My Step Mom bought me a new $$ dishwasher

[volsboy1]

I am moving and have been put on the spot.My future Step-Mom bought me a new Smeg 36 Dishwasher/Drawer for my house.

It is a B-day present for me.This is a strange dishwasher it's wide and short but full size.It has every option water softener,lights,

even has electric hoses on the cold water that will cut off.My Kitchen is small and there is no dishwasher there.She got me this

machine because it has one rack but two of those Orbital wash arms under it and wash arms on top.I have a terrible back and

me missing a leg it is hard for me to load a dishwasher but this one will be high up and integrated with the cabinets.Smeg does

not make these anymore but I know she spent a lot of money on this dishwasher.The thing is I got me a 1984 Kitchenaid Superba-21

that is in mint shape these folks never used it save for the Holidays.There is no rust or anything anywhere the rust was dirt.

I thought about using the Smeg for storage of my plates but it is a new toy for me and a strange one at that.I have never had a machine with a filter or a water softener in it.It uses cold water for pre-washes and cold rinses I know I will have to scrape my plates to use it.I do like the fact that I don't have to bend over because my back is bad sense I broke it in that horrible wreck.

Has anybody in here ever used one of these Smeg dishwashers? Here is a pic of what they look like...I am keeping my K-Aid

I don't care if I have to put the fridge outside. Are Smeg junk? I saw a post about how terrible Italian appliances are and

that there junk..

 

[donprohel]

Compliments for your new dishwaser

SMEG is a good and reputed brand (a member here madly loves SMEG...) and this model is still made

http://www.smeg.com/product/sto905/

 

[joe_in_philly]

What a nice gift! You are lucky to have such a thoughtful step-mom.

 

[volsboy1]

I did not ask for it or even hint at it. Yes it is very nice gift she is wonderful and very loving person.I have heard of Smeg my Sister had one installed then moved when she flipped a house.

I have been hunting for a Kitchenaid Superba KDS-21 that was not rusted out like my first one and the 2nd one was a

Kitchenaid Superba but that was the time Whirlpool bought them.It had the same pump but, the heater was big and the

drying fan was a hunk of cheap plastic that was broke.

Three weeks ago I found a mint 1984 KDS-21 that was used twice a year is what there relative told me who bought the house.

His wife wanted a new Kitchen and they got all new Kitchenaid everything but he hates that new K-aid that he spent 1400 on.

 Takes forever to wash and has had two motors and three controllers replaced.He said it does not clean like the one he sold me.

I am not getting rid of my Superba the Smeg will be up high and I will use it for storage I guess.

I have never had a dishwasher that had a filter or that needed dishwasher salt and cold water for pre-washes and rinses.

It is a very odd dishwasher with two side by side wash arms.The specs look nice with stainless steel racks and I am curious

about having a dishwasher that uses salt maybe that will help with cleaning.

It's going to be about a month or so before they have it installed for me I will post some pics.I hope it's a good washer

guess my fridge will be outside.I am keeping my Superba..

 

[rolls_rapide]

Don't worry!

SMEG are seen to be higher-end machines, of Italian origin.

With a filter based machine, you simply scrape off the excess food and put the dirty dishes into the machine. The machine will operate fine.

The water softener will take care of your water hardness. If SMEG uses an intelligent system (like my Bosch), salty water is only flushed through the system to regenerate the softener resin when required. An intelligent system is amazingly frugal regarding salt consumption.

On the other hand, if you already have a "whole house softener" already fitted, you don't need to use the machine's softener.

Regardless of which option you select, do make sure that you follow the instructions. The instructions usually say to pour a pint or two of cold tap water into the salt container, before adding any salt. Not only does this dissolve the salt which is added afterwards, but it also prevents airlocks in the system. It is perfectly normal for the water to flow out of the container as you add the salt.

SMEG's orbital spray arms have been on the go since the 1990s.

 

[volsboy1]

This is just so odd and backwards when you see a dishwasher that tells you to hook it up to the cold line and even the water hookup is electrical.

The manual says that these new detergent's with enzymes work better with water at around 104F to 130F.

It says that if you use detergent with phosphates that hotter water works better.

I wonder if that is why my L.G. that I have now washes so bad cause I have been using enzyme detergents and I use sani-wash for everything.

I do find this dishwasher to be kinda cool it is very different than any dishwasher I have seen.I have always wanted a Miele

and I know this is no Miele but, dishwasher's with water-softeners are rare here in the states.

Only the Euro brands have that at least I think so. I have never seen a Whirlpool with a Water-Softener.

G.E. Monogram but that is a Asko I think.

 

What kind of salt should I use?Is it ok to use Miele salt in this Smeg?I don't know anything about euro dishwasher's much

at all.The only one I have ever used has been Miele dishwasher's that my Aunt has and they are fantastic at cleaning.

The manual that I downloaded said not use tablet detergent because, the low temp won't dissolve it.

Would that only go for Finnish tablets or should I just buy some Miele detergent or Somat sense this are made for

dishwasher's that use cold water for washes?

 

 

[appnut]

KitchenAid had a model with a water softener in it about one to two years ago, but I am not sure if it actually began being sold.

 

[aamassther]

The salt brand doesn't matter, as long as it's made specifically for a dishwasher. The brands I know of available in the US are Somat, Miele, Finish, and Soft Spring. I buy Somat salt and Somat dishwasher powder from productswithstyle.com. Miele from Amazon is easiest. Finish is sourced from Bosch and Soft Spring is from Whirlpool, et al. I've used Somat and Miele in my Miele and haven't noticed any difference, just use what you can find most readily. But, find out what your water hardness is. Our water here in the Blue Ridge Mountains part of the Smokies is very, very soft so I don't use the softener anymore. That said, if you need it, I have 2 boxes of salt that I brought from Michigan. You're welcome to them....

 

[whirlcool]

I didn't even know that SMEG was sold in the U.S. I have only seen them in the U.K.

 

[dj-gabriele]

I think I'm the member that "madly loves SMEG" ahahhah

I attached the link for the SMEG USA website: they offer just a small subset of all the appliances offered in Europe but still it's a nice selection (go figure that in Italy they offer some 90 models of dishwashers and in the US only 3...)

They quality of their kitchen appliances is really excellent, using only the best materials and still designed to last, over here they span all the market range from BOL to super TOL customized models!
The orbital washing system is something that you can only judge after you tried it: nothing cleans as well, especially tall and narrow objects and in the corners as the water is diffused much better than "classic" machines.

As for the salt softener, any dishwasher salt is fine, but it must be at high purity as edible salt or other not specifically made for dishwashers have contaminants that in the long term will damage the ion-exchange resins.

PS: Italian appliances are terrible only in the eyes of the Brits because they've seen their market cannibalized by the guys of Indesit and Candy but comparing price points they're just the same as all the other brands. And of course the more you pay the better you get.

SMEG - Technology with style

SMEG USA – The official American website for SMEG products. Discover the complete range of domestic appliances for your home that combine technology, style and design: refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, range cookers, dishwashers.

www.smegusa.com

 

[volsboy1]

Yea Bob I saw that after I was looking for salt.I saw a old Kitchen aid well it was the wash system Maytag uses now.

I am going to use it and not having to bend over all the time with a back that needs surgery and a shotty prosthetic.

I just wonder if it will be able to clean who knows I might like it.I can always keep plates in it to use sense my new kitchen

is small this will serve to functions.

Glenda has Miele everything and Smeg something I think a cook top or something.I did look at there web site and saw

all those retro 50s design dishwashers which I thought was very cool looking.They seem to be on the high end of the market

but I wish it was a Miele.Then again I have used them and they wash like hell but I can't judge the Smeg yet.

When I get it in and my kitchen redone I will let you know. Hell I might just plug it up to the water hose outside

on my deck and use it cause I know how I am it will drive my nuts...A new toy and can't play with it

I don't think so.LOL

Should I spend money on Somat or Miele detergent or just use Cascade powder?

 

 

[donprohel]

@dj-gabriele

«I think I'm the member that "madly loves SMEG"»

And what on earth makes you think that?...

 

[chestermikeuk]

90cm Dishwasher

Hi Wes, A great dishwasher and even better if its given as a present!!! Have sold many Smeg appliances and no problems at all with them, this will be a great asset when fitted at a higher level and so quiet in use..

"Italian appliances are terrible only in the eyes of the Brits"

Gabriel, Please dont tar us all with the same brush, you are correct that a few have entered into spats about Italian appliances and that yes it probably has to do with Italian takeovers of Hotpoint & Hoover, a pity really as the ones who have spoken are not old enough to remember past the 80`s for quality laundry anywhere in either land!!

 

[dj-gabriele]

remember past the 80`s for quality laundry anywhere...

Exactly my point!

 

[logixx]

Dishwashers that use cold water for washes?

This dishwasher uses hot water for the wash cycle, it'll just start from a cold fill. No need for special detergent. I use Finish with phosphates in my Bosch and it works fine - today, I washed a load if pots, pans and regular dishes in 45 minutes (plus ten minutes of drying) and everything can out spotless. So Quantum works best for me. By the way, I think you can also use Koscher salt for the water softener.

A cold-water connection is recommended, if you have to purge the hot line for some time before hot water arrives at the kitchen sink. If your hot water tank is close to the kitchen, you have a recirculation pump or use solar heating for your hot water, then go ahead and hook the DW up to hot water. It won't break, it's just an efficiency thing.

 

[volsboy1]

I am going to use cold water for it.I am not going to pre-rinse anything I will get the big stuff off of there but if we have mash-potatoes and dinner rolls they both are going in the dishwasher.I won't try the cake test like or anything like how I was with my Kenmore Power-Clean.I just wonder now if that is one reason the L.G. I have now is such a bad dishwasher.It does have a hard-food disposer in it but it leaks like hell from the front door seal.Power-Scrub does not clean as well compared to Normal wash.I can hear the motor is pumping a lot faster with more power in Normal wash than P-R-Scrub. I have my water heater set at about 149F and all those manuals for the Smeg,Miele,and other Euro washers say that really hot water kills the enzymes in the detergent. I guess I will stick with Bubble Bandit but, will order me some Miele or Somat detergent I have never tried them so I am curious. I don't know why Finnish quit making refills for that Auto-dispenser they came out with.That was the best detergent I have ever used and it had no phosphates and it was only about a 3/4 of a table spoon.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Koscher salt

I would avoid it as any other regular table salt because they haven't the same purity of dishwasher salt

 

[rolls_rapide]

Any decent ironmonger (hardware store) should be able to supply salt specifically for water softeners and dishwashers.

Don't use table salt, cooking salt, etc. They contain impurities and flowing agents (like Sodium ferrocyanide). These will deactivate the resin.

 

[aamassther]

Dishwasher salt isn't that easy to come by in the US, it's still considered a specialty item. Most dishwashers here don't have a water softener. Easiest place is Amazon to purchase it. Miele vac dealers and some appliance stores carry it.