It is one of those appliances that can help save you time, money, and aggravation on a daily basis. But with all the different brands, features, sizes, sound controls, and energy and water saving options, deciding what is best for you can be a complex process.
Some of the hottest dishwasher brands today for new and renovated kitchens include ASKO, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, KitchenAid, and Miele. Industry experts recommend these top of the line brands because of their long-standing reputation for quality and service.
Bosch Introduced a new line of dishwashers featuring the quietest, most energy-efficient models in the country: the Evolutionª (top) and the Integra¨ (bottom). Both models exceed the minimum federal energy standard by 147 precent
Function and Features
One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing a dishwasher is the overall function. “Function comes first because you can make anything look pretty. Look for features that make your experience easier. You shouldn’t have to wash your dishes before you put them in your dishwasher,” says interior designer Audrey Rothschild, owner of AR Interiors.
You no longer have to pre-rinse or pre-soak your plates, pots, and pans. Today’s high-end brands have built-in disposer traps and grinds that pump away leftover food, making your cleanup routine almost effortless.
Another important function of the dishwasher is adaptability. “If you use the dishwasher frequently for various types of loads, then you want to look for features like adjustability of racks and tines and a variety of cleaning cycles,” says Crissy Hartman, Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer (AKBD) for Keener Kitchen Manufacturing Co.
KitchenAid offers an advanced rack system that ensures everything you want washed has a proper spot (no more willy-nilly cramming in pots, plates, and bowls). This way, loose dishes don’t lean together or shift during washing but instead fit securely in place to get thoroughly cleaned all over.
“People are looking for interior features like fully adjustable racks that can move up and down for big and little things. This allows you to lift the tray out with the clean silverware in it and put it away,” says Stu Dettelbach, CKD, CBD, owner of SD Kitchens.
Miele’s interior has a new highly flexible upper and lower basket configuration–suitable for 14 place settings of China. Way up top, the revolutionary split cutlery tray, which is now made to allow cleaning tall items underneath, is available to house a generous amount of flatware and cooking utensils. Miele also has a unique Multi-function Basketª that is specially designed to hold baby bottles.
Dettelbach says you shouldn’t be as concerned with the number of cycles as you are with the interior features. “The least expensive dishwashers in any brand typically have few cycles and limited if any interior adjustability; the middle grade models have more cycles and some interior adjustability. Top of the line models have the most cycles and the most interior adjustability. And usually the motor and pump are the same in all of them.”
Size
Most people use full size dishwashers (24 inches wide) because of the amount and frequency at which they clean their dishes. Dacor also makes a 30-inch dishwasher for new kitchen construction. But for the past several years, the use of dishwasher drawers has become a very popular trend.
“Do you have a lifestyle where you are cooking every night or are you an empty nester who may eat out several times a week? If you do a lot of cooking you probably need a full-size dishwasher, but the empty nesters might want to consider using the Fisher & Paykel or KitchenAid dishwasher drawers,” says Rothschild.Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer¨ is ergonomically superior to full-size dishwashers because it incorporates the familiar kitchen sliding drawer concept into dishwashing. These drawers give the user easier access, improved visibility and less movements to open, load, and close. You can open and close the dishwasher just like every other kitchen drawer.
“Two drawers equal one full size dishwasher. And Fisher & Paykel claims that the stacked dishwasher drawers hold 40 percent more because there are two levels in each drawer. The other unique benefit in using the dishwasher drawer is that it is the first truly kosher dishwasher. One drawer for meat and one for dairy,” says Dettelbach.
ASKO (above) uses a small, energy-efficient fan that blends the hot, humid air inside with cool, dry air from outside the machine. The air is mixed in the fan duct, and the condensed moisture drains into the bottom of the tank. The fan then cycles on and off for up to three hours to complete the drying.
Sound Control
Despite their cleaning power, today’s dishwashers are amazingly quiet. “People remember growing up with the ‘clang, clang’ of dishes and pots in the dishwasher while they were trying to talk on the kitchen phone. Most dishwashers today are very quiet, and the top of the line models are extremely quiet,” says Dettelbach.
Bosch uses a suspended two-pump motor system to drastically reduce vibrations and noise. And with heavy-duty bitumen coated metal and cotton-fiber sheet insulation, the noise is virtually buried.
KitchenAid uses a Whisper Quiet¨ sound reduction system so you barely hear the machines at work, even when they’re deep-cleaning. This exclusive system provides premium sound insulation.
Aesthetics
In many kitchens today, you’ll find it hard to even locate the dishwasher because it is fully integrated into the cabinetry. “For some people the choice comes down to look. I did 10 kitchens this year and all used integrated cabinet doors,” says Rothschild.
“In designing kitchens, we are concerned with aesthetics and the hottest thing today is fully-integrated fronts. In new kitchens the dishwasher visually disappears, the handle on the dishwasher is the same as the adjacent cabinets and the controls move to the top edge totally out of sight. All major upscale dishwasher brands offer integrated cabinet front models,” says Dettelbach.
In designing kitchens, the hottest thing is fully-integrated fronts. In new kitchens the dishwasher visually disappears, the handle on the dishwasher is the same as the adjacent cabinets and the controls move to the top edge totally out of sight.
Fisher & Paykel makes intergrated finishes that enable you to conceal the DishDrawer¨ in the same cabinetry os the rest of your kitchen. So outwardly, your DishDrawer¨ appears to be nothing than another set of kitchen drawers – with the only hint of its presence being a stylish control badge.
Energy and Water Efficiency
Many of the high-end brands are also concerned with energy and water efficiency. Dishwasher drawers by their nature are more energy efficient. “They save energy because they clean smaller loads of dishes,” says Rothschild.
Specifically engineered efficiencies include Bosch’s ECOSENSEª system that determines the soil level in the wash water and automatically deletes fresh water fills if they’re not needed, saving you time and money while cutting energy usage by 20 percent. Similarly, Bosch’s ECOACTIONª feature adjusts water temperature and cycle length for optimal efficiency, allowing for reduced energy usage up to 25 percent with just the push of a button.
When you are deciding on a dishwasher, consider your own specific needs and compare the features of all the top of the line brands. It is a luxury that makes daily dishwashing chores easier, cleaner, and quieter.
Jennifer K. Dansicker works on Editorial Special Projects for ChesapeakeHome.Contacts:
AR Interiors: 410-486-0368
Keener Kitchen Manufacturing Co.: keenerkitchen.com or 717-244-4544
SD Kitchens: sdkitchens.com or 410-653-1309
Resources:
ASKO: askousa.com or 800-898-1879
Bosch: bosch.us or 800-944-2904
Fisher&Paykel: fisherpaykel.com or 888-936-7872
KitchenAid: kitchenaid.com or 888-886-8318
Miele: miele.com
