Dishwashers

Best dishwashers

Bosch dishwashers have always been popular with owners on kitchen enthusiast and home improvement websites; continual improvements in noise level and loading flexibility have given Bosch an edge. Bosch models generally have stainless steel tubs, which are not prone to the discoloration that can occur with plastic tubs, and the most expensive models in this line offer custom doors to match existing cabinetry. With a sleek, modern look in its Integra and Ascenta models, Bosch is appealing more to contemporary American tastes than it has in the past.

Bosch has really cleaned up its act with respect to reliability. In the past, this brand was prone to more repairs than others, but the most recent data suggests that Bosch's commitment to continued improvement is paying off. Bosch gets the highest ratings for overall customer satisfaction in the survey at J.D. Power and Associates. It is the least repair-prone brand according to Which? Online and Choice.com.au. Furthermore, Bosch dishwashers are some of the quietest models. However, they are also more expensive than some others.

The Bosch SHX98M0(9)UC (*est. $1,550) is top of the line -- the quietest and most energy-efficient dishwasher available in the U.S., with many of the latest convenience features. The top and bottom racks are adjustable to accommodate dishes of all shapes and sizes. For small loads or just washing glasses, a special half-load cycle washes just the top or bottom rack. The "Ecosense" wash cycle uses a sensor to determine how dirty your dishes are and then decides if a second fresh-water fill is needed. If not, then this secondary cycle is eliminated. Flip-down tines, a delay start, quick-wash cycle and cup shelf add to flexibility. For added safety, this dishwasher features no exposed heating element and a door that is designed to stay in position when it is open more than ten degrees.

The Bosch SHX98M0(9)UC can reach temperatures of up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit by having the water pass through a heating chamber. This model is also very quiet due to the unit's sound insulation. Bosch is also unique in how it dries the dishes; it recycles the heat from the hot water used in cleaning -- it doesn't have a heated-dry cycle. The condensation is then drained, so you never have steam when you open the dishwasher after a load. This dishwasher comes in stainless steel, stainless steel with display or fully integrated (to blend in with cabinets). It is also Energy Star rated. One caveat about Bosch dishwashers is that they don't have a self-cleaning filter with a hard food disposer. Some food particles left on plates will wind up accumulating at the bottom of the dishwasher, and you'll need to empty the filter manually. However, owners say emptying the filter is easy and only needs to be done every few weeks. There are also those who don't like the absence of a heated drying cycle. While more energy efficient, some owners say that their dishes don't dry as quickly as they'd like.

The Kenmore Elite UltraWash HE 1315(2) (*est. $1,100) is roughly comparable to the Bosch SHX98M0(9)UC. This model has similar features, including hidden controls, a soil sensor, a stainless steel tub, delay start, quick-wash cycle, fold-down tines and top-rack-only cycle. It's also a quiet, Energy Star rated dishwasher. The top rack has height adjusters, so you can raise or lower it to accommodate larger items on the top rack, a feature you won't see on cheaper models. It also has a steam-clean option -- a new feature that's been added to many high-end dishwashers. This feature, however, has not been proven effective at cleaning dishes. The Kenmore Elite UltraWash does not have a self-cleaning filter. As with the Bosch, you will have to empty it occasionally by hand. User ratings at Sears.com are very good for this particular dishwasher, but user ratings posted on the Consumer Reports website for Kenmore dishwashers in general are mixed.

Miele dishwashers are very popular in the United Kingdom and in Australia, scoring highly in tests at Choice and Which? magazines. Miele dishwashers score well for overall reliability in both the U.S. and Europe. The Miele Inspira G2120SC[W] (*est. $1,050) features six wash cycles and a stainless steel drum that is large enough to hold 14 place settings. One unique feature is a third-level cutlery tray, helpful for oversized utensils. Like Bosch dishwashers, the Miele Inspira has a passive drying setting (which recycles heat to dry dishes), along with a quick-wash cycle. There is no upper-rack-only wash cycle, and the filter is not self-cleaning. In tests, the Miele dishwasher cleans very well, but is a bit noisier than Bosch models. The Miele comes in three colors -- white, black and stainless steel (*est. $900 to $1,250) .

Best-value dishwashers

Reviews indicate that you don't have to spend over $1,000 to get clean dishes. Another Kenmore dishwasher, the Kenmore 13742 (*est. $650), performs well in tests and is notably quiet, but it skips a stainless steel tub. This Kenmore dishwasher is also Energy Star rated. It has an adjustable and removable upper rack, a self-cleaning filter, automatic temperature control, food disposer and a delay wash option. The rotating spray jets eliminate the need for soaking or scrubbing very dirty dishes, and there's an extra-hot rinse feature. Other conveniences include adjustable tines and a large flatware basket. This model also allows for custom panels to blend with kitchen cabinets. The Kenmore 13742 is available in three colors: White, black and stainless steel (which costs an extra $100). Interestingly, we found a handful of complaints from owners reporting that this dishwasher simply does not get dishes very clean. Some owners have also had problems with parts failing or breaking on this model. To be fair, however, we did find a smattering of such complaints about every dishwasher, regardless of price.

Another mid-priced option is the Bosch SHE33M0(2)U (*est. $540) , which is an Energy Star rated, extra-capacity dishwasher available in white, black or stainless steel. The SHE33M0(2)U performs well in professional tests, and both reviewers and consumers agree that it is very quiet and efficient. Most important, it cleans dishes well and has condensation drying (recycling the heat from the hot water used to clean the dishes) instead of a heated drying cycle. The filter does require some occasional hand-cleaning, as do all Bosch dishwashers. Some people dislike that there is no heated drying cycle, complaining that water does not always completely evaporate from items with concave bottoms.

A few slightly more expensive dishwashers have hidden controls. The controls are actually mounted along the top of the door, so they're invisible when the door is closed. Some owners like the look, but experts say hidden controls are harder to use. The LG LDF6810WW (*est. $750) is one of the more reasonably priced dishwashers with hidden controls. It also has a stainless steel washtub, an adjustable upper rack, adjustable tines, a self-cleaning filter and a food disposer. This model comes in black or white, with a stainless steel door handle. A stainless steel version, the LG LDF6810ST (*est. $900) , costs more. LG is new to dishwashers, so long-term reliability ratings for this brand are not yet available, but we did read some comments on Epinions and other sites about poor customer service from LG.

If you don't care about a stainless steel washtub, adjustable tines or other extras, you can still get a good dishwasher for considerably less money. The Whirlpool DU1100XTP(Q) (*est. $450) doesn't have adjustable racks, fold-down tines or extras like a quick-wash cycle or cutlery rack. It does offer a delay start, a self-cleaning filter, an extra-hot sanitary cycle and Energy Star rating. Experts say this model washes extremely well and is quiet. This dishwasher comes in white, black and bisque, but there's no stainless steel option. We also found quite a few complaints about durability for this model, as well as comments that dishes aren't dry at the end of the cycle.

Another budget option is the Maytag MDB4651AW (*est. $400) . This model has a plastic tub, delay start, sanitary cycle and removable upper rack, but no extra features such as adjustable racks, special glassware or cutlery holders or quick-wash cycle. The basic Maytag dishwasher cleans well, but it's noisier than more expensive models, including the Whirlpool above. Maytag's owner-satisfaction ratings for dishwashers are good, despite this brand's checkered reliability ratings for some other types of appliances.

Experts say that many inexpensive dishwashers are so-called "builder's grade" models that you'll sometimes see advertised for less than $200. These units spray water only from the bottom and do not get dishes as clean as regular dishwashers do. They also tend to be noisier, because they aren't as well insulated. Contractors like the Whirlpool DU850SWP(Q) (*est. $280) , because it's an improvement over builder's-grade dishwashers, with three wash levels instead of just one. Although it doesn't get the best scores for washing ability, it is energy efficient and easy to load. Dirtier dishes may need a pre-rinse before loading in the dishwasher, something that's no longer necessary on even slightly more expensive models. However, if you plan on light duty and don't plan on washing heavily soiled pots and pans, the Whirlpool is a good no-frills choice.

If you can spend even a bit more, however, you'll get many more features and better performance. The Whirlpool DU1055XTS(Q) (*est. $350) has good features for the price. It is Energy Star rated and has five wash cycles, adjustable tines and a delayed-start option. There is no stainless steel version available. Another good, inexpensive choice is the Amana ADB1500AW (*est. $400) . The Amana dishwasher has a tall plastic tub that can fit a dozen five-piece place settings, and the top rack can be removed to accommodate large dishes. The electronic touchpad controls make it easy to use, and the cycle status indicator lights let you know how much time is left in a load. There is a delay start, a food disposal and a dirt sensor (which is missing on the Whirlpool above). The Amana ADB1500AW is Energy Star compliant. The Amana comes in white, black and bisque. A stainless steel version, the Amana ADB1500AWS (*est. $480) , costs more.

Dishwasher odors

Try a Google search for "smelly dishwasher" or "why does my dishwasher smell," and you'll find dozens of pages on this issue, with tips on removing the smell that some say has a sulfur or sewer quality. It can happen in all brands of dishwashers. In our research, we found that the problem has less to do with the dishwasher itself and more to do with installation, particularly with the placement and height of the drain hose in relation to your sink drain and its garbage disposal.

If you notice a rotten-food smell from your new dishwasher, installation and the hoses are the first things to check. Dishwashers can also smell if you don't use them every two or three days due to caked-on food. We found several suggestions for refreshing a smelly dishwasher. Although commercial products are available, many owners report success from running the washer with a cup of vinegar every few weeks. Another suggests adding lemon peels or a few capfuls of bleach to a load.

Important Features: Dishwashers

Experts say to shoot for the following features when shopping for a dishwasher:

• As a rule, the more places within the dishwasher that spray water, the cleaner the dishes get. This is expressed as the number of wash "levels" or "tiers." The dishwashers included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers all have three or more wash levels. For the best washing, there should be spray coming at least from the bottom, top and under the top rack. Whirlpool Gold and Kenmore Elite also have jets mounted on the back of the wall as a "pot scrubber" or "extreme wash" option. It is best to avoid the kind of bargain-basement dishwasher in which the water only sprays up from the bottom. These units, known as "builder's grade," may be installed in your brand new home, so be sure to check with your contractor.

• Features such as folding tines and adjustable top racks give you more ways to position dishes. Another helpful feature is a self-cleaning filter with a hard food disposer. Without it, any food particles left on plates will wind up accumulating at the bottom of the dishwasher, and you'll need to empty the filter manually. A high-temperature wash option is a hedge against germs, and a few extra "cycles," such as china wash or quick wash, give you a way to protect fragile items or avoid wasting large quantities of water cleaning a lightly soiled load.

• Other than ending up with dirty dishes, what's most likely to annoy people about their dishwasher is the noise it makes. Price seems to correspond with noise level, say reviewers, so more expensive models usually have better insulation. The lower the decibel level, the quieter the machine. Budget dishwashers may crank out levels as high as 60 decibels or above, while high-end dishwashers are comparatively quiet at 45 decibels. The $1,550 Bosch SHX98M0(9)UC measures a noise level of only 42 decibels.

• A time-delay setting is handy, because it allows you to load up the dishwasher and set it to run when nobody's around to hear. However, fire prevention advocates say you should not run your dishwasher while you're away from home or asleep, for obvious safety reasons. All the models included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers offer a delayed start option.

• A good detergent can make a world of difference. An interesting accompanying article in Consumer Reports indicates that today's enzyme-containing detergents are a great improvement over cleaners of the past.

Appliance manufacturers change model numbers frequently and often add numbers or letters indicating colors or other options. The numbers and/or letters in parentheses within the models listed in this report help to identify these. Additionally, note that Whirlpool actually manufactures dishwashers for the Kenmore Elite series, so if you can't find a particular Whirlpool model, there's usually a comparable Kenmore version (and vice versa). However, many models differ very little from others within the same brand and price range, so you may be able to locate comparable models by comparing features and price.

Dishwashers have become increasingly better at conserving water, with many using a scant six gallons per load. Yet the biggest water waste, according to Consumer Reports, lies with consumers themselves. Editors say that over half of dishwasher owners pre-rinse dishes before washing, a step they say is completely unnecessary as it wastes water and makes little to no difference in cleaning performance. Most dishwashers had no problem handling stuck-on oatmeal and spinach-smeared dishes without pre-rinsing in professional testing -- even when left overnight to congeal.

Beginning in January 2007, new government regulations went into effect requiring dishwashers to be at least 41 percent more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard to earn an Energy Star rating. This new measure will help reduce your electricity bills and help identify more efficient models, based upon their Energy Star rating.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
4	Bosch (*est. $600 to $1,550)	details
3	Miele (*est. $900 to $1,250)	details
3	Kenmore (*est. $400 to $900)	-
2	Whirlpool (*est. $400 to $1,250)	details
2	LG (*est. $560 to $900)	details
1 each	Asko , Maytag , Amana , GE Profile , Frigidaire

We found good reviews for most dishwasher brands. Bosch is judged the best brand according to an owner survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, so we've included a top-rated Bosch dishwasher in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Kenmore Elite dishwashers (made by Whirlpool) also perform well overall. We've seen some recommendations for LG dishwashers, but this brand hasn't been making dishwashers long enough to have a proven track record.

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