First use & setup

Check the installed basics

Before first use, confirm the dishwasher is secured in its opening, the door moves freely, and the racks slide without catching. Look for kinks in visible hoses and moisture around accessible connections. The installation guide for the exact model is the reference for water, drain, electrical, and leveling requirements; owner manuals do not necessarily include the full installation procedure.

Locate the household water shutoff and the circuit or disconnect that serves the dishwasher so you know where they are if a leak or other problem occurs. Do not open the appliance or reach into wiring compartments. If the unit was recently connected and a fitting is wet, have the installer correct it before operating.

1. Check door movement, rack travel, and visible connection areas.
2. Confirm the installation was completed to the model-specific installation instructions.
3. Keep the water shutoff location accessible.

Prepare the interior and racks

Remove packaging, ties, labels, and any shipping pieces that the setup instructions identify for removal. Inspect the tub for loose packing material and confirm spray arms can turn without hitting dishes or rack items. A utensil handle or plate edge projecting through a rack can obstruct an arm even when the load appears to fit.

Set adjustable racks while empty, following the rack mechanism shown for your model. Avoid forcing a height adjustment if it resists. Place cups and bowls so water can reach their interiors and drain away; keep tall items from blocking the detergent dispenser or preventing the door from closing.

Add the right supplies

Use detergent labeled for automatic dishwashers, placed in the dispenser as directed by its packaging and the appliance guide. Hand dish liquid creates suds and can spill from the machine. The detergent amount may depend on water hardness, detergent type, and cycle length; avoid assuming one quantity suits every home. A GE shared manual excerpt gives a hardness-based fill guide for its covered models, but follow the exact guide for your machine and detergent.

Rinse aid can help drying and reduce water marks on machines with a rinse-aid dispenser. Fill only the designated reservoir and avoid overfilling. If the dishwasher has no such dispenser or the manual describes another drying approach, do not add a product to an unintended compartment.

Run a sensible first load

Start with dishwasher-safe everyday items and a load that leaves both spray paths and the dispenser unobstructed. Scrape off bones, seeds, and large scraps; whether to pre-rinse depends on soil and machine guidance, but routine rinsing of ordinary soil may waste water on some models. Do not place delicate or hand-wash-only items in the first load just to test the appliance.

Select a normal everyday program when it fits the load, then use the start procedure printed on the panel or in the manual. Some machines require the door to close promptly after Start; others use a different interface. If the machine does not begin, check the door closure and displayed status rather than repeatedly pressing controls.

Observe the first cycle

Listen for normal filling, washing, draining, and completion signals, while recognizing that sound and cycle length vary by design and selected options. Look around the front and accessible connections for water during and after the run. At the end, inspect whether detergent released and whether the load is clean; a poor result may come from blocked spray movement, an overloaded rack, low incoming water temperature, or a cycle unsuited to the soil.

Drying is also design-dependent. A heated-dry machine, a condensation-drying model, and an auto-open design can leave different amounts of moisture. Bosch support notes that drying results depend on the appliance and loading factors; plastics and recessed surfaces often retain droplets. If the result is unexpectedly wet, first compare the selected drying option and load placement with that model’s guidance.