishwasher back in action!