Need advice on VTG AEG dishwasher....

[kenmoreguy89]

Hi all, in my weekly web surf, looking for a possibly good dishwasher I need desperately of I came upon this http://www.subito.it/elettrodomestici/lavastoviglie-aeg-firenze-87439592.htm#
It looks a strong model, can tell from the lower arm that is should have great and powerful water jets like older models used to...and I think it may provide me the washing results I seek for, at least I hope so...
It looks not so bad overall, and pretty well taken....
What I do not get is what is that compartment places in the door for, it looks loose...what is that for? Rinse aid? Salt?
I can see in the panel it has a sort of lever and a little window supposedly to see the level...so is that for rinse aid?
I remember I have seen something similar in a Miele ....
That window looks a little foggy, is there a method to clean the inside?
I am really excited to the idea of getting this, it looks good, loking forward for a good dishwasher......
Thank you in advance for any help...

 

[foraloysius]

Yes, looks like a rinse aid compartment, but not sure, the lower rack is blocking the view on it.

If you want to clean the inside of the dishwasher, do a cycle with citric acid. No dishes inside ofcourse.

I think it's a pretty dishwasher, I like AEG's older designs. But with an older machine you always run the risk of getting less clean dishes, older dishwashers weren't always good performers. But I'm sure it will use plenty of water.

 

[aquarius1984]

Louie yes,

Have used my fair share of vintage and while they use loads more water it dilutes modern detergents down to reduced cleaning levels.

Always had to up the dose double or triple on older machines.

Bit pointless really. Saved me no money and created hassle where I ended up soaking, pre treating and re washing just to get stuff clean.

Something that never happened with my modern Zanussi/Bosch/Indesit/Neff/Beko.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Actually Louis, from what I could experience for me is just the opposite.... Same for you Robert.
While of course bad performing machines existed even back then, I have to say that I came to the conclusion that generally modern is bad and vintage is good....for me.
I have never used myself an AEG this old, but judging from the lower stainless arm, looks like it should be a powerful and effective machine, I am positive about...it promise well.
I thnk it cannot be worse than the Bosch I have now...but will be able to confirm this after I have tried it.
If I get it of course will run a load with citric acid and vinegar to remove possible deposits build up...
What I meant is cleaning the rinse aid compartment though, which window looks a little foggy..not sure if it's just the pic, or something happened, since the cap in the door looks loose I would not want it to be broken, and not functioning...or they messed up with putting who knows what stuff inside...so wanted to know how to clean a rinse aid compartment, are there ways without having to disassemble it? I was thinking of sticking a small hose in it, or rinse with one of those gum pumps to make clysters or enema syringe (clean ones LOL), just do not know how effective it may be..
I care about rinse aid, I have pretty hard water and use lots of glassware...
This is the best I could find, I am in a hurry also in June my father will get married, so I will have relatives from the USA staying at my place for awhile, I need a dishwasher that works for that time, not going to have time to rewash by hand.

[this post was last edited: 4/22/2014-09:45]

 

[foraloysius]

Freddy,

Don't mix citric acid and vinegar. Just use citric acid. It's milder and cleans very well. To a certain extent it can even remove rust. Vinegar is harsher. But if you can't find citric acid use a reasonable amount of vinegar (depending on the dilution).

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Thank you, I generally use vinegar as it is cheaper, I meant citric and or vinegar, skipped to type "or"...
I do not know where to look for citric acid in my town but I will surely look for around and or online, I wanna try it once...
Thanks again.

 

[foraloysius]

A chemistry or a drugstore might have it. Just plain citric acid doesn't have to be expensive. If you have access to German products you might be looking for Heitmann Citronensäure.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Never seen it sold in drugstores over here in my town , nor in specialized shops, but i could see people online that use it and get it, I think it is just something not popular here in town...
Many people get it to make home made detergents from what I know... It should be sold in shops specialized in eco- compatible stuff...i think...
With the prices in italy perhaps the german one will be even cheaper incuding the shipping to here...
Will try anyway, thanks again..

 

[logixx]

That spray arm looks almost like in an old KitchenAid. But... am I blind or is there only one spray arm? I wish I could read the model number.

 

[foraloysius]

It looks very much like an AEG Favorit 144.

You can download the manual here.

http://www.nodevice.com/user_manual/aeg/dishwasher/favorit_144_606261903.html#.U1kpcVfkhnZ

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Would be strange if it didn't have it, I mean..how is it supposed to clean in the upper rack?
Thanks the manual, will take a look later, the seller won't reply me, i am afraid it is gone...

 

[kenmoreguy89]

The upper spouts remind me so much of our old rex....

 

[foraloysius]

Older KitchenAids didn't have upper wash arms. Frigidaires only had a stationary spray arm in the center of the machine. Everything was possible in the old days, that's why not all of them were good cleaners. This particular model seems to have an upper spray arm though, at least the model in the manual has one.

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Yes, you're right some older KA didn't have an upper wash arm, infact I think that if you had to wash many pans you better load them only in the lower rack, and load the upper if you only had dishes in the lower in order for water to reach even the upper (strong jets) , others also didn't have it, but though had different ways to have water to reach the upper rack...
They had towers, stationary devices etc, also many vintage impeller models had an hole/space in the middle for water to reach the upper rack...
Of course i never meant all dishwasher of the past were good, were generally good and I think better of today's ones, but of course not all..

 

[kenmoreguy89]

Anyway since It is structured differently than a KA and it have a spout, i would have been surprised if it didn't have had it, even because the lower spray arm sure looks good and have a vague resemblance with older KA ones, but is not comparable to them...
They had much larger holes and were bigger....I suppose much more powerful, because of this I think this AEG would have had hard times cleaning the upper rack if it didn't have the upper arm...
But are all suppositions.... Sure i have seen how powerful were older KA's in many videos, never one personally, but could see how powerful they were in svpraying water...[this post was last edited: 4/24/2014-14:10]