What are your must have dishwasher features?

[Anonymous]

My KitchenAid is quiet, has a third rack, has a built in garbage disposal to take care of food that comes off (allegedly you can put a completely full 9x13 pan of lasagna in it, run the dishwasher, and the dishwasher won’t get clogged and your pan will come out sparkling — but I won’t be testing that claim), the heated drying cycle works better than a lot of other models, but best of all, the main upper rack is adjustable. I can make it higher to accommodate a tall item in the lower rack or lower to accommodate something tall in the upper rack. I’ve had it about 4 years and I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My KitchenAid is quiet, has a third rack, has a built in garbage disposal to take care of food that comes off (allegedly you can put a completely full 9x13 pan of lasagna in it, run the dishwasher, and the dishwasher won’t get clogged and your pan will come out sparkling — but I won’t be testing that claim), the heated drying cycle works better than a lot of other models, but best of all, the main upper rack is adjustable. I can make it higher to accommodate a tall item in the lower rack or lower to accommodate something tall in the upper rack. I’ve had it about 4 years and I love it.

I know 3 or 4 people who've had trouble with this feature. It gets clogged (or something) and can only be fixed by a service person.

[Anonymous]

Quiet.

My current dishwasher has a third rack for silverware, and I love it. More space in the bottom rack and the flatware doesn’t bang together (I use my real silver everyday).

Do dishes really dry? I hate having to hand dry the dishes, even after they’ve been sitting. As pp mentioned, Kitchen Aid is good for this (it has heating elements on all sides, not just the bottom) but my Miele does a good job, as well.
As well.

[Anonymous]

A third rack that holds glasses. The glass sprayers are magical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quietness

I went from a high decibel Danby to a quiet as a church mouse Bosch. It's really nice. The signal that the wash cycle is over is a little red light on the floor.

I also appreciate the 3rd row cutlery tray on top. Really opens up space on the bottom rack.

[Anonymous]

Buttons on the top edge of the door (facing the ceiling when closed). My MIL got a new machine that was great but it had very sensitive buttons on the outside. Every time someone leaned against the counter, it turned it on or off, but it was so quiet, you didn't notice until you went to reach for clean dishes and realized it had paused.

We had one in a short term rental that was 2 drawers. Hated it -- you couldn't fit tall items and we almost always have a full load anyway (4 people). But I have a friend who is an empty nester and cooks very little and she loves her 2 drawers.

The 3rd rack for silverware has grown on me and now I love it.

[Anonymous]

I love/hate the third rack. I love that I don't have to stick the flatware handle down thus touching everything. but also I think I'd prefer to stick everything food side down/handle up in buckets.

I don't care too much about everything else. I have a big family and run the dishwasher all the time (new house will have 2).

probably my main peeve is washers that don't allow for efficient arrangement of items. the 20 year old Jenn air in my rental is inefficient

[Anonymous]

Sanitize cycle
Adjustable racks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love/hate the third rack. I love that I don't have to stick the flatware handle down thus touching everything. but also I think I'd prefer to stick everything food side down/handle up in buckets.

I don't care too much about everything else. I have a big family and run the dishwasher all the time (new house will have 2).

probably my main peeve is washers that don't allow for efficient arrangement of items. the 20 year old Jenn air in my rental is inefficient

I use my 3rd rack just for glasses and chopsticks. Regular silverware is best in the buckets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My KitchenAid is quiet, has a third rack, has a built in garbage disposal to take care of food that comes off (allegedly you can put a completely full 9x13 pan of lasagna in it, run the dishwasher, and the dishwasher won’t get clogged and your pan will come out sparkling — but I won’t be testing that claim), the heated drying cycle works better than a lot of other models, but best of all, the main upper rack is adjustable. I can make it higher to accommodate a tall item in the lower rack or lower to accommodate something tall in the upper rack. I’ve had it about 4 years and I love it.

I know 3 or 4 people who've had trouble with this feature. It gets clogged (or something) and can only be fixed by a service person.

My GE has a similar feature and it's really easy to unclog by hand

[Anonymous]

I am willing to pay a lot for a really nice dishwasher... I have had several types and brands and would pay for a Miele every single day.

It is MUCH quieter than the Bosch - makes a big difference in an open floor plan. I have to delay start my Bosch if I want to watch tv in the next room. The Miele you can barely hear right next to it.

I also love:
third rack
moveable second rack
adjustable rows in bottom rack
super gentle - I put everything in except leaded crystal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quiet

Short cycle.
I can't think of the last time I used the regular cycle. "Short" cycle is long enough and everything comes out clean.

But it wastes water. The long cycle generally is more environment friendly in most machines so better to use that if you're not in a rush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cycle delay so we can set it to run right after dinner, but it will run at night. This way any dishes we find later in the evening can make it in.

This. The best.

[Anonymous]

If you are going to have a baby, "top rack only" mode was clutch for running an extra cycle for all the bottles/pumping parts we used in the first year. And I love how quiet it is. I never have to think "should I run the dishwasher now?" Just run it, even (especially!) if company is on its way over.

[Anonymous]

My Bosch has a light that shines on the floor when it's on. It's so quiet that the light is really helpful.

My MIL's Kitchen Aid goes a step further and shines the time left in the wash on the floor.


And I love my silverware third rack.