I absolutely love my KitchenAid dishwasher but it was here when we moved in 8 years ago and is getting long in the tooth. Every time a part falls of I say, "We didn't really need that anyway" but my wife seems to disagree. So I'm dishwasher shopping. Our local dealer recommended the KitchenAid KDFE104HPS which is rated very well by Consumer Reports. There are some Bosch models that rate higher but the number of models from Bosch is dizzying. Any thoughts that I should consider before I buy?

---

Ukulele music I couldn't find anywhere else.
[colquhoun.info]

I'd keep that washer going if not for the demands by your wife.

---

I wish we had a third rack for cups/mugs/etc.

AJ madisons web site is excellent for comparing models and reviews, and pricing.

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Anecdotal advice- I used a Bosch at a friends house once and it was quiet, but it was also so powerful that it broke some of their super thin wine glasses.

Good friend of mine is a plumber, and has replaced his share of dishwashers... In his experience, almost every one he's replaced for the past few years has been one with the controls on the top edge of the door, and they've almost all been failed "brain boards". Steam gets in and kills 'em.

He also said there are very few models left that have the controls on the front, but, that's what he'd try to buy if he was putting one in his own kitchen.

---

Paul F.
-----
A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
----
Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
--

--

--
Eureka, CA

Make sure if you get a Bosch that there's someone close by for warranty/repair work if needed.

I'm in the boondocks of VA and on NextDoor someone complained bitterly about not being able to get theirs fixed under warranty because there isn't anyone in the area to do it.

Quote
Paul F.
Good friend of mine is a plumber, and has replaced his share of dishwashers... In his experience, almost every one he's replaced for the past few years has been one with the controls on the top edge of the door, and they've almost all been failed "brain boards". Steam gets in and kills 'em.

He also said there are very few models left that have the controls on the front, but, that's what he'd try to buy if he was putting one in his own kitchen.

That's interesting, though anecdotal. I personally don't buy it, at least for our 3-year old Bosch dishwasher. Perhaps it only applies to older designs. When I look at my current Bosch "controls on the top of the door" dishwasher, the difference between that and a "controls in front" dishwasher is about an inch. There's no seal on the outside of the door top so the controls are visible through the crack and open to the air. The seal is on the inside of the door and I don't see any possible way for steam to get from the interior of the dishwasher to the controls without making a big cloud of steam in the kitchen, which doesn't happen.

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

I have been shopping and was aware of the third rack and top controls etc., and was putting off buying one until I found what I wanted. Well, my nieces and nephews all went together to buy one for mom and I’ll guarantee you they got something not up to my standards. But I have to keep my mouth shut because everyone will jump all over me. When I was looking, Kitchen Aid was at the top of my list.

I have this one for about 3 years now and it's been flawless, does a fantastic job.

KDTE334GPSS

Looks like this is a pretty close equivalent. I paid $800 for the one above.

[www.abt.com]

---

Good Luck!
Jamie Dresser
Other World Computing

I'm the worst cook among all my friends, so I am always picked to be the dishwasher.


Oh, wait… You want a dish-washing machine.

Never mind…

---

=wr=

we have a 15-year-old KA - KUDS02FSPA3. Dunno what we paid anymore, $1000?. It has a flatware 3rd rack. And the brain is on top of the door interior.
No complaints. Replaced the door latch plate, the hinge strings, the grinder prop and one interior gasket. Parts were ~$50 and were pretty fast and easy installs.

As others have said before, I'd buy a KA/Whirlpool product before any other.
The appliance repair guy what redid our fridge sealed system, said the same.

That said, if you're handy, try to maintain what you have.
Lotsa forums for DIY help. Appliance411 and Appliance Parts Pros, off the top of my head.

Ain' nothing' built now like it was then.

YMMD, dunno anyone who has gotten a decade out of their Bosch without a major repair and/or tearing their hair out looking for parts.

Don't buy LG or Samsmung unless you are offered the cost of something else as a rebate.
PoFS.

Don't use the heated dry cycle and most dw's get extra life. We run at night. by am, most is dry except plastic things.

---

!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2022 05:37PM by Fritz.

>YMMD, dunno anyone who has gotten a decade out of their Bosch without a major repair and/or tearing their hair out looking for parts.

We're on 8 years for ours, although we've been in the house only two years. I wouldn't be crushed if it died as its an entry level model and I'd prefer a nicer model. My inner cheapskate vs my ego.

Had a KA at the old house and loved it. Moved to a new house that had Electrolux “Elite” appliances. They suck. Bought a new KA and it’s awesome. I’m not home now so can’t tell you the model number, but will update when I get a chance.

Ours hasn't been used in months. I store my mason jars in it. I just handwash everything as it is used, I find it to be faster and easier than loading/unloading.

If we ever remodel the kitchen, I would seriously consider leaving it out for more cabinet space

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late

Quote
Ombligo
If we ever remodel the kitchen, I would seriously consider leaving it out for more cabinet space

Only a good idea if you plan to die in that house. Will look very weird to any future buyer to be missing a dishwasher. A property down the street did a teardown and rebuild and put up a 2000+ sq ft house (which is big for this neighborhood, especially with 2 houses on the lot) and they put in a tiny ~8x10' kitchen and didn't put in a dishwasher. Just a really odd design decision. Then they asked way too much for rent, went through thousands of dollars of rent cuts and months before they actually rented it out.

Our three year old Bosch stopped working. I discovered that after Christmas dinner when it just ran and ran but never used any water. Fortunately I'd purchased the extended warranty and a guy came out in a few days after I called. We were both really surprised when he pulled it away from the wall and a rat ran out from behind. Left a huge mess of potato chips that he had been storing back there and any number of little plastic bits from various components.

New parts will be here next week. I don't know if the extended warranty covers rat damage; guess I'll find out soon enough. Can't blame the Bosch!

Still don't know where that rat ran off to!

We like our ~5 year old Bosch. Buttons on top of door, 3 levels (silverware on top). No problems yet. Very quiet, does a good job.

In re the steam damage issue.. yeah, that was a design flaw for years, and is not unique to the top button designs. Our front button design Frigidaire (built in 2002) caught FIRE after ten years due to that reason. And then the plastic tub melted from the heating element... I plastic welded it shut and carried on. Replaced it last year. Our current GE model is working well. I'll recommend the following features:

Stainless steep tub
Food disposal / chopper gizmo

I do like the third drawer designs, but I don't have one of those. It's perfect for lids and large utensils. I never never never use heated dry. My kids do, and it annoys me.

At the time when I was shopping for a dishwasher 8 years ago, I chose the cheapest Miele dishwasher in the lineup, Miele Futura Classic. 3 pullout trays. The top one is for utensils. No issues so far.

---

LG 3 rack
controls on top
hanging in there
quiet

---

Staunton, Virginia

The most frustrating part about shopping for a dishwasher is that the things I really want to know are unavailable until it's actually installed and in use: how loud is it, how well does it clean soiled dishes, and how long does it take until I can unload it?

You can research all you like, but until you get it installed and used it you'll never know for sure.

---

g=

I went through this last year ... everyone was telling me to go Bosch, but I'm glad I didn't. I went with a top-of-the-line Kitchenaid ... the 604 model. It has been generally excellent; my one complaint is that it occasionally doesn't get something clean, like for example peanut butter stuck to the inside of spoons, but this may have less to do with the dishwasher and more to do (I'm told) with my detergent and the terrible quality of water we have here.

The pros: it's unbelievably quiet (you wouldn't know it's running unless you're in the same room), the racks are extremely versatile and can be removed/rearranged (VERY useful for cleaning my hamsters' aquariums), no weird shapes of racks, it looks great and takes all the standard KA/Whirlpool parts. Top-mounted controls, no "towel bar" (I hate that!). NO filter maintenance -- the model I got has a large object catch basin, but you don't have to clean any filters. Heated dry if you want it, I rarely use mine.

The cons: none other than what I mentioned above.

Watch a video here and you'll see some of what I've mentioned: [www.youtube.com]
(I myself find that I can't fit everything, but that may have more to do with how I'm loading it and that I'm not taking best advantage of the space)

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

We went from a great mid range Bosch to a craptastic $1000+ KA when we remodeled our Kitchen in 2004. It never cleaned very well and gave us all kinds of trouble throughout its 12 year life. We almost replaced it after a few years (and should have), but we were soured and frustrated by the experience so just ended up living with it for far too long, throwing money at it each time something else broke. A friend owned the same model and had many of the same problems.

YMMV of course, and their appears to be a lot of love here for KA dishwashers. But I replaced it with a Bosch, and I wish I had done so a lot sooner.

Quote
gabester
The most frustrating part about shopping for a dishwasher is that the things I really want to know are unavailable until it's actually installed and in use: how loud is it, how well does it clean soiled dishes, and how long does it take until I can unload it? You can research all you like, but until you get it installed and used it you'll never know for sure.

My family and I have been staying at AirBNBs over hotels more and more. I ALWAYS make note of appliances, bathroom fixtures, mattresses, etc.. and even mundane things like doorknobs that I like and have performed well from staying there a few days.

---

Have 2 Bosch dishwashers. Now about 13 years old. Doing great. Had to replace a pump/valve thingy on one of them, the local appliance repair guy did that. Otherwise, no issues. Super quiet, stainless steel interiors. The controls are on the top.

Oh something else worth mentioning:

For all of these brands, realize that what might have been true 20, 10, 5 years ago, might not be true now.

For example: my mother, who has an older (10+ year) Bosch, swears by it. But someone I know who purchased one three years ago has had nothing but problems.

For that reason: I did a really thorough (and I mean REALLY thorough, as in spreadsheet) meta-analysis of the reviews on all the major sales outlet sites for all the models I was looking at (over 20 models at one point), and then looked very carefully at those numbers.

---

Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2022 07:47PM by PeterB.

For @davemchine, an explanation of Bosch model numbers: [www.reviewed.com]

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2022 10:34PM by davester.