Intensive programme (pot or pan)
The hottest, most thorough programme, for pots, pans and plates with stubborn, burnt-on or dried-on food — especially starch and protein, such as potatoes, pasta or rice.
What the manuals say to do
Load robust items only: pans and casseroles in the lower basket with the soiled side facing the spray arm. Scrape off loose food but do not pre-rinse. Expect a long, energy-hungry run: Whirlpool lists 2:50 h, 16 litres and 1.6 kWh against 0.75 kWh for its Eco programme.
What it does not mean
It is not for glasses, fine china or plastics — Whirlpool says it is not to be used for delicate items, and the high temperature can cloud glass or warp plastic. It is not needed for everyday loads either.
Makes differ, check your dishwasher’s manual: the same drawing can mean different things on different brands, and only your model’s manual says exactly what a light means and which programmes an option works with.
- What it looks like
- A pot or pan, often with steam or spray lines above it, next to a temperature such as 65°, 70° or 75°.
- Names makers use
- Intensive 70° (Bosch); Intensive 75 °C (Miele); Intensive 65° (Whirlpool); Intensive 70 °C (Beko); Auto Intensive 65° (Hotpoint)
Where makers differ
The temperature varies from 65 °C (Whirlpool, Hotpoint) to 70 °C (Bosch, Beko) and 75 °C (Miele). Beko adds a TrayWash function that only works with Intensive 70 °C. The Intensive on a washing machine and the intensive heat on an oven are different settings with their own pages.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No single published standard defines dishwasher panel icons, so this meaning is taken from the manuals of 4 different maker groups (Bosch, Miele, Whirlpool, Beko), each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Bosch: Bosch — User manual, dishwasher SMV4HVX32E (PDF) — Programme table: Intensive 70° for “Washing pots and pans, non-fragile tableware and cutlery … Removing stubborn burned or dried-on food remnants containing starch and protein”; Cleaning 70 °C, final rinse 69 °C. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Miele: Miele — Operating instructions, dishwashers with touch display, M.-Nr. 11 831 681 (PDF) — Intensive 75 °C: “Pots, pans, everyday crockery and cutlery … Stubborn dried-on, burnt-on food deposits containing starch or protein … Maximum cleaning performance.” Checked 2026-09-26.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — Dishwasher Daily Reference Guide, with Multizone, Turbo and NaturalDry (PDF) — Programme 3 “Intensive 65°”, 2:50 h, 16.0 l, 1.60 kWh: “recommended for heavily soiled crockery, especially suitable for pans and saucepans (not to be used for delicate items).” Checked 2026-09-26.
- Beko: Beko — Dishwasher instruction manual, GB booklet with child lock, half load and combi tablet (PDF) — Programme table: Intensive 70 °C for “Heavily soiled dirty dishes with dried-on food leftovers”, degree of soiling: high. Checked 2026-09-26.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.