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3rd Trimester
mama31
member
Recommend your dishwasher
mama31
member
I know this isn?t baby related, but our dishwasher is a POS. DH & I are finally ready to throw in the towel and get something else. We have tried several different brands of detergent and types (gel, powder, the detergent packs), so we know that is not the problem. With another baby on the way, I am not in the mood to mess with this thing anymore. I would like to know what brand & model you have and what you like about it. TIA
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Re: Recommend your dishwasher
Have you tried running it with the Lemi-Shine dishwasher cleaner that they sell in the store? It helps.
We got a stainless steel (inside and out) Kitchen Aid dishwasher that has a little third row that is perfect for bottle and sippy cup parts. I don't remember what model it is.
Before I got pregnant I was a repair person for laundry & kitchen appliances. Now I troubleshoot them until I do the SAHM thing.
A couple key questions:
What year is your dishwasher? Dishwashers manufactured after 2008 have smaller heating elements. They need a little help from your hot water pipes. So run your hot water about 1 minute (up to 120 degrees) before you start your dishwasher.
Also, is your detergent older than 30 days? Especially powder detergent has a shelf life of 30 days & no longer before the chemical compounds break down. If you are using the gel tabs then you don't have to worry. However, you might consider throwing them in with your silverware basket. Sometimes the newer gel packs are too fat for your dispenser. So it gets squished in there and are not as effective.
What model is your dishwasher? You can find the model # when you open the door. It should have the name brand sticker and underneath it an MOD & SN #. Some models have a removable filter. If not cleaned out on a reg basis then food soils will wash back up into your clean dishes upon rinse. Most models before 2008 have a built in grinder filter. Think of it like a little garbage disposal. That has to be professionally cleared out if it gets too gunked up.
Dishwasher Magic, Affresh, & Clorox all make dishwasher cleaner that may help out in the meantime.
https://www.affresh.com/#/dishwashers-disposers/how-it-works
https://dishwashermagic.com/
You could have mineral deposits (rust, calcium buildup CaCo3) that can cause a diminished performance too.
If all else fails, then I recommend anything from Kenmore, Bosch, or LG with a FRONT facing control panel. There are the "hidden" panels that go on the lip of the machine and those can malfunction with some frequency. Most new panels are touch sensitive so be aware that sometimes the learning curve on them will be steep.
Also, if you decide to buy a new machine understand that the EPA has mandated energy-efficiency. So the new models can take up to 4 hours to complete a full cycle-- this is not including if you want to dry, sanitize or add anything else.
The new dishwashers REQUIRE the use of a rinse aid (like Jet Dry) & running the hot water before you start (HE = smaller heating elements to meet gov. standards). Some folks don't want to buy rinse aid or what not. I get thousands of calls a week about dishwashers & long cycle times. It is the nature of the beast.
Sorry about the length, but I hope this helps.
Betty - I am not the OP, but I wanted to thank you for such an informative post. We are also in the market for a dishwasher, but I am hoping to make it a few more months with this piece of crap. Maybe with some of your tips, I can extend the life of it. Thank you!
OP - We have a Frigedaire that came with out house, so it is 8 years old. It's junk.
It is about 4 years old. DH has tried everything. He has cleaned it using a pressure spray of some sorts. We even used vinegar to clean too. He is very handy (self employed contractor) and usually knows what he is doing.
It is a GE and I should have listened to my Mom when she said not to buy GE appliances.lol It was a cheap model too.
We do several loads a week, so the detergent never gets old. I did recently buy the Target packs and they are way too big. I will try putting them in the silverware carrier. I always use the prewash setting. The grinder is terrible too.
Thanks for your help
Our new house had a 2009 Bosch here already. I LOVE IT! It gets the dishes way cleaner than my 8yr old GE we left behind. I use the rinse agent and I guess I need to start doing the hot water thing. But honestly, these dishes are so freaking clean. Noticibly cleaner. I feel like such a dork for getting excited about this, but I do!
Elizabeth
me too! love my kenmore. we have a small house so we went by the decibel rating (definitely didn't wan to get stuck with something too loud). we've had it for about 3 years now and it works perfectly, no problems at all!
We have a Frigedaire too that came w/ our brand new house, it's now 4 yrs old & is a total POS. Can't wait til we get a new one. We'll never buy another Frigedaire appliance (the freezer part of our Frigedaire fridge is also a POS).
Even miracles take a little time - Cinderella
We gutted out kitchen when I was six months pregnant and I did a TON of research on all the new appliances Bosch is an engineering company and rated the best our model is Integra 300 series 24". It is wonderful!!!! We have had more than one crappy dishwasher and if I could go back and trade everyone for a more expensive one I would do it in a heart beat. Completely worth it!
ps use rinse agent