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Dishwashers – not exactly sexy. But they are one of the most useful appliances for your home, and a great dishwasher makes a huge difference (especially true if you’ve ever had a bad one!)
But there are also an overwhelming amount of choices out there, and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money. So we did the research, tested a variety of dishwashers, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews.
After intensive testing, we were able to find the best dishwasher. Here are our top choices.
Our Top Pick
Frigidaire FFBD1821MS
This is a great dishwasher, that’s quiet, easy to load – and reliable. With over 90 positive reviews online, and great testing results – we highly recommend it. Our staff also loved the self-cleaning filter, as well as the delayed start feature.
Other Great Picks
Frigidaire FBD2400KS
This is a great value for a dishwasher – it’s easy to load – and reliable. With great testing results from our multiple uses – we highly recommend it. Our staff also loved the price point, as well as the sparkling clean dishes it serves up.
SPT SD-9252SS
This is a great dishwasher, that’s quiet, easy to install – and very reliable. With over 100 positive reviews online, and great testing results – we highly recommend it. Our staff also loved the small, compact size – as well as the perfectly clean dishes (even when we didn’t rinse them first).
Frigidaire 3-Piece Black Stainless Steel Kitchen Package
This is a great deal from Frigidaire – especially if you’re just purchased your first home. With a microwave, dishwasher, and an electric range – you will have everything you need for all your cooking activities. Our staff also loved the sleek look, as well as the low price point.
GE GSD2100VWW
This is a great dishwasher from GE. It has a low price point, has manual controls, and it’s extremely reliable. We had great testing results – and we highly recommend it. Our staff also loved the old school feel, as well as the low cost.
Bosch SHP865WD5N
Bosch is a luxury designer of dishwashers – and this is a Rolls Royce. Quiet, sleek, efficient, and energy saving – we absolutely love this machine. If you have a little extra cash to put towards a great investment – this is the dishwasher for you.
Smeg ST8646U
This sleek dishwasher from Smeg is minimalist, nearly silent, and very efficient. It does have a higher price point, but the durability and quality of this machine justify it. Our staff especially liked the hidden, stainless steel electronic control panel – and thought that was a unique feature that made this machine stand out from others.
Bosch SHS863WD5N
Another great dishwasher from Bosch – this is one of the quietest machines we’ve ever seen. Chances are, you might not even know it’s running – without looking at the little red light. While not the least expensive dishwasher ever made – we think the silent running feature alone, is well worth the slightly extra cost.
Thorkitchen HDW2401SS
This is a great dishwasher, that’s quiet, easy to load – and reliable. We had great results from our testing, and our staff highly recommends it. Our staff also loved the sturdiness of the machine, as well as the sleek design.
Bosch SHX878WD5N
This luxurious, sleek, and minimalist dishwasher from Bosch is our luxury pick – it’s only down the list because the cost may be slightly high for most homeowners. But it has every feature imaginable – it’s quiet, efficient, and great at cleaning dishes. It’s so quiet, that our staff thought it was broken, and that it wasn’t actually running! Incredible.
What Is A Dishwasher?
If you’ve ever been stuck washing dishes by hand, you know that a dishwasher is a very essential appliance for your home. With great power, extreme ease-of-use, and excellent reliability – the dishwasher is the modern hero of the kitchen.
Newer dishwashers are quieter than ever, and they make cleaning up an absolute breeze. Of course, there are thousands of models out there, and there is a world of difference between a cheap dishwasher, and the best dishwashers.
Invented in 1886, the dishwasher got rid of a previously annoying task – hand washing all your dishes after every meal. Imagine having to hand wash all your dishes – three times a day.
It sounds like a death sentence. Using hot water to clean your soiled plates and utensils, dishwashers actually accomplish multiple tasks.
They not only disperse the detergent you’ve put in, they shoot hot water at your dishes to clean them, drain the dirty water, then shoot out more hot water to rinse your dishes.
Pretty impressive, for one little machine. Modern dishwashers also have sensors that stop it from potentially damaging your dishes, as well as sensors that monitor the water level and stop your dishwasher from overflowing.
Why You Need A Dishwasher
This is pretty easy – you don’t want to hand wash your own dishes. Trust us, we tried. Just to measure how necessary a dishwasher really is, we tried hand washing all our dishes for a week.
It did not go well. Not only did we despise the washing by the end of the week (really this happened at the end of the first day) – but our dishes were not nearly as clean.
While not all modern inventions are really necessary (selfies, anyone?) – a dishwasher is a true essential. It makes our lives easier, and without one – we felt both utterly lost, and very annoyed.
What Buying Factors Separate Dishwashers?
While the basic outcome of using a dishwasher is always the same – there are actually a wide variety of different models and features that make every unit different. For example, you can get a completely silent dishwasher that may be triple the price of a noisy one.
Is this worth it? Ultimately, that comes down to your own preference.
Truth be told, in our testing, we only noticed a slight difference with the most important feature of dishwashers – some of the cheapest models didn’t clean quiet as thoroughly. However, these models were often 1/3rd the price of other dishwashers, so some slightly dirty dishes may be worth saving lots of money, for some.
Flexible Racking On Dishwasher Models
One thing we liked during our testing, was the ability of a dishwasher to have flexible racking ability. This means that not every section is specialized – so you can fit bowls on the top rack, just as easily as you can fit plates.
While this isn’t a huge deal for most dishwashers, it can be quite annoying to have a set racking for your dishwasher – especially when you have more dishes than can fit in the designated area of the dishwasher. Since the price doesn’t really change with the ability to have flexible racking or not – we recommend choosing a dishwasher that offers more freedom on where you can put your dishes.
Quietness Of A Dishwasher
This was actually one of the most important factors on our list, when we were reviewing different models. No one wants a loud dishwasher, and silent (or near-silent) models got much higher marks from us.
Of course, this is largely a budget issue. The quietest dishwashers tend to also be some of the most expensive – and cheaper dishwashers tend to be much louder.
While we would never fault anyone for wanting to save money – we think the extra cost to get a silent dishwasher is well worth it. While it may cost a little more upfront – you’ll be saving your own sanity, in the long run.
Drying Style Of Dishwashers
This is a little bit more of a luxury feature, but it may matter to some. Modern dishwashers sometimes have what is called a heat-dry option.
Just as the name implies, these dishwashers use heat to actually remove any excess moisture from your dishes. If you’ve ever had a dishwasher that left you with clean (but wet) dishes – you already understand why this feature is important.
Cleaning Ability Of Dishwashers
Modern dishwashers have gotten so good, that most models (that aren’t too cheap) – will clean just about anything off your dishes. We tested the cleaning ability of every model, by loading up dishes with far more dirt than you could ever put on them from a regular meal.
And – amazingly – almost every model completely cleaned the dishes. Unless you go for a dishwasher that is extremely cheap (which we don’t recommend, for a host of other reasons) – you will likely never have a problem getting your dishes clean.
Dishwasher Cycles
Modern dishwashers have more modes and options than ever before. However, we deemed most of these not really crucial to our grading, when we tested them.
Most homeowners are only going to use normal modes (like rinse, auto, and heavy) – so we didn’t factor in additional modes for our final grades. However, faster cycles did bump up our scores – though it should be noted that these cycles always use more energy, too.
Waste Disposal Ability
There are actually two ways to get rid of waste in your dishwasher – a filter, or a grinder. Most modern dishwashers use filters, which are superior in nearly every way.
They only need to be cleaned a few times a year, and rarely cause any issues. That being said, the way a dishwasher eliminated waste did not really impact our final scores.
Dishwasher Capacity
Capacity is important when choosing a dishwasher – but unless you have gigantic needs, you’ll find that most models offer the right capacity. We never had any issue fitting all our dishes in any model we tested, that’s for sure.
If you have a tiny space, one consideration you might want to make, would be to get a compact 18-inch dishwasher. These are tiny by family comparisons, but they work just fine for one or two people (or if you have a small kitchen).
Dishwasher Efficiency
Dishwashers have become so efficient, that it’s hard to tell the difference between any models, truth be told. It is important to look for an Energy Star rating, but we really did not come across any dishwashers that were inefficient.
One trade off with the increased efficiency of modern dishwashers, is longer washing cycles. Some modern dishwasher models also have low water modes, as well as quick wash modes, which can also help with efficiency.
Dishwasher Air Gap
A dishwasher air gap is actually incredibly important, even though most people have absolutely no idea what it is. Essentially, an air gap for a dishwasher is a fitting that gets mounted a few inches above your sink.
The air gap stops dirty water from going back into your dishwasher – which is an incredibly crucial job. Modern water systems in first-world countries all have systems like this in place, to make sure your clean water supply never gets contaminated.
How To Install A Dishwasher
While it can be done (it’s actually fairly easy for someone with handyman skills) – we don’t really recommend installing your own dishwasher. There are just too many things that can go wrong, and having a professional install it ensures that everything will work properly.
We recommend calling your local handyman, when the times comes for your new dishwasher to be installed. You’ll get double the value at once, as they will also remove your old dishwasher at the same time.
How To Clean A Dishwasher
You may not know that you should clean your dishwasher once a month. Luckily, cleaning your dishwasher (the filter and the drain, specifically) – is surprisingly easy.
In just three steps, you’ll be done. Start by clearing the drain (look for it under the bottom dish rack).
Next, put one cup of white vinegar on the top rack of your empty dishwasher, and run your machine through a hot wash cycle. Lastly, pour one cup of baking soda across the bottom of your unit, and put the machine through another hot wash cycle.
Dishwasher Not Draining?
If your dishwasher won’t train, it’s usually best to get a professional handyman out to fix it. However, there are three quick tips you can use, if you are determined to try and fix it yourself.
First, check the filter. Is it filled with trash? If so, remove it.
Next, if your dishwasher still isn’t draining, check the drain hose. You can try blowing through the hose, to make sure that it’s not clogged (though this is a little disgusting, we admit).
Lastly, try testing the drain valve, if your dishwasher still won’t drain. Push on the valve bracket, to test the drain valve, and make sure that it moves properly.
If all of these methods fail to make your dishwasher drain – we recommend calling a professional handyman. They should be able to fix your dishwasher, usually quickly and easily.
How To Choose The Best Dishwasher For You
Choosing the best dishwasher for you is easy. Simply write down your needs (especially budget) – and go from there.
The good news is that every dishwasher (that is not dirt cheap) – will clean your dishes magnificently. From there, all you need to do is determine what size dishwasher will work best for you, and how quiet you would like the unit to be.
While there are lots of other bells and whistles besides this – the core elements that matter the most are quietness and capacity. If you are single, or do not have kids – a more compact dishwasher may work best.
But if you have a big family – you will almost certainly need a large dishwasher. No matter which model you choose – or what your specific needs are – we recommend getting the quietest dishwasher possible.
While this may at first seem like a minor issue – we can assure you that it makes a huge difference, in the long run. When you never hear your dishwasher running – compared to hearing the audio equivalent of a Boeing 747 taking off in your kitchen (the real experience with a noisy dishwasher) – you’ll thank us.
The Best Dishwasher
There you have it – our picks for the best dishwasher. There are a ton of great home items besides dishwashers, so be sure to take a look at our other product reviews, in the kitchen category.