talk to me about dishwashers

[Elizabeth86]

Thinking about getting one before this baby comes. Any brand preferences, anything to stay away from. Also, I,ve literally never used a dishwasher. Talk to me about things that dont go in them. I know most dishes tell your Just any first time dishwasher owner tips.

?

[gaillardia]

I will give your thread a jumpstart.

The quieter ones are nice to not hear if your kitchen is on an open floor plan.

Usually when we use the off brand detergents it really doesn't work very well. Also using the rinse formula works but is an additional inconsequential sum.

I like being able to adjust the trays/drawers/shelves or having holders that you can stand up or lie down to hold things in place or not. 

A plastic lid thing that goes over top of one small section of the utensils holder, to keep things in place. 

Brands we've used and were satisfied with: Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Bosch.

Brands we've used and were not satisfied with: I can't remember. Sorry.

[regentrude]

Get one that is quiet.

Stainless steel interior is much nicer than plastic.

Compare racks for efficiency. A dishwasher with well designed racks can hold three times as much as a cheapo primitive one.

I have a mid range Kenmore and am very satisfied.

 

Things that don't go in the dishwasher: chef knives, wooden cutting boards and utensils.

Things that are iffy: non stick coated pans. Plastic - can absorb the odor of teh dishwasher detergent.

Things you might want to rethink: I prefer to wash large pots and pans by hand because they take up so much space.

 

Do not prerinse before putting dishes in. The dishwasher is supposed to do the work. The sensors need to detect the dirt to decide how much to wash. 

[Spryte]

I have never loved a DW until we moved to a home with a Bosch. Love that machine. So quiet.

[Acadie]

I love our Bosch too. Expensive but we got a floor model that was also on sale. 

 

Amy

[JumpyTheFrog]

I use Finish Powerball tabs. They work much better than off brand powder or liquid. The Cascade liquid packets did a poor job. I am a store brand person for most things, but not for the dishwasher.

[Ellie]

Thinking about getting one before this baby comes. Any brand preferences, anything to stay away from. Also, I,ve literally never used a dishwasher. Talk to me about things that dont go in them. I know most dishes tell your Just any first time dishwasher owner tips.

?

 

I love my Whirlpool. With the utensil rack on the door, the whole bottom rack is usable for stuff. I've had this one for about 12 years, with never a bit of problem. When it must be replaced, I will go for another Whirlpool.

 

I use Amway dish detergent tablets exclusively. My dishes are always bright and clean.

 

Some plastics don't go in the dishwasher; some kinds of cookware do not (my Emeril Calphalon skillet is not supposed to go in the dishwasher). Those will have labels telling you not to do it.

 

One of the reasons I love having a dishwasher is that we lightly rinse dishes and put them in there all day long, as they are used, and run the machine whenever it is full, no matter what time of day it is. I never, ever have dirty dishes in the sink or on the counters. And I empty that sucker ASAP when it finishes, so I can put more stuff in it. :-)

[Pink and Green Mom]

I love my Bosch dishwasher.  It is so quiet you cannot tell it is running.

[regentrude]

One of the reasons I love having a dishwasher is that we lightly rinse dishes and put them in there all day long, as they are used, and run the machine whenever it is full, no matter what time of day it is. I never, ever have dirty dishes in the sink or on the counters. 

 

THIS. Best thing about dishwasher is that the dirty dishes are out of sight immediately.

[Noreen Claire]

I have 4 very large cookie sheets that I use frequently. I brought one with me to the store to make sure that they would fit in the dishwasher before I bought it. (The old washer, here when we moved in, wouldn't fit even one, never mind four at a time.)

[Guest]

Adding to the chorus of people who love Bosch. It is totally silent and my dishes are clean!

[RegGuheert]

We've loved our Askos.  They are quiet, clean extremely well and hold lots of dishes.  The last one we purchased had a lower floor, so even more stuff fits inside.

[Guest]

LOVED my Bosch- then we sold the house. Go with stainless steel interior. My Bosch had 3 racks. Oh how I miss them.

[Liz CA]

I had a KitchenAid stainless steel (on the inside) and it did a great job.

[Bootsie]

I have had two Whirlpool dishwashers that i loved.  Having the flatware container on the door is great, not only for holding more, but for adding a spoon or fork without having to pull an entire basket out--just crack the door open.

 

I am in a rental house now with a Bosch.  It does a great job washing, but I do not like loading it.  I have a number of dishes that I can't figure any good way to put in the washer, especially serving bowls, casserole dishes, or some pots.  If I am just washing plates and glasses it does fine. 

[Ellie]

I am in a rental house now with a Bosch.  It does a great job washing, but I do not like loading it.  I have a number of dishes that I can't figure any good way to put in the washer, especially serving bowls, casserole dishes, or some pots.  If I am just washing plates and glasses it does fine. 

 

This. My daughter has a Bosch, and although it is indeed silent, I can never figure things out, either, and it makes me crazy. The top-of-the-line Whirlpool is only two decibels louder than the Bosch; I think that's what I'll get next time I have to buy a new one. ;-)

[gardenmom5]

I loved my old GE profile.  very flexible. (the new one's are NOT "quite" as flexible) cleaned really well.  not as quiet as I wanted. 

 

when I replaced it (it died.  I was sad.) I bought a top of the line kitchen -aid. super quiet.  that is the ONLY nice thing I can say about it, it doesn't clean very well - I have to practically wash dishes first and use it to sterilize.  oh, and it's slow.  

I was enamored with the third rack. do.not. fall. for. the. gimmick!  it just takes up space.

 

if I had the $$$ to throw at a new dishwasher now- it would be history.

I'd  probably get a better bosch.

Edited July 25, 2017 by gardenmom5

[DawnM]

Bosch.  We have had 2 of them.  One in our old house and then we got one in our new house.  Stainless steel keeps it hot inside longer to sanitize better.  And they are quiet!

 

 

[heartlikealion]

:lurk5:

 

We really really want one. This home does not have one. We might manage to get one for ourselves as a Christmas present. I have used dishwashers before. One thing that drove me nuts is one we got the top rack was rigid, didn't slide smoothly. If you can try out the model you are taking home make sure it doesn't "stick" or whatever. I don't know if there's anything I could have done about it or not, but I complained on day one and it never got better. Also see if the top rack is adjustable, can go up or down enough to accommodate certain items you plan to wash.

 

Some items are "top rack only." This is where you would generally put certain plastic items (many I'd consider just hand washing even if they say dishwasher safe) and certain other items. Parts of certain kitchen appliances. If you have items that you can wash on the top rack that are small, I highly recommend a little basket like this: https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-deluxe-dishwasher-basket/-/A-13991502

 

I'm out of touch with new dishwashers, but the ones I've used sometimes it was best to crack the door open or wait a bit before unloading. Let them dry air dry a bit and let some steam escape?

 

You might want to see if there's a removable utensil tray and if so where will it allow you to arrange it?

 

Even if you plan on washing bottles in the dishwasher, I highly recommend this nipple brush (I sometimes used on entire bottle). https://www.amazon.com/Simba-Sponge-Nipple-Brush-Orange/dp/B00LMM9BMS/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500959158&sr=8-1&keywords=simba+nipple+brush

While I do not own a dishwasher, I do own this thing. It has been useful for drying baby bottles and pump parts. You can run mult. times a day and it will dry things pretty well! So I hand washed the stuff and then popped it in there.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027FFOWA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Elizabeth86]

:lurk5:

 

We really really want one. This home does not have one. We might manage to get one for ourselves as a Christmas present. I have used dishwashers before. One thing that drove me nuts is one we got the top rack was rigid, didn't slide smoothly. If you can try out the model you are taking home make sure it doesn't "stick" or whatever. I don't know if there's anything I could have done about it or not, but I complained on day one and it never got better. Also see if the top rack is adjustable, can go up or down enough to accommodate certain items you plan to wash.

 

Some items are "top rack only." This is where you would generally put certain plastic items (many I'd consider just hand washing even if they say dishwasher safe) and certain other items. Parts of certain kitchen appliances. If you have items that you can wash on the top rack that are small, I highly recommend a little basket like this: https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-deluxe-dishwasher-basket/-/A-13991502

 

I'm out of touch with new dishwashers, but the ones I've used sometimes it was best to crack the door open or wait a bit before unloading. Let them dry air dry a bit and let some steam escape?

 

You might want to see if there's a removable utensil tray and if so where will it allow you to arrange it?

 

Even if you plan on washing bottles in the dishwasher, I highly recommend this nipple brush (I sometimes used on entire bottle). https://www.amazon.com/Simba-Sponge-Nipple-Brush-Orange/dp/B00LMM9BMS/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500959158&sr=8-1&keywords=simba+nipple+brush

 

While I do not own a dishwasher, I do own this thing. It has been useful for drying baby bottles and pump parts. You can run mult. times a day and it will dry things pretty well! So I hand washed the stuff and then popped it in there.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027FFOWA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

No baby bottles needed with 1, 2 or 3. Hopefully I wont with 4 either.

 

Thanks a

everyone, I have a lot to think about.