For Dishwashers
Now that you have a new LG dishwasher, it’s important to get things set up correctly and to get familiar with all of the controls. Get some helpful tips on how to install it, learn what type of detergent to use, understand its cycles, and more.
Although you may choose to have your LG dishwasher professionally installed, in the event you decide to do it yourself, we’ve put together a helpful how-to video that covers installation basics like connecting it to power and your water supply, leveling, and more. For additional installation instructions and diagrams, please consult your owner’s manual.
Attention
Before installation, keep in mind the following tips:
Once you have your new dishwasher installed, you should take some time to get to know its control panel and learn how to best load things for the first time.
Whether your new dishwasher has steam functionality or not, choose the appropriate control panel to explore the function of each button.
Select the dishwasher control panel you would like to learn about.
Rinse Aid Icon: This icon illuminates when the rinse aid level is low. The LED light automatically shuts off when the rinse aid is refilled or when the level is set to 0.
Control Lock: The Control Lock feature helps prevent settings from being changed during a cycle. Selecting this feature will lock all buttons, except for the Power button. This feature does not lock the door. To start a new cycle, deactivate Control Lock. To deactivate this feature, press and hold Dual Zone for three seconds.
Rinse Aid Icon: This icon illuminates when the rinse aid level is low. The LED light automatically shuts off when the rinse aid is refilled or when the level is set to 0.
Control Lock: The Control Lock feature helps prevent settings from being changed during a cycle. Selecting this feature will lock all buttons, except for the Power button. This feature does not lock the door. To start a new cycle, deactivate Control Lock. To deactivate this feature, press and hold Dual Zone for three seconds.
Beep On/Off
To activate or deactivate the button sounds, press the Half Load button for three seconds. The error alert sound and the end of cycle melody cannot be turned off.
Connect (for Wi-Fi models) 
When your dishwasher is connected to the internet through a home Wi-Fi network, this icon will be illuminated. Press and hold Delay Start to connect to your network.
Now that you’re more familiar with your dishwasher’s control panel, let’s start with the basics of operation. Learn how to start a cycle, how to know when a cycle has ended, and how to cancel a cycle once it has already begun.
Open and load the dishwasher, making sure that nothing is blocking the spray arms. Fill the detergent dispenser and add rinse aid, if needed. If using liquid or powder detergent, fill up the detergent between the lines marked “15” and “25.” Then press the power button to turn on your dishwasher. Press the button of your desired cycle and select any extra options. The cleaning cycle will begin 10 seconds after closing the door. Note: your dishwasher screen will display how long the cycle will last.
When the cycle is complete, a chime will sound and the display will show End until the door is opened or Power is pressed. To save energy, press and hold the High Temp button for three seconds to set the End display to automatically turn off a few minutes after the cycle ends.
Should you need to cancel a cycle after it has been selected, press and hold the Start button for three seconds. This will activate the drain pump to drain any remaining water in your dishwasher’s tub. Once the dishwasher is finished draining it will power off.
Now that you know what your control panel does, it’s important to understand how you can most effectively load your dishwasher. With adjustable racks and tines, it’s easy to configure your dishwasher to effectively clean every load.
Your new dishwasher should operate seamlessly, but on the off chance there’s a problem, it is equipped with an automatic error-monitoring system to detect and diagnose problems immediately. When it experiences an issue, it uses error codes to warn you. Get to know some of the error codes you might encounter and learn what they mean.
The amount of detergent and rinse aid added to each load can affect how well your dishes are cleaned and dried. Here are some tips on how to fill and adjust each dispenser.
Follow these simple guidelines on how to fill your detergent dispenser. Be sure to use only detergent intended for automatic dishwashers. Incorrect detergent may cause the dishwasher to fill with suds during operation. DO NOT use hand dishwashing detergent in your dishwasher.
1. Push the button on the dispenser lid to open the cover.
2. Add dishwashing detergent to the main wash compartment until the level is between the lines marked “15” and “25.” Fill just over the “25” line if you have hard water or heavily soiled loads and fill just up to line “15” if you have soft water or lightly soiled loads.
3. Push the detergent lid to slide it closed until it clicks.
4. If pre-wash is desired, fill the recessed area on top of the dispenser lid with detergent.
Note
The use of rinse aid is recommended to prevent water spots on dishes and to enhance drying performance. The Rinse Aid indicator will light up when more rinse aid is needed. How often you need to fill the rinse aid dispenser depends on how often you run your dishwasher and the rinse aid setting used. Follow these simple steps to add and adjust rinse aid in your dishwasher.
1. Open the rinse aid lid by lifting up the flap.
2. Add liquid rinse aid to the maximum fill level. Make sure the solution settles while filling, otherwise air bubbles may result in poor drying performance. Also be sure not to overfill the dispenser.
3. Close the lid to lock the dispenser. Rinse aid will automatically dispense during the final rinse cycle.
Your dishwasher’s rinse aid dispenser has five adjustment levels. It is default programmed to be at level 3, but this can be adjusted by following these simple steps.
Note
If the rinse aid levels are low, the rinse aid icon 
on your control panel will light up. The rinse aid icon flashes when more rinse aid is needed, unless the rinse aid dispenser setting is set to L0.
Your new dishwasher has many different cycles and wash options that can be customized depending on each load of dishes. Get to know what they mean and when you should use them.
Get to know the various cycles of your dishwasher.
Auto
This cycle senses the load size, soil amount, and soil toughness and is optimized to achieve the best cleaning.
Heavy
This cycle is for heavily soiled dishes and dishes with hardened-on soil. The Heavy cycle defaults to the strongest spray intensity and uses it to wash heavily soiled dishes.
Delicate
Use this cycle to clean delicate items such as fine china and stemware.
Refresh (Steam Models)
This cycle freshens up and warms dishes that have been unused for a long time.
Normal
This cycle is for moderately soiled, everyday loads. Select the Night Dry option if leaving dishes overnight. Press and hold Extra Dry for three seconds to activate Night Dry.
Turbo*
This cycle will clean heavily soiled dishes in an hour using slightly more energy and water. Select the Extra Dry option for better drying.
Download Cycle
Your dishwasher actually has the ability to download additional cycles via Wi-Fi or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.
Machine Clean 
This cycle is for cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. Use the cycle without dishes in the machine. It eliminates residual soils, odor, white spots, and other dirt. Add citric acid or another cleaning agent for even more effective results. To activate this feature, press and hold Heavy for three seconds. The Machine Clean icon flashes after every 30 cycles. To activate or deactivate the icon, press the Delicate button for three seconds.
Rinse
This cycle is a quick rinse for dishes that will not be washed immediately. The cycle rinses dishes that have excess soil to soften dried-on residue. Rinsing the dishes helps prevent odors in the dishwasher. No detergent should be used. To activate this feature, press and hold Normal for three seconds.
Express
This cycle will quickly clean lightly soiled dishes. (Time: 33 minutes) Select the Extra Dry option or another cycle for better drying. To activate this feature, press and hold Turbo for three seconds.
Note
Rinse, Turbo, and Express cycles do not have drying or have a shortened dry time. For better drying performance, open the door after these cycles or select a different cycle.
* TurboWash™ is available on select models.
Get to know the various wash options of your dishwasher. You can add wash options after you have selected a cycle.
Dual Zone
This option automatically sets the spray intensity to soft for the upper spray arm and strong for the lower spray arm. Place heavily soiled dishes like plates and bowls in the lower rack and lightly soiled dishes like cups and small plates in the upper rack to get the best results.
Half Load
This option washes intensively by selecting the upper or lower racks. For small loads, use just the upper or lower rack to save energy and time. By pressing the Half Load button and the settings 
, you can cancel this option.
Energy Saver
This option saves energy by reducing the wash and rinse temperatures. Wash time is increased to maintain wash performance. Do not use this cycle with heavily soiled dishes.
Pre-Steam (Steam Models)
This option adds steam at the start of the cycle to improve wash performance.
High Temp
Raises the main wash temperature to improve cleaning and raises the heated rinse temperature to a maximum of 167°F (75°C). Certified dishwashers are not intended for licensed food establishments.
Extra Dry
Select the Extra Dry option for better drying performance. This option adds 20 minutes of extra drying time to the cycle and raises the heated rinse temperature to a maximum of 167°F (75°C).
Night Dry
Dishes are often left in the dishwasher overnight after the cycle ends. This can result in the steam inside the tub condensing on dishes, leaving them wet. The Night Dry option runs the ventilation fan periodically to help vent the steam from the tub. To activate this feature, press and hold Extra Dry for three seconds.
Delay Start
The Delay Start feature delays the start of a selected cycle. Each time the Delay Start button is pressed, the delay time increases by an hour. The delay time can be set from 1 to 12 hours, in one-hour increments.
Discover what wash options can be added to each cycle.
: Extra drying time only, no added high-temperature rinse.
Your new dishwasher can use either Wi-Fi or NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to download and add additional specialty cycles. To do this, you need to download the LG Smart ThinQ™ app (Android only) to choose the additional cycle you would like to add and transfer them to your dishwasher.
Download the LG Smart ThinQ™ app for Android.
In order to download cycles from the Smart ThinQ™ app, you need to first register your product. Only one additional cycle can be stored on your appliance at a time. Once a cycle has been downloaded it will be stored until a new cycle is downloaded in place of it.
LG dishwashers are sleek, powerful, and packed with innovative features designed to make dishwashing easier and more convenient for you. Discover some of the innovative benefits of your new LG dishwasher.
Your LG dishwasher comes with an easy-to-use and adjustable racking system. With collapsible tines, removable baskets, and flip-up stemware racks, your dishwasher can accommodate just about any load of dishes. See how flexible the EasyRack™ Plus System is.
Your dishwasher’s upper rack can be adjusted up and down in order to accommodate larger-sized items. Raise the upper rack to allow items up to 14" tall in the lower rack. Lower the upper rack to allow dishes up to 12" tall in the upper rack. And note, the dishwasher ships with the upper rack raised.
There are three available positions for adjusting the height of the upper rack to create more space. See the diagrams for more detail.
Hold the rack at the center of each side to support its weight. Then, push the button on each side to release the rack and lower it to the lower position.
Lift the rack at the center of each side until the rack locks into place in the upper position. It is not necessary to lift the lock levers to raise the rack.
Note
On some models, the cutlery tray on the left side can be adjusted to a high or low position to accommodate utensils or cutlery of different sizes. Be sure to remove dishes before adjusting the tray. You can adjust the tray by sliding the lever.
Some dishwasher models have the added power of steam. TrueSteam® coats the surfaces of your dishes with tiny drops of purified water from the steam that fills the tub, resulting in sparkling clean dishes. Get to know how your dishwasher uses steam and what to avoid.
If your dishwasher has the added power of steam, the steam nozzle is located at the bottom of your dishwasher door.
Attention
Do not come into contact with the steam outlet. Also, do not open the dishwasher door during operation or immediately after it has completed a wash cycle, as the steam buildup may cause scalding as the door is opened.
The Refresh cycle on your dishwasher uses steam to freshen up and warm dishes that have been unused for a long time. Do not use detergent when running this cycle. You also have the option of adding steam to the start of the Auto, Heavy, Delicate, or Normal cycles to improve overall wash performance with the Pre-Steam function.
LG dishwashers have an innovative Inverter Direct Drive™ motor and advanced filtration system that were designed with quiet in mind. Operating between only 42-48dB, they are among the quietest dishwashers among leading brands in their class. See how it compares.
Keep your LG dishwasher looking and functioning its best by following some routine cleaning and maintenance tips.
For best dishwashing performance, it’s important to keep things clean inside and out. Clean the spray arms to ensure they are free from food debris. And clean the filter to help with proper drainage and prevent odors.
In most cases, the exterior of the dishwasher can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth or sponge. If the dishwasher has a stainless steel exterior, use a stainless steel cleaner. You should also clean the interior of your dishwasher periodically with a soft, damp cloth to remove food and dirt particles.
To remove white spots and odor from inside the dishwasher, run an empty cycle, without detergent, with one cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe glass or bowl placed on the upper rack. (Vinegar is an acid and with constant use it could damage the appliance.)
If you haven’t used the dishwasher for a long time, you can refresh the inside by running the Machine Clean cycle without detergent.
Periodically, food and debris can get caught in your filter. Learn how to clean it.
To ensure that any food residue doesn’t block your spray arms, it’s recommended that they be cleaned every two weeks. Here’s how.
Make sure the water jet holes aren’t blocked by food particles. If anything is blocking the holes, remove the debris with a pin or other sharp tool.
Pull the upper rack forward. Make sure that the water jet holes are not blocked by food particles. If cleaning is necessary, you can remove the upper spray arm by turning the nut on the bottom of the arm 1/8 of a turn counter-clockwise and pull down.
Remove any food particles by rinsing or shaking the spray arm. If anything is blocking the holes, remove the debris with a pin or other sharp tool, and rinse the spray arm holes under water.
After cleaning the upper spray arm, press it into place and secure it by turning the bottom nut 1/8 of a turn clockwise. After assembly, just check to make sure that the spray arms rotate freely.
The cloudy film that you might see on your dishes is usually caused by minerals in the water reacting with your dishwasher detergent. There are a number of ways you can help stop this film from forming.
Be sure to not use too much detergent. If you’re using liquid or powder detergent for automatic dishwashers, fill your main dishwashing compartment to just over the “25” line if you have hard water or heavily soiled loads. And fill to the “15” line if you have soft water or lightly soiled loads. For normal dishwashing loads, fill detergent between these two lines.
Your LG dishwasher uses less water than traditional dishwashers. Use the Extra Rinse feature on your LG dishwasher to add an additional rinse cycle to your washing program.
Adjust the rinse aid setting higher if you have hard water and notice calcium buildup on your dishes. If you notice streaking or film on your dishes, use a lower rinse aid setting. But also note that setting the rinse aid dial too low will contribute to spotting and streaking and poor drying performance. Setting the rinse aid dial too high can cause foaming, which can result in poor wash performance.
Your LG dishwasher is equipped with innovative technology, even when it comes to troubleshooting. Smart Diagnosis™ technology helps diagnose and solve any problems you may have with your dishwasher quickly and correctly. Note that Smart Diagnosis™ cannot be activated unless the appliance is powered on. If the appliance is unable to turn on, then troubleshooting must be done without using Smart Diagnosis™.
Trouble with your dishwasher can be diagnosed using the Smart Diagnosis™ feature of the LG Smart ThinQ™ app (Android only).
Download the LG Smart ThinQ™ app for Android.
To use the app:
If the diagnosis fails several times, use the following instructions:
Alternatively, trouble with your dishwasher can also be diagnosed over the phone.
