How to Pick the Perfect Dishwasher
Step 1: Check Product Review Sites
Where to look:
1. Consumer Reports
2. On Retailer’s Websites (Sears, Home Depot and Lowes)
3. Amazon
Tip: Look for trends in the reviews to find out if there are common problems.
Step 2: Determine your brand preference.
The top 11 dishwasher brands are as follows (alphabetical order):
1. Bosh (#2)
2. Electrolux
3. Frigidaire
4. GE
5. Jennair
6. Kenmore (#1)
7. KitchenAid
8. LG
9. Maytag (#3)
10. Samsung
11. Whirlpool (#4)
Kenmore, Bosch, Maytag & Whirlpool are my personal favorites.
Step 3: Determine your cabinet cut-out size.
1. Standard Size Space: 24 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
2. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Size Space [for shorter spaces]: 24 inches wide by 32-1/2 inches high (usually adjustable to 33+ inches) and 24 inches deep.
3. Compact Model: 18 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
4. Portable Dishwasher: Connect to your sink and have wheels for moving around.
Step 4: Control Style
1. Hidden Controls: (integrated into the top of the dishwasher door).
2. Front Controls: (not as attractive, but more accessible).
Step 5: Determine Color Preference
Common Choices: (by popularity)
1. Stainless Steel
2. White
3. Black
4. Panel Ready
5. Bisque (off white)
Step 6: determine the acceptable noise levels
The lower the decibel number, the quieter the dishwasher will be in operation. It is interesting to note that the human are can detect a change 3 decibels or more anything less than that is not very noticeable.
LOUD: Above 50 dBA
NORMAL: 45-50 dBA
QUIET: Below 45 dBA
Step 7: Choose Interior Material
Stainless Steel Interior:
Pros: Longer Lasting, Better Drying, more energy efficient drying and Quieter operation.
Cons: More expensive and tends to attract mineral build-up.
Plastic Interior:
Pros: Less expensive and easier to clean
Cons: Less durable, less drying performance, more energy required for drying (higher heating wattage for heating element) and louder operation.
Step 8: Determine which Washing Cycles you need.
1. Smart Wash Cycle: Automatically senses the soil level and amount of dishes to adjust cycle time accordingly.
2. Pots and Pans or Heavy Duty Cycle: Longest cycle time for heavily soiled dishes.
3. Normal Wash Cycle: Standard Cycle for general use
4. One Hour Wash: Faster for pre-rinsed dishes.
5. Quick Wash: Faster for pre-rinsed dishes.
6. Light China or Gentle Cycle: For delicate items.
7. Top Rack Only: Uses less water and only activates the top section of dishwasher for a half load.
Step 9: Determine Food Disposal preference.
1. Filter Based: Energy efficient, quiet and no moving parts (requires periodic rinsing of the lifetime filter cup).
2. Disposer Blade Option: No maintenance, but less energy efficient, louder and contains moving parts that are more likely to break. This operates in a similar fashion to the food disposer that is built into kitchen sinks.
NOTE: Research has shown both options to be equally effective in food disposal.
Bonus Features to notice:
1. Third Rack options or Culinary Racks: (Bosch and Kitchenaid)
2. Spray Jets in back of Dishwasher: (Whirlpool, Kitchenaid and Kenmore)
Step 10: Purchase and set-up Installation
Find the lowest price, best service and buy the dishwasher that fits you needs and preferences.
Here are 3 Good Dishwasher Choices available on Amazon (FREE SHIPPING):
1. Fully Featured: Bosch 800 Series SHX68T55UC - http://amzn.to/1D1ZTKQ
2. Median Price: Bosch SHE65T55UC - http://amzn.to/1HQO4WQ
3. Budget: Amana (made by Whirlpool) - http://amzn.to/1SI5wzM
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Any support helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting us.
Copyright: All information in this post, and on this blog is intellectually copyrighted material, and belongs to the Stewart Landing Company. Any use of material on this site will be granted by permission only.
Step 1: Check Product Review Sites
Where to look:
1. Consumer Reports
2. On Retailer’s Websites (Sears, Home Depot and Lowes)
3. Amazon
Tip: Look for trends in the reviews to find out if there are common problems.
Step 2: Determine your brand preference.
The top 11 dishwasher brands are as follows (alphabetical order):
1. Bosh (#2)
2. Electrolux
3. Frigidaire
4. GE
5. Jennair
6. Kenmore (#1)
7. KitchenAid
8. LG
9. Maytag (#3)
10. Samsung
11. Whirlpool (#4)
Kenmore, Bosch, Maytag & Whirlpool are my personal favorites.
Step 3: Determine your cabinet cut-out size.
1. Standard Size Space: 24 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
2. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Size Space [for shorter spaces]: 24 inches wide by 32-1/2 inches high (usually adjustable to 33+ inches) and 24 inches deep.
3. Compact Model: 18 inches wide by 34 inches high by 24 inches deep.
4. Portable Dishwasher: Connect to your sink and have wheels for moving around.
Step 4: Control Style
1. Hidden Controls: (integrated into the top of the dishwasher door).
2. Front Controls: (not as attractive, but more accessible).
Step 5: Determine Color Preference
Common Choices: (by popularity)
1. Stainless Steel
2. White
3. Black
4. Panel Ready
5. Bisque (off white)
Step 6: determine the acceptable noise levels
The lower the decibel number, the quieter the dishwasher will be in operation. It is interesting to note that the human are can detect a change 3 decibels or more anything less than that is not very noticeable.
LOUD: Above 50 dBA
NORMAL: 45-50 dBA
QUIET: Below 45 dBA
Step 7: Choose Interior Material
Stainless Steel Interior:
Pros: Longer Lasting, Better Drying, more energy efficient drying and Quieter operation.
Cons: More expensive and tends to attract mineral build-up.
Plastic Interior:
Pros: Less expensive and easier to clean
Cons: Less durable, less drying performance, more energy required for drying (higher heating wattage for heating element) and louder operation.
Step 8: Determine which Washing Cycles you need.
1. Smart Wash Cycle: Automatically senses the soil level and amount of dishes to adjust cycle time accordingly.
2. Pots and Pans or Heavy Duty Cycle: Longest cycle time for heavily soiled dishes.
3. Normal Wash Cycle: Standard Cycle for general use
4. One Hour Wash: Faster for pre-rinsed dishes.
5. Quick Wash: Faster for pre-rinsed dishes.
6. Light China or Gentle Cycle: For delicate items.
7. Top Rack Only: Uses less water and only activates the top section of dishwasher for a half load.
Step 9: Determine Food Disposal preference.
1. Filter Based: Energy efficient, quiet and no moving parts (requires periodic rinsing of the lifetime filter cup).
2. Disposer Blade Option: No maintenance, but less energy efficient, louder and contains moving parts that are more likely to break. This operates in a similar fashion to the food disposer that is built into kitchen sinks.
NOTE: Research has shown both options to be equally effective in food disposal.
Bonus Features to notice:
1. Third Rack options or Culinary Racks: (Bosch and Kitchenaid)
2. Spray Jets in back of Dishwasher: (Whirlpool, Kitchenaid and Kenmore)
Step 10: Purchase and set-up Installation
Find the lowest price, best service and buy the dishwasher that fits you needs and preferences.
Here are 3 Good Dishwasher Choices available on Amazon (FREE SHIPPING):
1. Fully Featured: Bosch 800 Series SHX68T55UC - http://amzn.to/1D1ZTKQ
2. Median Price: Bosch SHE65T55UC - http://amzn.to/1HQO4WQ
3. Budget: Amana (made by Whirlpool) - http://amzn.to/1SI5wzM
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links. Any support helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting us.
Copyright: All information in this post, and on this blog is intellectually copyrighted material, and belongs to the Stewart Landing Company. Any use of material on this site will be granted by permission only.