We have ordered our appliances but have not yet installed. We allwed ourselves to get "sucked into" the high-end appliance envy and have ordered mostly Miele appliances, including a mid-range Miele dishwsher. From evcerything I have read I think the cutlery will come out very clean becuase it has its own sprayer above the rack.

That said - about 6 months ago our 15 year-old JennAir dishwahser died. Knowing we were getting ready for the complete redo we bought a no-name ultra cheap $200 dishwasher.

And even though I am looking forward to our fancy Miele, our $200 dishwasher get the flatware in the basket quite clean and the glasses are clear and spotless.

I would say if your primary criteria is clean dishes you will be more than pleased with the GE.

My vote by far is for the cutlery tray, all else being equal. We have the miele optima and it's simply the best DW I have ever used. We run it every 2-3 days, no rinsing or other prewashing, and even baked on macaroni and cheese comes off the corningware pan with a breeze. The silverware is always sparkling clean with the cutlery tray, and sorting it when it's put in the DW makes unloading a breeze.

That said, you probably get a discount on the GE appliances, and I know we thought long and hard about splurging on the miele. Had the price difference been even greater, I don't know if I would have been able to justify the difference in price. In the last year before our kitchen reno the 5 year old kenmore started leaving us with crusty silverware and caked debris in the bottom of the glasses and I was really fed up with picking all the food off of everything just to put the it all back thru the DW. I'm sure there are other DW that perform as well as the miele, but I've never been lucky enough to own one.

I'm thrilled with my dishwasher's cutlery rack. I think the silverware gets cleaner because it's loaded in a way where nothing is nesting (plus the sprayer at the top of the dishwasher). Removing the silverware basket in the bottom has given me more room for a large item or two.
Monica

The advantages to the cutlery tray (Miele):

There's a sprayer arm in the very top of the DW & the cutlery tray, plus another at the bottom of the middle basket. Since the cutlery is usually loaded side by side, & not on top of each other, it gets sprayed all over. In a basket, items can be blocked or nested.

Unloading a cutlery tray is fast, especially if it was loaded by type (not necessary, & up to the individual). It also lets you see & grab just the handles.

I have been poked by knives & other sharp objects when unloading from a basket. A tray prevents this.

Monica, I agree with you that I love my Kitchen cutlery tray and I removed the silverware basket since I am not using it. The silverware come out so clean and are easy to load and to unload for me. I just wish that wide area would have an adjustable partition area so I could fold dong the prongs to keep the wide space or click them in to have more space for dishes.

I do love the blue lights you talk about and how quiet the dishwasher is. But during my third wash one of the small plastic lids did fall and got melted badly during the dry heat. I am enjoying the dry heat having dishes ready to put away except for the plastic containers when I open the dishwasher. I am going to have to put more of the little lids in with the sport bottle tops in the little basket I have in the front that I am using to wash them. The bigger lids I clip onto the prongs and it really secures them. I need to do a review but I am so busy right now and barely can get done what I need to do. I will find time next month.

Thanks for all the response. I am more inclined to buy the Miele. There is a local dealer - I will go look once again.

bommai, you can't go wrong with the Miele. I have a few clients that own Miele dishwashers and love them and now that I see that I prefer the Cutlery tray, I know I would have loved one also. I do love my KitchenAid but I wash a lot of plastic containers and lids so I will have to be very careful of how I put them in the dishwasher.

bommai-when you go to look at the miele you may want to take a few plates and bowls with you to make certain the rack configuration of the model you are considering works with your dishes. Some folks have had difficulty with larger stonewear plates and bowls fitting the racks properly, but mine fit fine. Also, the Miele's (I think it's all the models but not 100% sure)use a passive drying system rather than heated drying system. The major downside is that plastics often come out of the DW slightly wet, but the advantage is that you can place them anywhere in the DW (upper or lower rack)and they don't run the risk of melting that Lynn2006 refers to. May or may not matter to you.

None of my plastic tops or containers melted when secured either on the top or below in the kitchenAid dishwasher during the heat dry except for the lid that fell onto the heating exposed element. The plastic does not come out completely dry either but the other dishes from the heat dry come out so dry. I never really used a heat dry before but I like being able to put all my dishes and silverware away immediately and use my stainless steel drying rack for just the plastic containers.

I had thought I would need both the silverware basket and the cutlery tray but I see I prefer the cutlery tray but when taking out the basket to make more room, that space is too wide unless I am using it for pans and pots which is not too often since I microwave most of the time. Maybe I will put the basket back in that has lids and put the plastic lids inside so they do not fall out. I will come back with a new update when I do dishes again. I only seem to do dishes once a week. This is why I went with the quieter KUDE70 model since I knew I would have to rinse and scrape well so the inside of the dishwasher would not smell until I had enough dishes that needed to be washed. I also wash my little dogs' stainless steel small little bowls.

I love the cutlery tray! We have a miele and I have been very impressed. The tray allows more room where the basket used be located, quick unloading, clean silverware due to each item being placed separately and additional spray arm on top, and sanitary as you can grab the silverware by the handles to unload.

bommai--The hidden controls look much sleeker and the handle would certainly be convenient to hang the dishtowel on. That said, I have the exposed controls because the budget was blown by an appliance price increase we didn't know about. My DW is in an area of the kitchen where it's somewhat hidden from view, and I was dying for the Wolf rangetop and wall oven. So, I got the performance and had to sacrifice on the controls (but I sure do miss that handle.....). I agonized about all the handles not matching (wall ovens and fridge)and no one will ever notice--they'll be too busy oohing and aahing over other aspects of your kitchen!

I went to the local Miele dealer and looked at the Inspira and Diamante Plus models. I can't really afford anything more expensive. The fully integrated Diamante Plus model is $1499 in stainless steel. The front button Inspira model is $1200 I believe (need to double check on that). The integrated Inspira is $1399. The Diamante has the water softener, the inspira does not. I am not sure if I need the water softener in Melbourne, Florida. I might just shell out $1500+ tax for the Diamante Plus. Is it a good model? Any problems with it? I could have gotten the top of the line Monogram for $400 cheaper!

You work for GE, why would you buy something else? I do not get why you would even consider something else.

I work for GE and get great prices on all appliances. I bought a GE Profile french door stainless steel refrigerator with dual evaporators and LED lights last year. Works great. The built-in water filter is great and the ice and water taste great. It is in storage now waiting for our new house to be built. We are ordering the following GE Monogram products for our new house.

Cooktop (36" Induction Electric) - ZHU36RSMSS

Built-in Oven - ZEK938SMSS

Built-in Advantium - ZSC1001KSS

Hood - ZV950SDSS

For each of these appliances, I can get a 4 year in home warranty for $99.99 each - and I am doing that just to be safe.

However, I am hearing a lot of negative reviews for the GE Monogram dish washers. I had the following model in mind, but don't know if I should go with that or the Miele.

ZBD8920PSS

This one matches our other appliances and also has steam pre-clean option. However, I have not actually looked at it myself since there is no monogram store nearby. The Miele looks like it is built solid. I can get the above mentioned Monogram dishwasher for cheaper than the cheapest Miele (Inspira with front controls) and also get the 4 year in home warranty.

I still can't make up my mind.

I can't help you with the Monogram line, but I love my GE Profile dishwashers. They are now 2 years old and clean so much better than the 12 year old GE Profile dishwashers they replaced. I don't know what they did to improve them but it worked.

I guess if you're asking about the cutlery tray or basket that means GE doesn't have the tray.

yeah - the GE does not have the cutlery tray even in their higher end model! Too bad.

How can you not buy from your "own" company because of a cutlery tray? The GE DW is beautiful looking. I agree with the one poster about..."how can you not buy from the place you work at." Call me patriotic and loyal to my company, but I would be ashamed of myself for not buying the products my company produces. Support your associates and financial well being of your company. I personally think you are crazy for not taking the GE deal.

My brother works for GE and the only reason he buys their products is because of the discount. Otherwise he'd shop for what he really wants but in reality he can't pass up the savings. GE is a little behind on new design. Several years ago when I bought my GE refrigerator for our vacation home they didn't offer French door and they didn't have dishwasher drawers either.

Hey GE isn't worried about supporting their customers. They tried to sell the appliance division and didn't have any takers.

So bommai- buy want you really like. I had to get GE dishwashers because both of mine had been recalled so I didn't get to shop around. But as I mentioned above, I'm very happy with them- even without a cutlery tray.

The water in FL is generally the pits, at least everywhere I've lived. All have needed a softener. Best to get an independent water test done before you go further.

I agree....they give you a paycheck and support your family. I am sure GE has been good to you in many ways. Show your support for the company you work for. I would feel like a piece of c...p buying a competitors product, and ashamed also. And turning up a discount because of a plastic cutlery rack...come on now.

Hey guys - don't get too sentimental. Over the years every large appliance I have bought for my house (two refrigerators, washer, dryer) have been GE. This is my first new house build and I told the builder I will provide all the appliances. I am buying all GE appliances except for the dishwasher because of the lack of the cutlery rack and because there seems to be a general lack of good reviews. However, I might get to see one of these dishwashers in person tomorrow in Orlando. There are no Monogram dealers in the town where I live in Florida (Melbourne). So, I have not seen any of the monogram line appliances in a while.

Buy whatever brand you want. You owe GE a job well done in the field in which you were hired. Your personal life is yours UNLESS you signed a contract promising to make all future appliance purchases GE. I can't imagine them caring. How "loyal" will they be to the 100's that could lose their jobs due to the economy and/or their lack of sound business practices. If you want a 3rd rack, you should have it :) Be sure and take your tape measure, plates and some larger items to make sure they're going to fit in the Miele like you expect them to. If they don't,check out Kitchen Aid's dw with a 3rd rack.

bommai - back to your original question . . .

I bought the Miele dishwasher IN SPITE of the cutlery tray - that's how I felt at the time of purchase. Now, I LOVE the cutlery tray and until something even better comes out, I would not consider buying a DW in the future without the tray. It cleans great and the bonus is how quickly I can put the silverware away after it's washed because it's already sorted.

as far as not buying from GE...I suggest you buy the appliance that will work best for you at a price point you feel comfortable with. Companies design, manufacture and sell better products because they know "loyalty" will only get them so far.

Let us know which one you choose. Good luck!

I don't know how GE works but my wife works for a company whose products she can get really cheap, and they LIMIT how much she can buy because it's actually costing them. So in her case she's not doing them any favors by buying their products. They're doing us a favor.

Me again! My house is about 30 days from getting done. I already ordered the GE Monogram cooktop, wall oven, wall advantium, and hood. They will be delivered this thursday. The only thing left is the dishwasher. I am still torn between GE Monogram and Miele. As a GE employee, I can get the top of the line Monogram dishwasher for less than the bottom of the line Miele. My wife loves the cutlery tray and the adjustability of the miele racks. I also like the construction quality better on the miele. However, I will have to go to the optima for delayed wash or turbo wash. Optima is $1800 (fully integrated model). The GE monogram is a lot lower with discount. Also, the Monogram has steam pre-wash and bulk dispense of detergent. But the ultimate question is, how well does the Monogram wash. Some people are satisfied, but many are complaining. Last chance - what should I do?

Take a piece of paper and WRITE down the differences in the dishwashers. Make columns for your brand/model choices, with features and pricing running down the left side of the page. It will look somewhat like a spreadsheet.

Then study your decision points WITH your wife. Decide together which features are most important to you and be sure to think 5-10 years into the future. For example, if the delayed wash is important (you pay lower electric rates at certain hours and need to run the DW then), then the DW that can give you that feature would be the better choice. Your decision should be made by the two of you alone, based on what's most important to you and cost.

I make big purchasing decisions in this manner every time. When written down and prioritized, the best answer is usually very clear.

Just a question: I was scanning this thread and didn't see if you took up the suggestion to take some dishes with you to try loading them into both the Miele and the GE/Monogram (I'm assuming the layout won't vary too greatly between the Profile and Monogram lines).

I mention this because when I took this forum advice and went into the store with some of my biggest/most awkward cookware and dinnerware, I was disappointed to find that they simply didn't fit well into the Miele. Cost wasn't the issue for us. My main priority was flexible loading, and because of this we ended up with a different brand DW. I have nothing against the cutlery tray, but I needed a lot of height inside the DW, and so had to eliminate the third tray models.

Like all appliances these days, there are so many different brands and models, you have to find something that works well for your lifestyle and cooking ways - because not every appliance is optimal for each individual.

I did not get around to taking dishes to the store yet! The middle rack of the Miele is height adjustable. So, I assume that if you have big pots in the lower, you could raise the middle rack. I could not do this in the GE Monogram - lower end model. My confusion is that the higher end GE Monogram is not found locally! I need to know if the racks are the same or not. I need to act now since I need the dishwasher in a week.

I have the KA that has tray and basket. I've removed the tray and use the basket only. Sounds like Miele for tray is much better. The KA seems time consuming to load into tray which was a big reason I don't use plus another big reason-- I need the extra space for the glasses. The tray takes up too much of the already limited space.

Love our Miele dishwasher with cutlery tray. It is the best dishwasher I have ever owned!

We also have the GE Monogram single wall oven and the Advantium...love those too! Just a note...we have the 30'' wall oven and it is not huge. Are you sure the 27'' will be big enough for your needs?

cali_wendy - do you like the cutlery tray then? Which model Miele do you have? The local dealer said that the Diamante plus is 65% of his sales. The optima is $300 more. I am leaning toward Diamante if I go with Miele. I have not completely ruled out the GE Monogram top of the line model either. It has automatic detergent dispenser - which is pretty cool and it also has steam pre-wash. It has no cutlery tray though. But the description says it has fold down tines and adjustable middle rack. But without seeing it I don't know how good they are. But the Miele is built solid. The racks on the Inspira/Diamante/Optima are all the same.

cali_wendy - I forgot to answer you other question. We are vegetarians and don't bake huge meat items. We could have even skipped the oven, but we wanted to keep it to meet code and resale. We got the 27" because it was cheaper and most people said it is big enough. We got the appliances (except the dishwasher) delivered yesterday - haven't opened them yet.

Wow, I'm doing my first kitchen remodel and picking appliances. I've had a GE DW for years. Until I started reading this forum I was fine with the occasional dirty fork or glass. MY GE had heated dry and all my dishes came out hot and dry. Lately there is more food on the forks. Is it the baskets? Is it the age? A little food doesn't really bother me. And perfect utensils don't either. But I live on a cattle ranch.

I am getting some high end stuff at my local appliance dealer but he had an ASKO he had discounted for $799. I was considering the Miele, but now having decided on the Thermador all frig column and the Sub Zero freezer drawers and the yet to pick speed oven, I decided to take the ASKO deal. Sometimes you have to look at the whole picture. The GE would be an easy choice for you. It's good and it's cheap. But if ALL your other appliances are GE, you just might need one of them NOT to be. Just cuz.

Miele owner here...cutlery tray is fab. Miele makes the best dishwasher in the World.