Best Dishwasher Brands

Searching for the best dishwasher is sometimes like trying to find the end of a rainbow. There are hundreds of models to choose from, and it seems like the more you look, the more confusing and elusive your goal becomes.

To help narrow down your search, why not start with the best brands first, and then work your way down the list? According to J.D. Power & Associate's 2009 Home Appliance Study, the top 5 dishwasher brands for overall customer satisfaction are Kenmore Elite, Bosch, Maytag, KitchenAid, and LG.

In our own study of over 200 dishwashers, we rated each appliance in 40 key areas. The top 5 brands that consistently scored at the top in almost every price range were GE, Maytag, Kenmore, KitchenAid, and Frigidaire.

The best dishwasher brands common to both studies are Kenmore, Maytag, and KitchenAid. Let's take a look at their top models:

1. Kenmore 13183 - This stainless steel dishwasher scored 10 out of 10 in our study. It has a stainless steel exterior, stainless steel inner tub, and hidden controls for a sleek, modern look. The 13183 sprays water to 6 different levels, supplements with spray jets, and has a NSF certified sanitary rinse cycle. The design is "Tall Tub" and it holds up to 14 place settings. The racks are adjustable, and you'll love the quietness with only a 52 dbA sound rating. The 13183 is also Energy Star qualified with a 300 kWh annual electricity usage.

2. Maytag MDB8959AWS - Rated 9.8 out of 10, this Maytag has stainless steel inside and out, and the controls are hidden at the top. The cleaning system is one of the best with 5 wash levels, spray jets, steam, and a sanitary rinse. Its eco-friendliness is evident in several areas including a low 291 kWh rating and 4.2 gallon per cycle water usage. The MDB8959AWS holds 14 place settings in the tall tub, and the racks are adjustable. Noise levels are slightly higher than the Kenmore at 56 dbA, but still very good.

3. KitchenAid KUDE70FVSS - With hidden controls and stainless steel all around, this best dishwasher also scored 10 out of 10. Water spray is delivered to 5 levels while the jets scrub and scour any heavily soiled items. The NSF sanitary rinse finishes up a wash cycle that is one of the best. As far as noise goes, it's one of the quietest dishwashers you can buy. At 41 dbA, only Bosch makes a slightly quieter dishwasher at 40 dbA.

Tips For Finding the Best Dishwasher

Did you know that you waste much more water and energy washing your dishes by hand than using a good quality dishwasher? A good dishwasher is not only convenient; it also makes sense from an economic point of view and, if chosen right, helps you do your bit for the environment. Not to mention saving you from having to deal with those dirty dishes by hand, just imagine how many hours a year that will save you! However, it's true that a good dishwasher is an investment so it's important to take care when choosing the right one.

Size

The first thing you need to look at when choosing a dishwasher is what size and type suits you best. For a small kitchen a slimline dishwasher may be the best compromise between available space and the number of settings you can clean at a certain time. If you don't use your dishwasher very often because not many people use dishes at the house a table-top dishwasher may be all that you need. If you have the space and require washing large amounts of dishes, such as a shared flat or a family with children, you'll be better served by a full sized dishwasher, especially one that allows you to do only half loads in case you don't want to have dirty dishes inside until it's full.

Connections and Fittings

You'll need to decide whether you want a built-in dishwasher, or a freestanding one. The first time has a door fitted over the machine front so it looks like it is part of your kitchen cupboards, while a freestanding one is just slotted below the kitchen top and is often cheaper. Make sure you have access to the required drains and water connectors for the installation, as you may need to purchase additional tubes to be able to connect the dishwasher to the mains. Often the same shop that sells you the dishwasher may offer installing services, which unless you are good at DIY can be a real help. Having a misconnected tube leaking dirty water all over your kitchen is not fun.

Extra Features

Dishwashers can be noisy, so getting a good quality one that has a silent mode is perfect if your kitchen shares space with your dining room. Other things to look at are eco-friendly dishwashers that can be run on half loads and low energy programs, as that can mean big savings at the end of the year on your power and water bills.