Appliance talk.

Kinja'd!!! "mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
03/05/2018 at 12:42 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 31

Today’s topic is Dishwashers. Help me buy one.

Kinja'd!!!

I need a new dishwasher. Bad. My requirements are: stainless interior/exterior. Prefer top controls, not front. Less than $500.

I saw a recent Wirecutter article on dishwashers, Bosch took the top spot at $750, there was a $1000 pick, and a $550 Kenmore for the budget choice. I think I could be happy with the Kenmore, but I am always looking for a deal.

Where is the best place to buy one? Big box like Lowe’s/Home Depot? Classic retailers like Sears/Best Buy? Or maybe take my chances at the Sears Outlet or gamble on a 2yo model at Fry’s.

My wife wants a Samsung to match our fridge, but all the Samsung dishwashers got shitty reviews.

Help me...


DISCUSSION (31)


Kinja'd!!! lone_liberal > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 12:55

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We put in a Bosch when we remodeled the kitchen and it’s been solid, and most importantly for us, quiet. The difference between this one and the old one is incredible. We bought it from a local appliance place so I can’t help you there. You might want to find out who makes that Kenmore and see if you can find it under the original brand someplace cheaper.


Kinja'd!!! boxrocket > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 12:59

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Kenmore’s fine for a budget model. Whirlpool, tool.

Search for local scratch & dent retailers - like Sears Outlet but smaller,and comparison shop.

Try to get the best features you can, like a waste grinder and maintenance-free filtration. Rack configurations can be changed and even swapped out thanks to commonality. Bring a sample of your (clean) dishes with you to check for fitment and spacing: We inherited a set of Corelle which fits great in our Kitchen-Aid dishwasher, but when I tried them in a Samsung (I think), it wouldn’t stay upright except in the tallest rack section, of which there were only 4 holders.


Kinja'd!!! OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:00

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Get a Bosch if you can afford it.


Kinja'd!!! Transit > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:04

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The advertised price is usually missing key parts like the power cord and water connection adapter. Double check if you need one or if you can hard wire before you get home and can’t install it.

Make sure you get heated drying. My parents went all in with a Bosch stainless interior, but no heated drying. They have to leave it open after it’s finished washing so that the dishes will air dry. But it’s so quiet that you can’t even tell it’s running. The sales guy fed them some B.S. about the ‘heat of the water warming up the steel will dry the dishes gradually.’ Does not work.

I got a plastic interior Whirlpool WDF520PADW on sale for $434 and it does a great job. Whirpool makes a lot of the models for Kenmore.

If you’re not picky about a scratch or dent, checking out a Sears outlet has worked well for me in the past. It’s not like they were running those display models in the store.


Kinja'd!!! LOREM IPSUM > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:08

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Fwiw, I ended up buying ours at a Sears Outlet. It was originally priced at $750 or so, and I paid $350 or so because it had a very small ding on the side, near the bottom. (full size portable) Great deals can be had, if they have what you’re looking for or you can live with what they have. We’ve had it for around 5 years now and no complaints.

That said, if you go elsewhere don’t be afraid to try haggling a bit, especially if you’re buying multiple big ticket items. Although the Sears Outlet was firm on their price, I was able to get a few hundred bucks off of a TV when I bought it at “The Brick” a few years ago, and I know the managers at Staples have a large amount of discretion when selling furniture... Not that you’re buying furniture, but worth a shot.


Kinja'd!!! Party-vi > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:17

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Samsung is fucking garbage for appliances. I said it. Fight me. That said, stainless e/i and top controls is pushing it for $500.

Check out a used appliance warehouse. Typically they’ll buy up appliances at foreclosures or auctions and sell them for less than retail.


Kinja'd!!! Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:24

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Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Milky > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:26

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Roomie just bought this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpool-24-in-Top-Control-Built-In-Tall-Tub-Dishwasher-in-Fingerprint-Resistant-Stainless-Steel-with-Fan-Dry-WDT730PAHZ/302792002?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD29A%7C29-7_DISHWASHERS%7CMULTI%7CNA&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vPUBRAyEiwA8F1oDFxbGPYyInkpSDtGZW5VkLWOE4y6Sha_KXaW0TCSdOo7Q-yk8ZWJ9hoCjbYQAvD_BwE&dclid=CL2LiZbn1dkCFRFqAQodHPQOsA


Kinja'd!!! Ssfancyfresh > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:36

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Bosch dishwashers are super quiet. Even their most basic models. But they lack an internal grinder for soft food disposal. So you have to remove major debris prior to loading the dishes or just plan on cleaning the trap frequently. I didn’t mind it, some people do.

Big box stores are typically ok on price and available inventory. If you don’t know anything about dishwashers, it can be worthwhile to go to a local appliance retailer. Just beware of the high pressure sales environment.


Kinja'd!!! adamftw > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:37

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Good, better, Bosch.


Kinja'd!!! Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:44

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I actually got mine is part of a whole kitchen from Ikea. They are debadged whirlpool, which I like since I’m partial to whirlpool for dishwashers, for some reason. The cool thing about Ikea is that you get an extra year of warranty. I have the built-in Renlig model and so far I am very happy with it. It’s nice and quiet and dishes come out very clean. Here’s a stainless model (which looks identical to mine on the inside):

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30384817/


Kinja'd!!! gettingoldercarguy > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:50

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Frigidaire, designed and made here, good support network and very reliable.


Kinja'd!!! Mechanically > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:56

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Big fan of my Bosch. Had it about 2 years.

It is indeed shockingly quiet. I have appreciated that compared to the 15 year old model that came with the house.

And, as mentioned, it doesn’t have a drying element. Don’t really care. I’ve got better things to do than worry about dishes being damp. They’re super clean.

I occasionally clean out the food filter. It’s really no biggie.

I just wish I’d gotten the diesel... The recall woulda paid for itself, but who could have known how dirty those clean diesels are? Hindsight, and all that...


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:57

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I got a Bosch at Lowe’s for 10% off delivered to my house. I don’t think you are going to get those features for $500. My Bosch is white with front controls, it cleans like a bad ass and was $400. It does have a full stainless tub.


Kinja'd!!! Eric @ opposite-lock.com > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 13:58

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Answer: Bosch. Why? I have one, works great with modern dishwasher detergent/pods.

Wait, less than $500. Dunno. I’d spring for a better one that might last longer...


Kinja'd!!! average user > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 14:12

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The only tip I can give is to get one with a metal interior instead of plastic. I have a whirlpool gold series I am moderately happy with it.


Kinja'd!!! BigBlock440 > lone_liberal
03/05/2018 at 14:18

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Have you had any problems with the smell? My parents recently bought a Bosch, it’s damn quiet, but it really holds a smell. Clean, empty, whatever, it smells like dirty dishes. She’s mentioned that other people that have Boschs that she knows have the same problem.


Kinja'd!!! lone_liberal > BigBlock440
03/05/2018 at 14:23

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Only when we leave them in there dirty for too long, which can happen when there’s only two people in the house. Once we run it there isn’t any smell to speak of. We do make sure that the trap is clean as we had a smell issue that traced back to that.


Kinja'd!!! wafflesnfalafel > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 14:26

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Our original to the house 1969 Kenmore finally died a couple years ago, replaced it with a mid grade Kenmore, ($389 on sale,) stainless interior but white front panel, and it’s worked fine.


Kinja'd!!! KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
03/05/2018 at 14:32

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But it’s not Grounded to the Ground so you might get electrocuted.


Kinja'd!!! BigBlock440 > lone_liberal
03/05/2018 at 14:34

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Cool, sounds like it’s not just them, but that there may actually be a solution for it. How often do you have to clean the trap? There’s only two of them anymore too, but it sounds like the trap’s probably the main culprit.


Kinja'd!!! Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/05/2018 at 14:38

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whatever it takes to keep it off the road


Kinja'd!!! Monkey B > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 14:40

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Kenmore is made by either Whirlpool, LG or Samsung depending on model. I don’t recommend either LG or Samsung (especially Samsung) and as far as Kenmore they just don’t offer anything in the reasonably priced section I’d purchase. Largest issue with the Korean brands is service and parts availability...other than Samsung breaking all the time and offering 8000 different models.

Bosch won my last round of dishwasher searches and my latest (as of last week) study of appliances as my GF is redoing her kitchen. My last 2 dishwashers were Bosch an are fantastic. You can probably find an open box in your price range.

If the dishwasher you are looking at doesn’t do condensation drying than you’d be wasting money on interior stainless tub. If you see a heating element at the bottom than it usually means it doesn’t. 

So far as tight budget I found GE and Whirlpool came most recommended. One site showed Whirlpool had the least problems per units sold...but I still found those that didn’t like Whirlpool. My guess was less money to be made on them as they couldn’t give me reasonable explanations as to why otherwise. Went with the Whirlpool matching set...had a little more budget been allowed she would have chosen GE.

In closing, Bosch makes the best dishwasher. Personally I’ve had excellent luck with Whirlpool products over the years. GE seems to get the most nods in the modest price range.


Kinja'd!!! lone_liberal > BigBlock440
03/05/2018 at 14:43

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Here’s a video. This is pretty similar to ours so I’m assuming your parents’ will be the same. We clean it once a month or so.


Kinja'd!!! Monkey B > Transit
03/05/2018 at 14:43

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Condensation drying (as Bosch uses) takes getting used to. I ran mine and left it...if you open it condensation drying is no longer effective.


Kinja'd!!! BigBlock440 > lone_liberal
03/05/2018 at 14:45

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Thanks


Kinja'd!!! Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Transit
03/05/2018 at 15:14

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I don’t believe it’s legal to hard wire dishwashers anymore, they need to be on a plug to make repairs easier for everyone.


Kinja'd!!! Transit > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
03/05/2018 at 15:50

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I might be grandfathered in. It’s on a dedicated line back to the breakers. Probably want that to be GFI to be safe too.


Kinja'd!!! ranwhenparked > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/05/2018 at 19:11

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You don’t want advice from me, my style is to buy the cheapest Kenmore Sears has and run it until it fails, then repeat.


Kinja'd!!! Pistol Whipped Cream > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/06/2018 at 17:00

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There is a Sears outlet nearby. One in your area? Old models for cheap prices.


Kinja'd!!! oldmxer > mkbruin, Atlas VP
03/07/2018 at 10:20

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most dishwashers have steam now so check out consumer reports, then go to nearest sears outlet store and find one that is on their recommended list