Bosch rack deterioration

[DADoES]

 
Aunt has an SHX878ZD5N installed Sept 2019.  Some rack deterioration has developed.  The photo is a fold-down divider that they largely leave down, although the affected area doesn't seem to rub or abrade against anything if it's moved.  A few tine tips are also rusting.  They put tine-tip covers on them, which I didn't want to disturb for pics.  There may be other areas they haven't yet noticed.  A load was accumulating and I didn't want to pull everything out for a detailed examination.

Is the deterioration expected even on a Bosch in less than 5 years?  They're on a well, have a water softener and use pods ... but don't sink-rinse before loading and scraping is moderate.  She has remarked about the "really dirty stuff we sometimes put in and it always comes out clean."

 

[steved]

Question

I'm assuming this is the top rack. How's the bottom rack? It always seems like the top rack gets rusty first.

 

 

[gelaundry4ever]

prewashing

If you're prewashing your dishes, cut it out! It's a contributing factor to ruining your racks! This is for most people Thank goodness yours doesn't prerinse or prewash anything.

 

[petek]

Couldn't be iron deposit could it? Water softeners do remove some but not all if it's higher concentrations.

 

[combo52]

Rusted racks in dishwashers

I don’t see much difference between different brands with rack rusting problems, the nylon racks do seem to hold up a little bit better than the vinyl coated racks however.

The hotter, and the longer the cycle, and the lower the water usage does tend to increase rusting, the real solution would be for the manufacturer to make the racks out of stainless steel wire, and then vinyl coated. Then the moisture wouldn’t get underneath and cause all the rust.

Early dishwashers in the early 50s often had either stainless steel racks or hot point used a lot of brass racks that were chrome plated, some of the first KitchenAid had steel racks that were chrome plated, but they ended up rusting pretty badly anyway. Increased use of plastic would solve the problem, but the plastic isn’t strong enough generally And it’s too bulky in nature and restricts water movement.

John

 

[Marky_Mark]

Could it be that those areas have been damaged and cut open by something very sharp, allowing water to get inside?

 

[philcobendixduo]

My 1994 Maytag Dishwasher.....

.....is on it's THIRD lower rack and it's starting to show signs of deterioration.
The top rack has never had any rust spots on it.
I do not pre-rinse dishes, I use detergent sparingly and I run only completely full loads.
I do have softened water (salt method) and I run the "normal" cycle with temperature boost and sani rinse.
When this rack gets too bad to use, I don't think I'll ever find another replacement.
I've tried all manner of rack repair products, but none hold up for long.

 

[henene4]

That usually happens when something nicks the surface coating.
That rusting dosen't usually spread far. Same thing can happen on the tips of the tines and it usually doesn't spread any further that 1/4th of an inch.

It's on movable part of the tines, it appears?
You can get that movable tine separately if it causes any staining on stuff it touches or they just want it changed.
While the entire basket is expensive as with any brand (110$), the inserts are sold separately for not even 11$ a piece.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I don't know if that's the actual design of the rack where the rust is... but it almost looks like it's bulging. Crazy as it's not that old. Usually it's the tips..Here's a video. Not sure if this would even help your situation though... Watching this video.. wondering if you could sand it the clean it with rubbing alcohol...then apply the liquid vinyl? I don't know.

 

[henene4]

I don't know what it is, but these Bosch racks are made of some metal that appears to expand when oxidizing or reacting with the detergent - at least they always did with our machines over here.

 

[qsd-dan]

Rack probably got knicked by a sharp object, like a kife. This is the reason I don't let anybody touch my dishwashers, especially the vintage bitchenaids.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

same

I don't trust anybody else doing the dishes really, because I don't want knives cutting the rack. Another reason is because people will end up washing everything before loading it, claiming it's just a sanitizer. I use the dishwasher. I remind them not to rinse anything because I don't want to take that chance of racks rusting. I have seen rusted racks thousands of times.

 

[nmassman44]

I had this same issue with a Miele dishwasher that I had...after 10 years the racks were showing wear and to replace them was not cheap. The areas that were rusting was under the lower rack plus the insert on the right and tines were then breaking. The upper rack did the same thing as well. I did not prerinse , just scrape and load. My LG dishwasher so far has no issues with racks rusting at all.

 

[DADoES]

 
I can't say for sure about possible damage from a knife or other sharp item ... but it has a 3rd upper rack for cutlery so that seems unlikely.

This Bosch replaced a 12yo KA KUDB03CTBS that suffered rack deterioration (and leaking rinse aid dispenser).  I believe the water softener existed for the majority of the KUDB03's time, possibly the full duration.

Previous dishwashers of four total were a KDI-17, another KA Imperial probably a 19 or 20, and the aforementioned KUDB03.  There was no softener during the 17's time, and probably not for the 2nd KA.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I'm the only one that touches my dishwasher too... Can you believe this? It never occurred to me that a nick in the racks from a knife of something would do this. It's just something I never thought about... Now I'm gonna be thinking about it if I'm putting something sharp in...

 

[DADoES]

 
My 20-1/2 yo dishwasher has these two bits of deterioration.  That is all, the racks are otherwise like new.

The first is clearly a nick, I believe from a large knife I placed (and probably dropped) there a couple/few years ago.

The second has been there for a longer period of time.  I have no idea what caused it.

(Apologies for the odd lighting.)

 

[neptunebob]

Why not stainless steel racks?

With maybe some plastic cushions to protect delicate glassware. It must just cost too much to do that.

That swelling you see can happen with any regular steel, it is the same effect that cracks reinforced concrete - the rebar rusts and swells and sheds the concrete surrounding it. Civil engineers now recommend stainless steel and galvanized and even carbon fiber rebar on long term projects.

My current dishwasher, GE Artistry from 2016 has both racks with some parts missing and rust. Since the drain pump is very loud, the outside has rust from the little vent, it's sometimes smells and its age I won't put any money into it. I just put $900 on a credit card and bought at Bosch at a President's day sale.

 

[logixx]

plastic cushions to protect glassware

Electrolux and BSH have that over here. You can vaguely see the red and dark grey elements on the BSH upper rack and cup rack.