General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI need a new dishwasher. Any suggestions?
What I have is a Maytag that hasn't done the job right since I bought it and it's getting worse. Time to pitch and replace.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)If you care about the environment and conserving natural resources, you use a dishwasher.
A HERETIC I AM
(24,365 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)dembotoz
(16,799 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)to a dishwasher.
Of course, if the dishwasher is useless and/or over 15 years old, you're probably better off hand washing.
dembotoz
(16,799 posts)The landlord is happy
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)stopbush
(24,396 posts)The energy footprint for hand washing dishes is enormous.
Neema
(1,151 posts)There also aren't really many alternatives to using a toilet except an outhouse or diapers.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)before the wash or afterwards, which requires even more water.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)rinse dishes before putting them in the machine.
The new models all have sensors in them that regulate the heat of the water and the length of the wash cycle. That is based on the amount of food etc on the dishes. If the dishes are already rinsed, you don't get as good or efficient of a cleaning. The detergents used today need to have food etc on the plates to latch onto to work at top efficiency.
Just a few years ago, dishwasher manufacturers recommended you run the water in your sink until it was hot before starting the machine. That's no longer true either, as the heating elements in the dishwasher have also improved and heat the water remarkably fast. The high heat of the modern dishwasher is critical in breaking down food and getting your dishes clean.
Hand washing dishes typically uses three to five times as much water as does using a dishwasher, and that's true even if you try very hard to not use a lot of water while hand washing.
See here: http://dishwashers.reviewed.com/features/please-stop-hand-washing-your-dishes
muriel_volestrangler
(101,306 posts)That person doesn't know how to wash dishes. They can't be called 'typical'. A couple of gallons is plenty. And "the high heat" of a dishwasher makes it inefficient.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)In the meanwhile, here's an article from HuffPo entitled, "You Should Pretty Much NEVER Wash Your Dishes By Hand - Here's Why."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/wash-dishes_n_7232216.html
You might also like this from our friends at Consumer Reports:
https://www.consumerreports.org/dishwashers/how-to-load-a-dishwasher/
And here's another article from those corporate shills at TreeHugger:
https://www.treehugger.com/kitchen-design/built-in-dishwashers-vs-hand-washing-which-is-greener.html
And one from the WaPo:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/05/why-you-shouldnt-wash-your-dishes-by-hand/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.01c964c1b358
muriel_volestrangler
(101,306 posts)Now, the Huff Post follows that with "not possible"; but if you follow the link to the WP, you find Schein actually said "it may be possible". Huff Post just has another person who doesn't know how to wash dishes. They should stop writing these articles. It's not exactly a complicated thing to do, but if they're never done it well, they should leave writing about it to someone who can. It's like writing about driving a car when you haven't passed your test.
Your next link is about how to load a dishwasher, and irrelevant.
Your last link: "Can hand washing be as efficient as dishwashing? The short answer: maybe."
stopbush
(24,396 posts)who still hand wash their dishes and want to believe they are being more eco-friendly by not using a dishwasher.
They aren't.
And the reason they aren't is that while a modern dishwasher has science and technology on its side, cleaning dishes better than ever and even adjusting a wash to the amount of dishes and soil it needs to clean and doing it consistently, the human hand washer needs to be so disciplined that they ALWAYS wash dishes at the most-efficient level they can achieve. That means never running the water too long to get the temperature up, never using more than a cup of water PER DINNER PLATE to wash and rinse, never rinsing the dishes for too long, never getting distracted and allowing the faucet to run longer than is absoultely necessary, not to mention the biggest variable of all: everyone else in the household - hubby, the kids, grandma and grandpa, the cousins visiting for the holidays - who might be called upon to hand wash the dishes having to be just as efficient as the most-efficient person in the household for the "possible and maybe" hand washing scenario to break even with what a dishwasher does as a matter of its programmed, mindless course.
And, you're hand washing your dishes in water that is at least 30-40° colder than the water in a dishwasher.
Good luck with that.
Oh, and the sources who you say need to "stop writing these articles" include Consumer Reports and the Washington Post. Right.
Hey - it' not 1920 anymore. Feel-good, old wives tales like "hand washing dishes is more eco friendly" died before cell phones were rampant. Get with the program - or deny the science and continue to be proudly and bullheadedly eco-unfriendly.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,306 posts)The dishwasher has to use really hot water, and thus more energy, because it doesn't have brushes to physically move the dirt. So it needs really hot water to dissolve the remnants of food.
"never getting distracted and allowing the faucet to run longer than is absolutely necessary"
What? No, I don't have the attention span of a flea. If I want to wash dishes, then I do so, and I don't stare at a bowl, or a dish in my hand, and think "I can't remember why I'm doing this, I'll just leave this tap running for no reason".
The problem seems to be an assumption that a machine is more intelligent than a human.
Look, your own links say hand-washing can be as efficient, and there's no point in pretending they don't, or that "science" came up with the "3 to 5 times more efficient" claim. Or that the guy from the EPA said what he did "so as not to offend". Or that Consumer Reports said anything about hand-washing. Using 12 gallons to wash 4 place settings is so mind-numbingly dumb that it's not worth considering.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)and you refuse to allow yourself to be educated.
I'm still waiting for you to produce an article - any article - that offers proof that hand washing is more eco friendly. Not up to the challenge, or afraid your old wives tale will be demolished?
OR, convinced that you are the one exception that proves the rule?
And we complain that Rs are resistant to scientific evidence.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,306 posts)so it is about as eco-friendly. Obviously, this is true, because I know how much 12 gallons is. You can do it with a bit less water, and heating, so it is slightly more eco-friendly. And I've pointed out the articles actually say it is possible - except the Huff Post, written by a dolt who contradicts the person they quote.
Neema
(1,151 posts)they clean like a dream. Uses way less water than hand washing and gets cleaner too, especially plastic items.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)on it than a toilet.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)You should be able to find 2-3 sites that rate dishwashers. Just stay away from the ones that offer to sell you one. I have found these sites to be pretty good, I used one when I purchased a laptop recently.
Warpy
(111,245 posts)to find out what people don't like about them the most and catch any patterns of parts that need frequent service.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)simpler the better.
ornotna
(10,799 posts)one without electronics is going to be a hard find.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)And made in the USA as well, thanks.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)Got a practically new one free from a couple that redid their kitchen and tossed all their appliances. Had to pay the pool guy $50 to install (I was renting)
Last year, found one for $75. The guy selling it brought it over and installed it. Has worked fine. Again, I'm in a rental. My landlord paid for this one.
Dishwashers are very simple machines. I see no reason to spend lots of $ on them. They all seem to last around 5-8 years before they need replacing.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)it stinks. No, I mean stinks. Like really filthy feet. I looked it up online, and apparently I'm not alone with this problem. I finally found that Jet Dry temporarily solves the problem, but it pisses me off that I need it.
davekriss
(4,616 posts)I have a Bosch. When I stopped fully closing the door between washings, I no longer had the problem. At least that worked for me.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)He said, "This is just something that happens with these." A google search showed he was right.
Neema
(1,151 posts)mercuryblues
(14,530 posts)Do you have the one with the built in garbage disposal? You have to get in there and pull those pieces on the bottom out and give them a good cleaning a few times a year.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)machine before I put any dishes into it. So it was an empty machine, I ran it through and the smell started then.
TheBlackAdder
(28,183 posts).
If you have older homes, with Mercer pipes, this is even more of a problem.
You'll call the plumber, who will snake your lines and then cause damage to the pipe, causing it to collapse or let roots in.
They love that, because it means a $5-8K tear up of your front lawn to replace your pipe. If you have a septic system, the costs will be shifted to that, instead. And that's even worse, because if you use Main Line Cleaner or Root-X, you'll kill most of the bacteria in your system and will have to recharge it.
===
It's best to just wipe your plates off and just use the dishwasher to perform the final cleaning.
.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)And I do rinse my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher.
TheBlackAdder
(28,183 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,674 posts)You do have to clean out the crud in the trap once in awhile; that seems to take care of any odor problems. The dishes get clean and the thing is really quiet.
rufus dog
(8,419 posts)Our kitchen is a continuation of the family room so quiet is critical. The Bosch did the trick. And yes once a quarter I clean out the trap/filter, pour some baking soda and white vinegar down the drain and run one empty load. We are sitting at about 10 years for the thing so I can't complain about reliability.
Docreed2003
(16,858 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)If you find a Siemens,few bucks cheaper than a Bosch and it is a Bosch.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)Cognitive_Resonance
(1,546 posts)peggysue2
(10,828 posts)Same here. Mine's probably 3-4 years old. Never had a problem beyond the heat/dry light going out. Cleans well and haven't had an odor problem. Now I do thoroughly scrape and lightly rinse my dishes and silverware before stacking them. And I rarely leave dirty dishes in the washer overnight. By the end of the day, I generally have a full tub. Then again I can run a 1-hour wash for lighter loads.
I would likely buy another Bosch. This one replaced an older Maytag, which really wasn't very good and I suspect used tons of water.
Liberal In Texas
(13,546 posts)The dish rack configurations are a little weird but it works great. Love the top rack for the flatware.
You don't know it's running unless your right next to it, which is why there is a red light that shines on the floor to let you know it's operating.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,674 posts)just a normal control panel that shows which mode it's running in. But the thing is really, really quiet; I can't tell it's on except for the light on the panel and the soft whooshing sound that's audible only if you're right next to it.
Tikki
(14,557 posts)Quiet as a mouse and cleans very well.
Tikki
Ezior
(505 posts)No odor. Probably only some Bosch models affected by it?
We made sure to get an older cheap model with the dishwasher floor made of steel instead of the new, cheap ones with plastic. I've seen some comments that those plastic floors would start to smell after some time. (Can't be the reason for the odor mentioned here, since that started the first time the machine was used.)
My fairly new Bosch is very silent (compared to other dishwashers I used before the Bosch) and I've checked the water meter, it only used 11 liters (3 gallons) of water. Seems like it keeps some water from the previous dishwasher use and re-uses that water, unless you wait too long before you turn it on again.
eleny
(46,166 posts)I'm giving it away to someone I know because we're remodeling and I bought another Bosch. I've never used Jet Dry. I just use Cascade Platinum and clean the machine every so often with vinegar followed by a baking soda wash plus routine cleanings of the cylindrical filter assembly.
Wish me luck. I'll get some Jet Dry just in case I smell feet. Darn you, Bosch!
Stinky The Clown
(67,790 posts)When we bought the new house there was a Bosch installed. We upgraded all the appliances when we bought it and replaced the Bosch (maybe 10-15 years old and working great) with a new one. The other one went on Craigslist for $100, which just slightly less than a new big box Whirlpool/GE/Maytag.
By the way, there is no "bottom of the line" Bosch. Apart from finish, they all are the same basic machine.
politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)FTR, I use it less and less these days because it's just my husband and me, and I find it easier to hand wash, but I still think it's a great product. Also, mine is almost 10 years old.
SeattleVet
(5,477 posts)Several service calls, and even a replacement. They used to be very good, and had a great reputation, but over the past 4 or 5 years I've seen a LOT of complaints...leaky doors, motors going out, impeller blades breaking, and a lot of other things.
rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)It's pretty new. An appliance repair guy told me recently that all of them last 4-5 years and are designed that way, so get the extended warranty, no matter what large appliance it is.
stopbush
(24,396 posts)when you purchase appliances.
Why? Because the credit card company will usually double the length of time on your warranty for no charge.
This came home to me when a fridge I bought new in Vegas broke after nine years of service. Paid $89 to have a repair man look at it. Would have cost a lot to fix it. My landlord told me to call the store and see if I had purchased it with a credit card. I did. The store looked it up and said I had paid by check. Sorry, no replacement. They also said that had I paid by credit card, they would have shipped me a brand new replacement fridge.
Lesson learned.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)But mine is pretty bad.
Neema
(1,151 posts)works like a dream and every so often we clean that trap. No problem.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)first ran the dishwasher without any dishes in it to clean it before I used it.
So a dirty trap is NOT the problem.
Neema
(1,151 posts)Mine works great for ages and then just needs cleaning out once in awhile.
mercuryblues
(14,530 posts)Bosch and I hate it. It is poorly designed. The damned thing works wonderful and has never broken down.
The major design flaw is that the bottom rack pulls out all the way which gets it off the tracks. I can't push it back in unless I lift it up, full of dishes and place it back on the tracks. I have pottery dishes and the weight has pulled more than a few muscles. The plastic filler pieces have broken off so it also looks like shit.
But 10 years on and it still runs great.
Leith
(7,809 posts)"dishwasher ratings 2017" and you will find lots of them. You could even check Amazon reviews.
One thing to keep in mind is to check on the cost, if any, of carting away the old one. There will be a charge for the install kit (hoses and clamps) and delivery & installation. They can be combined into one price. It will cost more for these things, but installers are very conscientious about your home's cleanliness and you have peace of mind knowing that they have installed hundreds of them.
Good luck and have fun!
NRaleighLiberal
(60,014 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)My first was a low end cheapo dishwasher bought in 1985 and lasted 20 years.
My second was mid level and lasted 8 years and never cleaned as good as the original.
My current rarely gets used except as a giant drainboard but when we do use it the result are hit and miss.
It just kind of how things go at this point in life.
I suspect the youngers will say the same thing in 50 years.
sinkingfeeling
(51,445 posts)never had a service issue with any of them. I even moved one from Ohio to Florida, replacing it with a cheap GE before selling the Ohio house.
Ninsianna
(1,349 posts)The new one is a GE profile Stainless Steel, I don't remember the model number, but the features it has are 3 drawers (one small one for cutlery and odd shaped objects), bottle jets, dual arms and a disposal.
I dragged my mom into a dedicated high end appliance store and compared all the features. The "high end" ones are not necessarily worth the extra money.
Mom loves hers.
Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)Planned obselescence.
That is where I would start
tblue37
(65,334 posts)shraby
(21,946 posts)tblue37
(65,334 posts)want the best dishwasher, you can't cut corners.
QED
(2,747 posts)It on the lower end - not the cheapest but certainly not the upper end. It's only me here so I run it once a week and rinse before using. So it works.
The one feature I really like is that it has an upper and lower zone. If I just need to wash top shelf items I can do that using less water and less time. I have some dog bowls that need to go on the top shelf - they're the slow feed bowls with intricate cut outs that are really hard to clean by hand. I can just do the dog bowls as they take up the whole top shelf. It's all about the dogs here.
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)edbermac
(15,938 posts)Though he's probably not even qualified for that.
rock
(13,218 posts)shraby
(21,946 posts)rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)snort
(2,334 posts)flyingfysh
(1,990 posts)It is the best dishwasher we have ever had.
kysrsoze
(6,019 posts)Its much more durable and not susceptible to warping with high heat. We had the top cave in on a plastic one. As a bonus, youll undoubtedly be getting a very quiet unit as well.
Weve had very good luck with Whirlpool.
shraby
(21,946 posts)dishes upright. The old type used to wear through the coating then would rust all over the edges of the dishes. Whatever they are made of now, they sure are an improvement.
kysrsoze
(6,019 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,377 posts)To me it doesn't seem to matter because they have to be replaced at about the same pace anyway. When I bought this house four years ago, I had a cheap one installed and it'still going strong. My neighbors, who move in at the same time, bought a $800+ model and are on their second machine. The era of the Kenmore's that last for twenty years is long over.
shraby
(21,946 posts)the response I've had. You people were a big help.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)She insists on pretty much washing the dishes by hand before they go in the dishwasher. Raised on crappy 60s dishwashers I suppose.
After 30 years is just smile in amusement.
madokie
(51,076 posts)Maytag to replace the economy model of maytag we purchased the first time. I've yet to hear this new one make a single noise yet. Nor have I gone past it and felt any heat from it either. It cleans like nobodies business to boot. The dishes, the glasses come out Sparkling Clean, I don't mean just clean I mean Sparkling FUCKING Clean
ETA: This one is all stainless, white front to match the other appliances but the inner tub and the outer tub is Stainless, Insulated between the two and thats why there is no noise nor heat emanated from it. Oh did I mention that it cleans the Dishes and Glasses sparkling clean? Well it does a very good job of that
SeattleVet
(5,477 posts)They are super energy efficient, and this one uses about 2 gallons of water for any load. Instead of using more water, if I set it for a super load it pumps the water through the jets faster.
It was somewhat expensive to begin with, but it's worked flawlessly for 5 years now (daily use). Extremely well engineered, and so quiet that I can't hear it over the normal house/street noises during the day, and at night I can just barely hear it when I'm sitting at my desk about 15' away from it. (It also uses a tiny amount of detergent, so there is some savings there, too.)
A friend has one of their washing machines, and it is also a superb piece of equipment.
They make several models of their 'dish drawers', including a double-width one and models with two independent wash drawers and mechanisms.
IphengeniaBlumgarten
(328 posts)Lovely to be able to do small loads without guilt. And for elaborate meals, start washing the prep items in one drawer before dinner, load the other after dinner. And quiet!
jmowreader
(50,554 posts)If you can't wait that long?
Inexpensive dishwasher: GE works about as well as any of them
Midprice: Bosch
High-end: Miele
58Sunliner
(4,381 posts)They are black and are supposed to be baked on but there have been problems with them not being cured correctly and they smell during the cycle, releasing toxic chemicals. I kid you not. We had one and it made me sick. I would say get one with stainless steel and only a fiber surround. If not available I would go with a plastic case with fiber surround. I would get a decent mid-range model from GE/Kenmore/Whirlpool.
melm00se
(4,990 posts)It's called Consumer Reports.
available on line or at your local library
mnhtnbb
(31,382 posts)and love it. Needed new dishwasher for the studio apartment above our garage and read Consumer Reports looking for best bang for buck and no problems. Ended up with a basic Bosch that on sale didn't cost much more than Frigidaire or Whirlpool with questionable repair records. Did have to wait 2 weeks for delivery, but apartment was empty between tenants so no problem. New tenant been in almost 3 months and has had no complaint.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,325 posts)Response to shraby (Original post)
Floyd R. Turbo This message was self-deleted by its author.
Freddie
(9,259 posts)A few years ago to remove the phosphates which polluted. (This was back when we had an admin that cared about those things). Unfortunately the new formulations don't quite clean as well. Thought it was our dishwasher for a while. Jet Dry helps and we use the best available Finish Max Complete or such (can't use store brand). We got an Amana dishwasher 10 years ago still works great.
Floyd R. Turbo
(26,546 posts)Neema
(1,151 posts)We've had ours for a couple of years now and it works great and SOOOOOO quiet. Our last dishwasher sounded like a jet engine.
Volaris
(10,270 posts)Your kitchen is in need of a remodel, check Craigslist and local restaurant suppliers for USED commercial dishwashers ( the stainless steel kind with the drop doors) and if there's one cheap, build your new kitchen around that thing because they're AWESOME. Last one I saw was for less than 1500 bucks, and for Home use that thing should last for about 200 years, minus soap lol.
JDC
(10,125 posts)It came with the house we bought a couple of years ago and it blows away every dishwasher we have ever owned: Maytag, Whirlpool, Kitchen Aide and Bosch.
Response to shraby (Original post)
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Generic Brad
(14,274 posts)Your SOF would then have to wash the dishes. Fair is fair.
shraby
(21,946 posts)Only it's a dishwasher I run now.