Why does everyone think KitchenAid is so great?

[48bencix]

Ultrawash

I too have a Kenmore Ultrawash, probably 8 years old. It does wash very well and the cycle time is not too long ( I usually open it up to dry ). Plus the whole cycle uses only about 5 gallons. But the crummy part is the racks which are literally falling apart. New ones will run about $100 each. I am toying with picking up an older KA to replace it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

14 & 18

For a long time in my kitchen in my first house, I had the 14 & 18 Superbas. When I had people over for a meal, these were the perfect pair for cleanup. All of the prep stuff and some of the serving pieces went into the 18 with its versatile loading features and large capacity. The tableware went into the 14 which held and washed the load beautifully. The plain white Centura was so sharp-looking in the blue racks with the dinner plates lined up down the middle and the saucers and smaller plates flanking them that I would leave the door open for a while just to enjoy the composition of my own picture for a vintage KitchenAid ad.

 

[mixfinder]

Dishwasher Whore

As a kid mom bought a bol GE top load with a bow tie wash arm for $99.00 at Goddard's. It cleaned well, sounded like a tornado and screws and parts fell off until it was too much trouble to hold it together. By then I was on a mission to convert the kitchen to Frigidaire and bought a used frigidaire frontloader with the tube wash system. She used it until they moved 10 years later. In my own house I bought Frigidaire until GM retired and then belt drive Maytags. When I had to I switched to the newer version Maytag but like the upside racking of the old style better. I bought a Kitchenaid Superba from a state auction and it was simply the best dishwasher ever! Super clean, easy loading and spot free drying. I don't believe in rinsing and after a year or so it started doing a poor job of cleaning. I realized you need to clean the removable screen and we were back in business. Since moving to Seattle I've had a succession of Maytag, tall tub GE and now a Kitchenaid KURD24SE. I cleans well but the racks have so many movable options the hinges and bracketing eat up a lot of space. I have never used a dishwasher that would do at least a passable job with good detergent and hot enough water. If the right Superba knocks on my door, I'll go back.

 

[toggleswitch2]

I have had a KichenAid or two and thought they were great machines. Now if the racking were less "unique" I'd be sold.......

Got one used for my mother when the old-age home by my aparmtent was throwing out three. Scrubbed it clean and it worked great. At that time your could not get one new. KA was sold to Emerson / In-sink-erator IIRC.

She claimed it did not always work. Methinks she just coudln't figure out how to get the timer to the start postion if she had interrupted the cycle before it had finsihed during the prior use.