Looking to buy a new dishwasher and need advice

[davidblazor]

Hello to all aw.org members. I am in the process of remodeling a kitchen and I am looking to replace the dishwasher in the process. I currently have a entry to mid of the line Kenmore Ultra Wash from the late 80's early 90's. The machine works well but the racks are starting to show their age. I am not looking for super fancy like LG or BOSCH but something that will actually get the dishes clean. The budget that I have is allowing me to go as high as 650 or 700 dollars for the machine.

I have read several on line reports on fridgidiare, maytag, and whirlpool. I have been told today at Home Depot to stay away from ge as they are just junk is that true?

Any advice on what to buy would be great. I hope that I have posted in the right place.

David

 

[combo52]

Best New DW For The Money

Get A Maytag, Period.

 

[super32]

I have to vote for Bosch.

 

[chachp]

Ditto on the Bosch

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">If you're looking for a modern machine my money is on the Bosch.  I have had two of them and been very happy with both.  Now if you're interested in a vintage machine..................  I can't speak to a modern Maytag because I haven't had one.  </span>

 

[rp2813]

Well, I don't want to complicate things, but my one experience with a Bosch was fraught with disappointment and disgust.  Performance was horrible, cycles lasted far longer than comparable ones on my Miele,  components were flimsy, and the layout of the racks was perplexing at best and inefficient at worst.

 

I've had my Miele for almost two years.  I got it used at the ReStore, so it's older than that -- like maybe from 2005.  I've never been more delighted with results from a dishwasher than I have with my Miele.  Glasses sparkle like no other dishwasher I've owned could ever get them, and we have fairly hard water. 

 

I'm afraid a brand new Miele will run you nearly double what you have budgeted, though.

 

If your goal is an updated look in the kitchen, then I guess finding replacement components for your Ultra Wash isn't something you'd consider, but that is a very capable dishwasher.

 

Here's a link to a KitchenAid find that would be close to your budget:

Hidden Treasures......

this past Sat, I was headed to pick up a Kitchen Aid dishwasher.....this sort of falls under an estate sale, but backwards, its in a new development, and the last to go was the model homes..... well as this one sold, fully furnished, the buyers didn't want anything....so everything had to be...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[chachp]

I realize we all have different experiences.

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">As I mentioned I have had two Bosch dishwashers.  </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I purchased a condo in LR in 2002 and put in a TOL Bosch with the hidden controls at the top, etc.  I think I paid around $700 for it.  I recently talked with the woman who bought the place from me when I sold it in 2005.  She said the dishwasher and stove (Kenmore Elite something or other) are working great and neither has required service in the almost 10 years since she bought the condo from me.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">The other one I put in this kitchen when I bought this house in 2005.  Same TOL, hidden controls, etc.  Hubby had to have new, shiny, stainless BLAH!!  That lasted in the house until about four years ago when I took it out to replace with a vintage Kitchen Aid machine.  I sold the Bosch to a friend who is still using it.  It's been serviced once because a kernel of popcorn got caught in something that was blocking water to the top wash arm.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I was very happy with the performance of both machines.  So, really, I've been lucky with the Bosch some not so much.  I think they get good ratings for the most part.</span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">I did forget about the Miele machines.  I've never owned one because I do prefer the older Kitchen Aid machines.  But I hear they are spectacular machines and likely more than you want to spend unless you want to go second hand and can find one.</span>

 

[yogitunes]

why not check this guy out....he seems to have a big selection of dishwashers....from Kenmore, Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Bosch......can't hurt to check him out.....

prices starting at 149.00...with a warranty.....

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/ppd/4920684799.html

 

[yogitunes]

not what you may be looking for....but while in the area....

this guy has vintage to newer models....

sales, service, restorations as well as parts......

just someone to keep in the back of your mind for the future....

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ppd/4925905233.html

 

[stricklybojack]

I went through this a couple of years ago for my mother..

.
at that time we ended up with a Bosch, "like the neighbors". It's very quiet and has an express cycle which is perfect for my mother because she is the type that nearly washes the dishes before she loads them. She's in her 80's and cannot be taught any new tricks in this regard.

That said i really liked the Samsungs. Mind you, all we did was open doors and push buttons but they seemed a very well finished product. This one is on sale now at Best Buy for a hell of a lot less than we paid for the Bosch!
If it was my money, and new, a Samsung at this price would certainly get the nod over the Bosch. And you can get that price a lot lower by using the 10% coupons Best Buy gives out at the post office (movers kit). Also their gift cards can be bought at sizable discounts and used to buy the Dishwasher.

I lingered long on the Maytags but thought them a near miss ultimately. This years models could be a different story.[this post was last edited: 3/10/2015-16:30]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-24-tall-tub-built-in-dishwasher-stainless-steel/5025119.p?ref=199&loc=NKa3hZyYoHA&acampID=1&siteID=NKa3hZyYoHA-Nl6Du8gk3NxZYTWwSn1xIQ

 

[chachp]

Not to confuse the issue even more.......

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">.........but one more thing to consider.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Rack configuration.  Does it work for you?  I bought a Dacor dishwasher a few years ago off of Craigslist that needed repairs.  I made the repairs and installed it in my kitchen.  I felt quite quite proud that I had scored such an expensive machine for a very low cost.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Well that thing wasn't in my kitchen for two weeks before I took it out and sold it on Craigslist.  It cleaned like crazy.  I can't complain about that and it was very quiet.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">But I have over-sized dinner plates and the damn things just didn't fit well in this machine.  I had to move the upper rack all the way up so the plates would clear the upper wash arm.  What that meant was none of my over-sized glass ware (gee am I seeing a theme here, maybe that's a topic for another forum) would not fit in the upper rack.  Nor did some bowls and other things I would normally wash on the top rack.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">What I like about the vintage kitchen aid machines as well as many other machines is the ability to raise and lower the upper rack on either side.  This Dacor required the entire rack to be moved up and down.  It was a tall tub machine but I think the upper wash arm hung down to low.  It was just a poor design in my opinion.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">So while you consider everything else that's been mentioned here also consider what you'll be washing and if you have anything over-sized take it with you when you go dishwasher shopping and make sure it fits in a way that works for you.</span>

 

[jamiel]

Definitely take your dishes/glassware along with you to the store. If your dishes don't fit, no matter what you buy you'll be unhappy.

 

[yogitunes]

taking dishware with you is a great idea when it comes to buying a dishwasher....

I sort of did this in the opposite direction with the dishdrawers, I bought glass ware that FIT the machine, it allowed me to use the drop down rack to double load...

one of those things we don't usually think about...

one reason why I like this new TallTub KA.....I have big dinner plates too, and now they will fit the top rack as well...

buying for the capacity of your machine is just as important....
having enough dishes may seem odd, but most people only have place settings for 4 or 6 people.....meaning you would have to use just about every dish in the cabinet before running a load, and barely filling the machine.....think about purchasing enough pieces to allow the machine to be filled, and spares in the cabinet to be available for use...

 

[chachp]

I am curious..........

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva;">Did you make a decision yet on which machine you'll buy?</span>

 

[labboy]

Just got a new Bosch

Installed a new Bosch (model SHE7PT52UC) last weekend (replacing the five year old KitchenAid tall tub). So far, I am very happy with it.

I love the third rack and the loading flexibility. I am amazed at how very, very quiet it is. But, the thing I love most, is how (finally) I am getting everything out of the dishwasher completely spotless. Things are coming out better than with our old trusty Maytag or with the KDS22 in our garage. The water softener makes a big difference. Wine and other glasses as well as silverware all come out flawless now. (I've used Finish Quantum in one load and Somat powder (only 1 tbsp) in another load so far. I think I will save the Quantum for larger, dirtier loads.)

So far, I have used Auto/Sanitize and Auto/Sanitize with the Speed Perfect option selected. Speed Perfect cut an hour off the cycle time but everything still came out great.

Bob

 

[davidblazor]

We Are Still Shopping

Last night we were at our local Sears and the have one of those Frigidaire dishwashers with the Blade Wash/ sprinkler system on display and running. All I could say is a rain bird lawn sprinkler would outwash that dishwasher. I also looked at the new Kitchen Aid dishwasher and the new hydro sweep wash arm IS NOT the same as the original hydro sweep it is more of a X versus the original.

As I stated in the original post we are NOT looking for something fancy just a good dishwasher. What I am looking for in the dishwasher is:

1) Hard food disposal
2) Hi-temp options
3) fold down cup shelves in the top rack

I will continue looking as we still have time to buy. Before we can remodel the kitchen we have to replace our kitchen floor and do other repairs. I will update everyone when the purchase is made and the remodel starts.

David

 

[appnut]

David, the current Maytags are the only dishwashers on the market which meet all 3 of the criteria you listed above.  I'm not going to go through this thread and see if anyone else has suggested them.