When to use the heater, and when not to

What heat does

Heat usually speeds up cleaning, and many cleaning agents are made to work warm. The best temperature is found by testing and usually lies between 50 °C and 65 °C, says the lab supplier Cole-Parmer. That figure is for parts that tolerate it.

When to leave it off

Our ground rule for things at home is lukewarm water, 30–40 °C, and never hot water for plastic, aligners and glasses. Every item answer gives the water temperature for that item. If it says lukewarm, leave the heater off or set it no higher than the answer says.

The liquid warms up by itself

The cleaning action makes heat too. So the liquid gets warmer during a run even with the heater off.

Our own advice, not from a source: For items that must stay lukewarm, keep the runs short and feel the water between runs.

The upper limit

Branson tells users of its tanks never to let the liquid go above 70 °C. Your manual has the limit for your model.

Does your cleaner have a heater?

87 of the 180 cleaners in our database have a heater and 18 do not. For 75 we have not found it stated. Pick your cleaner, and each answer tells you what to do with the heater.