My friends had this happen to their Bosch DW as well. Not much you can do - once the ink is gone, it's gone. I'd probably get a label maker with waterproof, clear label stock to make my own labels for the buttons.

Thanks for the idea.

Hi, this has also happened to us! It started after having it for two years and now, 3 years on, it is almost gone. I haven't been able to find any solution as of yet.

Take a picture of the control panel. Print it out and hang it on or near the dishwasher.

We bought a Bosch dishwasher 8 years ago and the same thing happened to our panel after a couple of years. We have been told it was a common problem. We just recently went looking to replace our dishwasher and noticed that the Bosch floor model of a 500 series was already losing its lettering. Can't comprehend how a manufacturer of expensive appliances hasn't fixed this serious defect.

Yes! I found your comment because we have Covid in the house and I am trying to figure out which button is sanitize.

@Mary Wanat: "we have Covid in the house and I am trying to figure out which button is sanitize."

Covid is spread via aerosols and droplets. You do NOT get Covid from dishes!

Normal dishwasher temperatures plus the strong detergent is sufficient to destroy COVID on dishware ... like washing of hands.

Why is there a sanitize setting?

If you are canning food, the sanitize cycle sterilizes your jars

Thank you! That's good to know!!!!

I did not know covid and sanitizing removes lettering. Something new every day! IF YOU EVER GET A PANEL THAT HAS LETTERING PRINTED ON BUTTONS, COVER THE BUTTONS WITH CUT SECTIONS OF PACKING TAPE. SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE.

I bought the Bosch Millenium High End Dishwasher in 2012. The lettering started to wear off right away (maybe 2 years). It's absolutely pitiful this should happen to a Bosch. Somebody wasn't thinking (about customers).

Possible solutions:

1 - When I worked in a Proof of Concept lab we used Krylon Crystal Clear to protect electronics panel transfer lettering. I'm wondering if it would dissolve the Bosch lettering though.

2 - Like mentioned above, take a picture of the panel but have it blown up to fit the front panel. Tape it on. Photo it and post on the web as the Bosch dishwasher with lasting panel lettering.

Ise a black sharpie marker and write the controls with it . these will wear off too so every so often i redo them

A clever entrepreneur now sells replacement decals. https://rangedecals.com/store/category/search/?keyword=bosch+dishwasher

Can someone please share a pic of their right side control panel if it has readable letters. Ours was worn off the day we moved into the house but i found what i needed by trial and error; then i just never pushed a button to change it. Now my precious toddler grandchild pushed them all. Lol.

@margiemcgillis: "Can someone please share a pic of their right side control panel..."

If this is a Bosch dishwasher, find the model number and then search for the user manual on the Bosch support site

Foe what its worth, this also happenkng on my 3 year old, $2500 Miele dishwasher. i am not happy :-|

Mine too!

Control panel of $528 Bosch SHEM3AY55N. No labels on buttons to wear off.

Yep same problem with control panel

Photocop the control panel on page 4 and tape to front of dishwasher model ascenta she3ar5xUC

Same problem, happened almost immediately. Very few letters left and too late to take a picture.

Weird - hasn't happened to my eight year old Bosch.

This happened to our 2016 dishwasher. when I called Bosch they said it is a cosmetic problem. the dishwasher had a 30 DAY cosmetic warranty Bosch said no one else has ever called with this problem I am done with Bosch dishwashers

Same here. Have had the dishwasher for 8 years now and operates great. Have had to replace the door springs twice over the years. The display has been wearing away now for over 4 years to where the left side and right side (most touched areas) have worn away to become invisible to see. Otherwise a great product.

Yes my cycles are gone too! Help !!

Yes my cycles are gone too! Help !!

HU-231480852: "Yes my cycles are gone too! Help !!"

1. See if you can find a photo of your appliance's control panel. Print it out or write down the button labels -OR-
2. Find the Owners Manual for your dishwasher on the Bosch Search for Owner Manuals and Spec Sheets website. Print out the page(s) that show or describe the buttons' functions.

I used a to reproduce the labels and stuck the label next to the vanishing ones. it is a testimony toBosches poor quality control! we had ours replaced once under warranty and it soon disappeared along with any further warranty coverage. we have two other Bosch models that don’t have this problem. i don’t know why they have failed with tge higher end model.

Just an observation. Out of all the complaints I have not noticed any about the dishwasher not working. Seems to me this is a much better trade off vs the dishwasher leaking, not washing correctly or any number of possible issues. I'm sure this is a nuisance, but I will take this any day over some of the other quality issues I have read about. There are several ways to get around this problem. A label maker, or marker while not very elegant will serve it's purpose.

The label maker solution. Yes, the dishwasher runs great!

Note the missing on/off and start buttons.

This happened to me TWICE on a Bosch 500 series dishwasher I purchased in 2013/2014. Bosch replaced it once, and it started doing it again, terrible! I painted over the lettering with clear nailpolish topcoat, and I wipe the area very gingerly when it needs to be cleaned. It has worked to this day (2025) but I should never have had to do that. Lettering should never rub off for the life of the product!!

I helped someone with this already. Just replace it with stickers for cheap. https://stickerrevive.etsy.com/listing/4491741073