Dishwasher recommendations?

[Homerboy]

Have a < 4yr old Kitchen Aid that we have had 3+ service calls on, I have 3+ boxes of "parts" in the basement, and the thing still cleans like pure sh!t. So its going to the curb ASAP, but I'd like to know if anyone recommends ANYTHING but Kitchen Aid garbage.

We don't need some Uber-Washer, just something to run a cycle a day or so and get our dishes CLEAN for once.

Thanks.

 

[dullard]

First things first. Get a detergent that has enzymes that break the food down (for example: Electrasol available anywhere, or Great Value available at Wal-Mart). Doesn't cost much more and it will even get old crappy dishwashers to wash quite well. I can't help with your constantly breaking dishwasher though. Read a Consumer Reports.

 

[Homerboy]

its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

 

[Analog]

BOSCH. We love it.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

If your dishes don't come out clean (like you said in your post) and if you are using a standard detergent, then a better detergent certainly will help.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

My dishwasher doesn't heat the water...my water heater does.
As always make sure you're loading it correctly.

But perhaps you just got a lemon.

 

[marvdmartian]

Stay away from Magic Chef. Far, far away!! :disgust:

I worked for navy housing about 6 years ago (location to be kept secret ), and the government, in it's fiscally challenged wisdom, decided to go with the cheapest dishwashers they could lay their hands on, namely Magic Chef (a subsidiary company of Maytag, by the way). These things would oftentimes last less than 6 months, then need to be replaced (our contract stated that if repairs were less than $125, then repair, otherwise replace), due to the fact that they were total garbage.

As a matter of fact, GSA (the part of the government who bought these things) got so many complaints about them, that half way through the purchase contract, they made a deal with Maytag (again, the parent company) to purchase the remaining quantity required in the contract as Maytag dishwashers, at an added cost. Even with the higher initial layout, the government saved money by not having to replace the garbage Magic Chefs.

Oh yeah, and that company makes lousy stoves, refrigerators & washers/dryers too! :|

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

If your dishes don't come out clean (like you said in your post) and if you are using a standard detergent, then a better detergent certainly will help.

and a good detergent would be???

 

[BAMAVOO]

Isnt' washing the dishes the womans j0b?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
and a good detergent would be???

I said in my first post what to get - anything with enzymes. Then 2 minutes later, before anyone else posted, I edited in two specific examples.

From what I hear, you probably do need a new dishwasher. But if you can get buy for a few weeks/months just by a detergent switch, then you can wait and really research a good dishwasher and get a great deal.

 

[Homerboy]

sorry missed the edit with the name brands. I just read it off the auto-email thing
thanks dullard

 

[Rubycon]

Miele hands down.

 

[Apex]

Viking DFUD142-DSS Designer Ultra Premium

If it's too much, Asko actually makes it for them. The D3630 is almost equivalent.

Asko D3630

 

[MisfitsFiend]

We've got one of these in Stainless, and we love it!! I could never go back to a standard dishwasher again!

here's the Fisher & Paykel off their website...a good look inside.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

My dishwasher doesn't heat the water...my water heater does.
As always make sure you're loading it correctly.

But perhaps you just got a lemon.

Then your dishwasher is busted. Every dishwasher contains a heating element because normal hot water from your water heater is not enough to get your pots clean without manual scrubbing.

 

[Saint Nick]

my dishwasher is 19 years old. still cleans like a champ.

 

[Medicine Bear]

Bought this recently and love it. Super Quiet. All kinds of options. Cleans the hell out of things even on the short quick wash option. Best appliance I've ever owned.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

My dishwasher doesn't heat the water...my water heater does.
As always make sure you're loading it correctly.

But perhaps you just got a lemon.

Then your dishwasher is busted. Every dishwasher contains a heating element because normal hot water from your water heater is not enough to get your pots clean without manual scrubbing.

BS. the heating element is most often used to dry the dishes at the end of the cycle. only the high-end dishwashers heat the water.

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Homerboy
its not the detergent. Water not heating up very hot now, cycles run FOREVER...ugh. Just frustrated as all hell.

My dishwasher doesn't heat the water...my water heater does.
As always make sure you're loading it correctly.

But perhaps you just got a lemon.

Then your dishwasher is busted. Every dishwasher contains a heating element because normal hot water from your water heater is not enough to get your pots clean without manual scrubbing.

BS. the heating element is most often used to dry the dishes at the end of the cycle. only the high-end dishwashers heat the water.

Are you sure about that? I've looked at a lot of them (I'm actually kinda sad to say).

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
BS. the heating element is most often used to dry the dishes at the end of the cycle. only the high-end dishwashers heat the water.

Are you sure about that? I've looked at a lot of them (I'm actually kinda sad to say).

I can't speak for every dishwasher in the world, but the 5 or 6 I've used, work this way. My current dishwasher's manual recommends the temperature to set the water heater to for best performance.

 

[Mill]

I've got my water heater jacked up extremely high (can barely have it on hot in the shower without scalding you), so I don't know if my Dishwasher heats up or not. I find that an pre-rinse, good detergent, and then cycle gets all my dishes clean. Never scrub in the sink, ever.