Dishwasher Performance Testing

[washer111]

Choice:

Never read Choice, as they can't tell you the reliability of machine, and the fact they seem to "insist" on you getting rid of old appliances. As for their other tests, some are pointless, especially their refrigerator line-up. Its nice comparing features and temperature stability, but thats where the fun ends. 

 

However, thanks for enlightening me on the Australian standards. As I didn't have access to all the above soils, I had to "make do" with what we had, which I think was a pretty decent challenge. Next time, I might bake everything longer in the oven, to make it a little hard (esp. Egg stuff). 

 

[maytagbear]

It was not meant as criticism!

Not!

I said "gentle tone!"

I am horrified and mortified, and embarrassed that you saw it as criticism.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[frigilux]

I love these sorts of tests! Thanks, washer111, for taking the time to do it---and for establishing a consistent soiling method for the load. The amount and type of food prep in my kitchen dictates using a full-size dishwasher, but the dish-drawer machines are fascinating; I can see where they would provide a lot of flexibility in other kitchens.

Sign me on for the challenge, although it may have to wait 'til Saturday. I'll do my best to replicate your load, with the addition of a few items that were requested in Lawrence's post---a pasta-cooking pot, silverware smeared with peanut butter, etc. The plates and bowls will go in the oven as per your test, then into the machine for an overnight rest (with the door open).

There are two two detergents in the cupboard: Cascade Complete w/ Dawn pacs, and Cascade Complete w/Bleach gel. Did your cycle use detergent in only one phase? If so, I'll use a pac. If you used detergents in two phases of the cycle, I'll opt for the gel.

Machine: 2008 LG Model 9810 (their top-of-the-line model at the time).

Cycle: Normal, using the machine's default settings (medium-strength spray; 130-140 degree main wash water; 150 degree final rinse; approximately 120-minute time frame. There will probably be four water changes, but that's up to the sensor.

Silverware will go in the third rack as I have no idea what I did with the conventional silverware basket that came with the machine (seen here in the bottom rack).

This will be fun! Thanks for the request, and again, for sharing your test results with all the great photos. I'm not surprised by the bowls; the tine spacing nested them very tightly.[this post was last edited: 1/29/2013-07:20]

 

[washer111]

@maytagbear + Frigilux

Please don't take what I said the wrong way! I liked your critique: I have learnt from my "mistakes" of this thread, and will try not to repeat them next time. That is one of the great things about this forum, we can thoroughly go over each others skills and point out any flaws in what's been tested. 

 

Again, thanks very much for your comments. They have been noted, and I'll (hopefully) remember for next time 

 

Frigilux:

Thanks for agreeing to do some testing. I look forward to seeing what your LG will do. Lets hope it doesn't break down during the process (Ooo! I'm cheeky aren't I?). 

I never would've expected clean bowls. They usually come clean with everyday loads, but today's was too much. Even loose spacing wouldn't have helped (much, if at all). Large bowls placed on the right hand side will often come out with a ring of food bits in them. Leaving a space for them is always advisable. 

 

My machine only performed Main-Wash, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse. So I suppose you'll want to use detergent for just one wash during your testing, though feel free to use a US equivalent cycle. What I could do is (perhaps) get the expected Pre-Wash and Pre-Rinse times from Dadoes and run a Wash-Rinse-Wash-Rinse-Rinse cycle or a cycle with 3 rinses. I was planning on re-doing the test tomorrow, to see if there would be any difference in the results. 

 

By the way, I used the equivalent of 4 tsp's of detergent today, using a 3:1 ratio of Finish:Morning Fresh. If you have Phosphates, please add them in too (As stated above Finish contains 10%-30% Phosphates in Australia)

 

[frigilux]

The last laugh is yours, washer111! The repair man made his first visit last week to replace the seal around the front of the tub, as a drip had developed from under the door. The seal had been disintegrating the past few months. Bits of it were coming loose every time I swabbed it with a rag.

The dishwasher is the hardest-working appliance in my house. I cook a lot and have guests for dinner frequently. In addition to that, I do a lot of food prep on the weekends, with the dishwasher running continuously from early morning 'til night. It's common for me to run 14-20 loads per week. All pots/pans/bowls etc., go in the machine; nothing is washed by hand.

Cycle: I believe all my cycles start with a pre-wash/pre-rinse. If the sensor detects a lightly-soiled load, it will drop the detergent from the main wash compartment and use the first fill as the main wash, but that won't happen with the upcoming test load.

I'll use a Cascade Complete pac (no phosphates, but I have very soft water) for the load. Check back in later this weekend.[this post was last edited: 1/29/2013-09:08]

 

[ronhic]

Never read Choice, as they can't tell you the reliabilit

No, they can't.

As I'm sure you can imagine the size that their facility would need to be in order to continuously run hundreds of machines that they have tested in order for them to break. Let's not even go to the wasted electricity/gas/water in order to run these tests nor to the wages cost to continually load, unload and reset washers, dryers and dishwashers.

Entirely impractical.

However, Choice subscribers, such as myself, do complete the 'reliability survey' on appliances which is quite indepth regarding what has happened over the past 12 months and includes such things as the number of repairs to a given appliance and what were the key issues. Now whilst some may say that this isn't the 'best' way to obtain data, I will refer them back to the first paragraph. It is the only real-world way that a consumer organisation can collect it given the prohibitive costs associated with the first option. Additionally, people who tend to subscribe to consumer magazines undoubtedly care about what they buy, how it will perform etc. and are less likely (OK, I am less likely) to be caught up in marketing hype, preferring to research prior to purchase to ensure their needs are met whilst minimising the chance of early failure and maximising performance, economy of use and return on investment (longevity).

Many consumers do not bother. They wander into their retailer, look at the bright controls and displays and jump at the first bit of techno-babble that is launched at them by a salesperson.

Now, as for their refrigerator tests. How you can state they are 'pointless' is interesting. Choice test the refrigerators they purchase in a purpose built room that can hold it's temperature at a constant setting (32c or higher) whilst allowing staff to take temperature readings throughout the machine. How effective a refrigerator is at pulling down the temperature of its contents and maintaining them is vitally important for the preservation of food, just as knowing if the temperature is uniform in it is. If temperature fluctuates excessively it is entirely possible that perishable items such as sliced and raw meats and milk will go off faster potentially leading to food poisoning.

Not very pleasant.

 

[norgeway]

A Challenge!!!

Prepare the dishes exactly the same way, then put them in ANY Kitchen Aid single wash arm machine, Mid 70s and before, and let them run the complete full cycle, "Less than an hour" and if they all are not spotless I will eat my hat!!

 

[frigilux]

Here is my entry in washer111's Dishwasher Performance Test.

Machine: 2008 LG 9810

Cycle: Normal (139 minutes on screen; actual cycle took 118 minutes; medium-strength spray)

Detergent: one Cascade Complete with Dawn pac

Soils: Flour/water paste; peanut butter; egg; chili; cream of wheat; instant coffee paste; cocoa/sugar/milk paste

Method: Plates and bowls baked at 250 degrees for 10 minutes; all items placed in dishwasher for 6 hours. None of the items were scraped before they went into the machine.

The plates are smeared with flour/water glue (with a few drops of green food coloring added) and egg. The bowls are smeared with cream of wheat and egg. Silverware coated with peanut butter and/or egg and flour-water glue.[this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-13:32]

 

[frigilux]

I made a thick gunk of baking cocoa, sugar, and whole milk in each glass and used a basting brush to swab the mess. The mugs were coated with a puree of Folgers instant coffee crystals a bit of hot water.[this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-12:05]

 

[frigilux]

What to do with leftover chili: Smear it on plates and put 'em in the oven!

 

[frigilux]

Pan on the left had chili in it, which was set over a gas flame to cook it onto the interior of the pan. Pan on the right was used to make cream of wheat.

 

[frigilux]

The artists's tools.

 

[frigilux]

Lower rack.

 

[frigilux]

Upper rack

 

[frigilux]

Silverware/cutlery rack. All items coated with peanut butter and/or egg and flour-water glue.[this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-11:49]

 

[frigilux]

I was a bit shocked when the dishwasher entered the drying phase after only 88 minutes. The sensor cut 21 minutes off the default time.

The good news first: Most items emerged spotlessly clean. The spots you see in the pans are discolorations, not food residue.[this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-11:57]

 

[frigilux]

The first of eight items which didn't pass the test.

Dinner plate with some egg and a spot of flour/water paste.

 

[frigilux]

A salad plate and dinner plate with egg and flour/water paste.

 

[frigilux]

Mug with some yibbles. This glass was in the back right corner of the upper rack---and it's a mess![this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-11:58]

 

[frigilux]

Three spoons with gunk still attached. I was expecting the silverware rack to be the weakest performer, but save for these spoons, all was spotless.

I wish the cycle would have run the full 139 minutes. Maybe some of the unclean items would have fared better.

Had this not been a test of the Normal cycle, I would have used the Power Scrub cycle, which is about 2-3/4 hours long and uses the maximum-strength spray.[this post was last edited: 2/2/2013-13:35]