Over the course of a year, a dishwasher can free up to 230 hours of your time that you would have otherwise spent on hand-washing your dishes. The model that you choose should have a reasonable cycle time and key features for delivering well-washed dishes. If the noise level matters to you, there are additional features to look for as well.
Soil Sensor
Soil sensors detect how much food is on your plates to adjust the cycle time. This helps ensure that you open the door to completely clean dishes at the end of every load.
Proper Cycle Time
A quality dishwasher shouldn’t take too long, but it shouldn’t be too quick, either. Dishwashers that have one-hour average cycle times probably won’t thoroughly clean your dishes. They also leave your dishes wet instead of drying them.
Expect a high-quality dishwasher to take between two and two and a half hours to complete the process. Some models offer an express cycle for dishes that are only lightly soiled. The express cycle takes 20–60 minutes.
Flexible Programming
You’ll probably want more than the standard options of light, normal and heavy. Additional cycle features to look for include china/crystal, pot scrubber, single rack, soak/scrub, steam clean and sanitizing. The sanitizing feature is essential for killing up to 99.99% of food soil bacteria. We recommend that you use the sanitize cycle once a month to give your dishes a deep cleaning. Regular cycles for the rest of the month work to adequately clean your dishes.
Stainless Steel Tub
The quietest dishwashers are those with stainless steel tubs. They don’t collect stains from hard water as easily as other materials, either. Some dishwashers have steel walls but a plastic base. This is better than full plastic, but you may want a fully steel machine if finding the quietest model is important to you.
45 Decibels or Less
If the dishwasher runs at 45 decibels or below, then it will be among the quietest. Noise ratings are based on the entire cycle’s average volume, so keep in mind that there may be decibel spikes during certain parts of the cycle. This is true for all dishwashers.
Nylon-Coated Racks
Some racks are coated in nylon, while others are coated in vinyl. Nylon is the more durable choice.
Adjustable Racks
You’ll save money on cycles by choosing a dishwasher that has adjustable racks. Ideally, you only want to run the dishwasher with a full load. Folding tines make it easier to situate tall or bulky cookware in the machine. Height-adjustable racks also help you maximize space.
A high-quality dishwasher should have a reasonable cycle time and soil sensors to thoroughly remove food particles. Other features may be important to you, depending on what type of dishes you have and your tolerance for noise. Reach out to our team at Sierra Appliance Service for high-quality dishwasher repair and installation in Porterville, CA.
