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 your existing cabinetry.

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 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. They are also more expensive than some others.

The Bosch SHE55M02UC (*est. $900) has 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 cycle washes just the top or bottom rack for a half-load cycle. 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.

The Bosch SHE55M02UC 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 to clean the dishes. The condensation is then drained so you never have steam when you open the dishwasher after a load. This dishwasher comes in white and black (each *est. $900) and stainless steel (*est. $1,050). 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.

The Kenmore Elite 17303 (*est. $900) is roughly comparable to the Bosch SHE55M02UC. This model has similar features, including 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 has a stainless steel exterior. User ratings at Sears.com are very good for this particular dishwasher.

However, reviews indicate that you don’t have to spend $900 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 are adjustable tines and a large flatware basket. This model also allows for custom panels to blend in with kitchen cabinets. The Kenmore 13742 is available in three colors - white, black and stainless steel (*est. $750, slightly more expensive). Interestingly, we found a handful of complaints from owners reporting that this model simply does not get dishes very clean. To be fair, we do find a smattering of such complaints about every dishwasher, regardless of price. This model does perform well in measured tests.

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 Advanta G2020SCWH (*est. $950) 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. This model also 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. In tests, the Miele cleans very well, but is a bit noisier than Bosch models. The Miele comes in three colors – white, black (*est. $1,050) and stainless steel (*est. $1,100).

A few dishwashers that are more expensive have hidden controls. The controls are actually mounted along the top of the door so they are 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 food disposer. This model comes in black or white, with a stainless steel door handle. A stainless steel version, the LG LDF6810SS (*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.

Budget dishwashers

If you don't care about a stainless steel washtub, adjustable tines or other extras, you can still get a good dishwasher for less. The Whirlpool DU1100XTPQ (*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, self-cleaning filter, sanitary cycle and Energy Star rating. Reviews say this model washes extremely well and is quiet. Whirlpool is one of the more reliable brands, according to owner surveys. In the J.D. Power survey, owners aren't quite as happy with Whirlpool as with the higher-end Whirlpool Gold but, overall, this model is a well-performing, quiet dishwasher. This dishwasher comes in white, black and bisque, but there's no stainless steel option.

Another 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 is noisier than more expensive models. It's also noisier than the Whirlpool DU1100XTPQ. 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 DU850SWPQ (*est. $280) because it is an improvement over builder's-grade models, with three wash levels instead of just one. Although it does not 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 Amana ADB1500AW (*est. $380) has good features for the price. It has three wash cycles and a tall plastic tub that can fit a dozen five-piece place settings. 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.

Smelly dishwashers

Try a Google search for “smelly dishwasher” or “why does my dishwasher smell” and you’ll find dozens of pages on this issue. You don’t hear much about it until it happens to you. We first learned of the issue in conjunction with Bosch dishwashers but, in reality, it is common to all brands. Some say the smell has a sulfur or sewer quality. 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. We also read that dishwashers can smell if you don’t use them every two or three days due to caked-on food and associated odors. 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 sprays water, the cleaner the dishes get. This is expressed as the number of wash "levels" or "tiers." In an appliance store, you can always stick your head into the dishwasher and count. The models included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers all have three or more wash levels. What you don't want is 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, unfortunately, in your brand new home.

• Features like folding tines and adjustable top racks give you more ways to position dishes. Another helpful feature in this regard 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. (European brands like Bosch don't have self-cleaning filters, but owners say emptying the filter is easy and only needs to be done every few weeks.) A high-temperature wash option is a hedge against germs and a few extra "cycles," such as china wash, give you a way to protect fragile items or avoid wasting large quantities of water cleaning a lightly soiled load. A quick wash is nice for lightly soiled dishes.

• 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.

• 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 yesteryear.

Appliance manufacturers change model numbers frequently and often stick in numbers or letters indicating colors or other options. You should also know that Whirlpool actually manufactures dishwashers for Kenmore, 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 can locate comparable models by comparing features and price.

Dishwashers have become increasingly better at conserving water; many use 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. Most dishwashers had no problem handling Consumer Reports' oatmeal and spinach-smeared dishes without pre-rinsing -- even when left overnight to congeal. If you are concerned about energy conservation, shop for a dishwasher with low water usage. However, also be aware that pre-rinsing wastes water and makes little to no difference in cleaning performance.

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
3	Bosch (*est. $600 to $1,100)	details
3	Miele (*est. $900 to $1,250)	details
3	Whirlpool (*est. $400 to $1,250)	details
2	Kenmore (*est. $400 to $900)	-
2	LG (*est. $560 to $900)	details
1 each	Asko , Maytag , Amana , GE Profile , Frigidaire

We find good reviews for most dishwasher brands. Bosch is judged the best dishwasher brand according to an owner survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, so we've included a 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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