Top/Bottom Rack Only Washes

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washer111

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I just had an idea today: If the owner of a modern dishwasher with the Top/Bottom only rack wash options and were particularly stingy with their water usage, could you actually wash a full load of dishes using *just* the "Top Rack" option? 

 

I'd imagine it would - but it wouldn't really work for really grimy stuff, since the splash back from the items in the top rack (plus a "constant rinse" wash-arm) has to go back to the pump, right? And this water would rinse over the dirty plates in the bottom, right? Is there any reason why it wouldn't work?
 
I use my "top rack only" option frequently, and I'll put a few lightly soiled items in the bottom rack with excellent results. The lower arm operates a bit during the "top rack only" cycle on most machines. '

I should load both racks of the LG and then run a "top rack only" option to see what does and doesn't emerge clean from the lower rack...you know, just for fun, LOL.
 
Suppose that would work for loads without bowls etc. If you look at older Miele manuals with the Top Solo option, they actully show how to load the botton rack with plates when using Top Solo.

I'd be also interesting to see how well today's dishwashers can clean a full load without using the upper basket's spray arm - like the old Kitchen Aids etc. did. Eugene, you have to run a "bottom basket only" cycle on high pressure with plates in the bottom and bowls/pots on the top - like in a vintage DW. I'm gonna have to try that one day in the Bosch...

Alex
 
On my machine I have the option of top only or bottom only but I can't be bothered to run it in that configuration, for two good motives:
first it is always filled to the last available centimeter
and second, power and water consumption are almost the same!
Cycle times are a little shorter I must say.
 
I have a 2006 USA (released in Germany in 2004) Miele. It has a Tall items solo cycle that I have never used, but it is for the bottom rack. The idea is that it will wash only in the bottom so you can load tall items. Infact the instructions tell you to REMOVE the center rack which means no water is going up to it.

I frequently load glasses and cups into the bottom rack, and in fact it has a stemware rack in the bottom for wine glasses so I guess you could load the items you normally load in the center rack into the bottom.

Silverware: Not sure about this but I suspect that the upper cutlery rack gets washed too since the machine normally washes the bottom and upper rack, then alternately switches the spray to the center only during other cycles.

So probably doable on this machine.

My previous Miele had a top rack only function but you could wash items in the bottom if they were spaced out well because the center wash arm also sprayed downward.

A note about that top rack option on the previous Miele. I discovered that it still took the same amount of water per fill as other cycles. It saved water by eliminating the rinse/wash before the main wash. So my newer machine with the load size sensor is still a better bet with small loads than the previous one.
 
... what's the point if the savings are questionable...

Because the average homemaker is ignorant and having small wash capability adds to the WOW factor and price tag.

Other machines have "distributed" half load: you put stuff in both racks and run the machines with stuff spaced further than a full load, it runs for less time and should clean the same...
 
Yes, one-basket-only options are more of a gimmick these days as far es efficiency is concerned.

The one dishwasher is really liked was the "Top Rack Dishwasher" - so to say - that BSH brought out in 1994. Its baskets were designed identically, which made it very flexible.

logixx++4-19-2013-10-59-10.jpg
 
The "top rack only" or "bottom rack only" option on my 2008 LG 9810 reduces cycle time by about 30 minutes, and there's usually only 1 or two water changes. The single rack option can be used with any cycle. You can add the Sanitize option, but not the Steam option when washing a single rack. I use the single rack option frequently.
 
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