Dishwasher Brand/Model Recommendations?

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pumpkina

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2017
Messages
100
Location
California
My 1998 Bosch dishwasher stopped working. I don't know much (really anything) about dishwashers.

What brands/models do you recommend?

Should I get an extended warranty?

What preventive maintenance should I be doing?

thanks!
 
Thanks.

I read that the Boschs' dish racks are too closely spaced. I took my dishes to Lowe's and confirmed this on the Bosch, but not the Whirlpool.

I'm afraid of GE, given their bad rep with refrigerators, washers, and dryers.
 
I'm quite happy with my Miele dishwasher. It's a MOL model but it has a lot of things that I like. A water softener, a top cutlery rack, adjustable racks, etc. It even has a "tab" function and an express function.

Only thing that took some getting used to is that a normal cycle takes about 2.5 hours to run, while I'm much more accustomed to Whirlpool/Roper dishwashers taking somewhere around 40 minutes to do the same job.

The only thing I don't like about Miele dishwashers honestly, outside of the slow cycle speeds, is the cost. They're fairly expensive in comparison to other dishwashers on the market.

I've heard mixed reviews about Bosch, some people love them, some hate them.

The best personal experiences I've had with dishwashers outside of Miele was Whirlpool, (Back when they sold the Inglis brand in Canada) but I have no idea what kind of quality their modern machines have.
 
All I can

recommend is one with nylon racks so they won't rust. Nylon is more durable than the softer vinyl racks.
I purchased a dishwasher last in 2011. A GE Profile 4 cycle with a plastic tub, nylon racks, and a stainless front. No problems yet.
The vinyl racks on my former Whirlpool Gold were already starting to rust at 7 years old. It only worked on the normal cycle for two years.
 
Thanks

How can I tell the difference between nylon and vinyl?

I thought that only iron rusts? Do vinyl have iron in it?

Thanks
 
Thanks, pierreandreply4

Where can I find that?

What model years of KitchenAid dishwashers do you recommend?

Any particular features (eg plastic vs stainless steel) should I look for?

Thanks
 
And I would suggest exactly the opposite. Why buy something that is yesteryear's best when there have been many improvements on new appliances now. The 4 year old Whirlpool made dishwasher I got from Sears (practically identical to a new high end Kitchenaid model) does a terrific job of cleaning. It is also whisper quiet. Much better than my experience with Kitchenaid in the past......[this post was last edited: 9/20/2017-11:48]
 
 
<blockquote>Pumpkina:  I thought that only iron rusts?  Do vinyl have iron in it?</blockquote> The vinyl coating doesn't rust directly.  It deteriorates (more readily than the more robust nylon coating), which exposes the metal structure of the rack, which then rusts.
 
I am a huge Miele dishwasher fan. I sell a ton of them. I have two of them. I have definitely been drinking the koolaid.

That being said, if you don't like how close the Bosch tines are, you probably won't like the Miele.

My next step down from the Miele is generally the KitchenAid units that have the clean water wash system. It is sort of a hybrid between their new filter wash system and the wash system that is in the new Maytags. It has a larger pump than the filtration machines, but it has a self-cleaning filter that flushes the debris away when it back flows for the drain. I also like the KitchenAid ProDry which lets you use a fan-based air dry or heated and fan dry.

We are not a fan of GE's dishwashers. We don't have good reliability with them. We see a lot of electronic issues.

Frigidaire seems to make a pretty decent budget machine. We always have mid-range Electrolux units on sale, they feel like they are built very well.

Basically, it all comes down to what you want your dishwasher to be able to handle.

http://https//goo.gl/photos/McdPVWrhPmCv5U7d7
 
I love my Miele.  I got it used at the ReStore.  It made me forget quick about the vintage KA and ISE machines I owned previously, and since I almost always run it after dinner, I don't care how long it takes to complete the job.  What I do care about is clean, sparkling dishes and, in particular, glassware, and the Miele is superior in this regard.

 

I used a Bosch in a vacation rental and absolutely hated it.  It was flimsy and the rack design was both aggravating and a pitiful use of space.  There is absolutely no comparison or contest between Bosch and Miele, IMO. 

 

You have a really good ReStore in San Carlos that has barely-used high end appliances from trophy homes on the peninsula that are being gutted yet again by new money (on paper) techsters.   Go see what's there.
 
in term of kitchen aid if you went vintage i recoomend

for vintage i would reccomend a KDS-57 the lucky part is if you find a portable you can convert it to built in and if you move 1 day to a place whee you need a portable dishwasher you can convert it back to portable and in a vintage dishwasher the inside is porcelain and if you went a more modern model i would recomment for a more modern version this model with a window that way you can see if the dishwasher finish its cycle and lots of members here can reccomend you a good vintage dishwasher that would give you years of use

http://www.kitchenaid.ca/fr_CA/maga...vaisselle-3/-[KDTM384ESS]-5667596/KDTM384ESS/
 
The difference between Nylon and Vinyl racks.

The nylon racks are much harder to the touch. It feels like solid plastic. They are like impossible to damage with a knife if you tried to slice it.


The vinyl racks are softer. Like the dishracks that you use when washing dishes by hands, that you put next to a sink. If you take a knife, it slices through and exposes the metal rods inside the plastic. Then that metal will start rusting.
 
KitchenAid clean water wash system

I have the Kenmore Elite version of these.  I abuse it regularly with filthy dishes and all food debris is flushed away without a sign of residue.  KitchenAid models which begin with KDTM have this type of filtering system. 
 
I have a 3 - 4 year old KitchenAid and it's okay, certainly not a bag-of-chips-and-all-that-too. Pros: it's very quiet. Cons: 1) Ridiculously long cycle times, heavy pots & pans cycle is 210 minutes long. 2) doesn't clean as well as older older models I've had esp if food is dried on, so I rinse everything off before loading 3) have to run clean cycle at least once a month or it starts smelling. Sometimes not all the detergent is dissolved at end of cycle, so loading has to be very careful.
I use the dishwasher for plates, cups, and silverware, most other things I hand wash and get done.

Eugene recently bought a Whirlpool and seemed very pleased, see his post.
I think buying new appliances is pretty much a crap shoot these days. Really do wish you well in getting something you will be pleased with.
 
My Kenmore Elite (KitchenAid) regularly is abused.  It has handled crusty meatloaf pan, broccoli/rice/cheese casserole dish that had burned edges (that was the dish that finally got myh partner to stop rinsing dishes.  I turbozoned said dish on high temp and Pots & Pan and it came out spotless.  I don't give a damn about the amount of time.  I don't have to stand at sink and scrub pots, pans, casserole dishes (nor soak them either). 
 
 
I continue to fail to understand what's the problem with long dishwasher cycles.  Do a substantial number of people nowadays have just one plate, glass, fork, and knife such that they can't have another meal until the cycle is done?  It's an automatic machine doing the work on the user's behalf.  Enjoy the leisure time.  :-)
 
It's true, long cycles are really not a problem 99% of the time, it's just that we've been used to the 40-60 minute cycles since  the introduction of dishwashers.

 

I've had  GE dishwashers for decades and really like them.  The pump went out on my current Ge, ordered the parts - all of $19 -- but never got around to putting them in, I will at some point.  Got a heck of a deal on a KA and decided to try it.  It cleans VERY well, no issues.  But it can take hours, but it does have a 60 minute cycle I've used from time to time.  Surprise it uses MORE water to do the job in less time on the short cycle.

 

For me the jury is still out on the racking, having used GE products for many many years I am used to the racking and knew where every item I own would fit, plus the racks could go completely flat for the bins in my fridge and such.  The old GE rack will fit the KA, but the KA has ball bearing glides in the way that would have to be removed.   the 1-2% of the time I will miss the old GE 30 minute cycle is for my holiday prep.  I toss all my china and crystal in the DW to freshen it up prior to having guests over, could b problematic at 60 minutes.

 

Energy wise the KA sips power.  I have a SmartThings setup with a readout of actual current use and it really uses very little power.  Plus at 39db it almost silent running, I may hear a bit of water sloshing about but I have to listen hard to hear it.  One other quibble is I'm not a fan of the dark interior that stainless unints have, would love some lighting in it, miss my old GE with the white interior.

 

all in all to the OP I'd say go new, save energy and water and get used to the longer run times, I don't see much of a down side.  No need to search for NLA parts for an older unit.
 
89 minutes

on antibacterial cycle with added heat my last load in my GE profile yesterday.
It has the minute read out. Thats with the temp delay on the final rinse.
I don't think thats long. It's quiet enough for me too. We do a load about every 3 days now since just the two of us. No point in keeping hot water at 150 plus f. either. I've been using gel cascade for the pre wash, and Finish tabs with the red ball since it was new. Great results, and no staining of the interior.
GE's warranty was 1 year, and 5 years on the electronic control board.
We had to order it from Home Depot and the retail msrp was $800 back in early 2011.
We were remodeling, so the only appliance that is not a Profile is the microwave/vent. We saved on the budget by getting the lower end GE microwave. It has the control panel across the bottom of the door. It works fine. It has sensor cooking, but no temp. probe like the profile. Big deal. It also only has one work light bulb, but I put LED under cabinet lighting on both sides of the range, so that is fine as well. The vent has 4 speeds and works well also. It was about $300 in stainless steel.
Usually in new properties, I see a Profile Microvent, and a lower end range, ovens, or refrigerator. I guess builders save where the buyers eyes don't focus below eye level when they walk in to tour the homes.
Beats me, mine has a big round GE logo on it. The Profile script is small on the other appliances. I'd rather have the performance in the appliances mostly used. To me, a microwave is a time saver, not a major cooking tool.
 
We entertain a lot

This part of Wyoming has no decent restaurants or cafes.

So - there's the prep work for dinner for 12.

Usually a several course dinner with appetizers and deserts.

Then the clean up before, during and after dinner.

I'm unrelenting, here - I just don't see why I should accept several hour long washes when I have seven loads to do!

It's absurd. Sure, when it's just the two of us and the animals it's no big hu-hu to let the dishwasher run overnight. But seven loads? So not happening.

I am willing to bet any queen here who is doing that level of cooking and entertaining on a regular basis wouldn't be willing to put up with it, either - there'd be a vintage KA or GE or two or three running straight on through.
 
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