Dishwasher Decisions!

10 years ago

Okay... narrowed it down to two potential dishwashers and could use some Houzzers' advice, esp. from those of you who own these dishwashers. Here goes:

1) KitchenAid's KDTE204EPA, also known as the "panel ready" version of their 46dBA dishwasher with ProScrub option. I already own a KitchenAid dishwasher and know they do a decent job, and that this will be quiet. It looks to have three drawbacks, as far as I'm concerned. First, I'm seeing on ye olde Internet that the panel I would have made for the dishwasher will cover the little indicator light, and there will be no way to know whether or not it's running. KitchenAid hasn't seen fit (like the Europeans) to have these dishwashers in panel-ready configurations "beam" a light on the floor to indicate they're running. That's annoying but not a deal breaker. Second, that utensil basket on the bottom looks HORRIBLE to me. It is totally inflexible and has little room for weird-shaped tools, very unlike my existing KA, with tops on the basket that flip up. Perhaps I can just move my old basket to the new dishwasher? Third, that third rack will NOT hold utensils; the tines are too shallow to have any value at all. So I'm stuck using... see #2... the HORRIBLE utensil basket.

2) Bosch's SHV68T53UC, a.k.a. the "panel ready" 800 series Bosch. This seems to also have three issues. The first may be a deal-breaker, and has to do with the bottom rack's configuration. Seems like with American-size plates there may be no way to load, say, 10 dinner plates AND 10 bowls in this dishwasher. The dinner plates will "stick out" into the area that the bowls are supposed to be stashed in, so there will be wasted space in loading. Perhaps I'm wrong about this? I took 2 plates & 2 bowls to the store just to see whether they would fit in between the tines and nest properly; they did, but today I went back and noticed this flaw. Clearly I need to return to the store and re-do my testing... but those of you who have this DW may know how to load it better than I, or perhaps this isn't a problem for you? Second, the cycle time really is quite long. I understand this won't be an issue 90% of the time, but still... and third, I hear reports that dishes (esp. plastic) don't get dry in these DW, since there's no heating element.

Thoughts, anyone?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

catbuilder
10 years ago
I"m from Gardenweb, not Houzz, but here's my take on the Kitchen Aid: the silverware basket lids are removable, so that should give you the flexibility you need. For the indicator light, can't you drill a hole in the panel (line it with a grommet)? It's strange they put the light on the front; mine's on the top with the controls.
PRO
Anglophilia
10 years ago
My light is on the top of the door, too, but it IS 13 yrs old!
Related Professionals
Belleville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Baltimore Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Virginia Beach Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Rochester Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Poughkeepsie Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Florence Kitchen Remodelers · Spring Kitchen Remodelers · Newport News Kitchen Remodelers · Charleston Kitchen Remodelers · San Diego Kitchen Remodelers · Rapid City Kitchen Remodelers · Alexandria Custom Countertops · Johnson City Custom Countertops · Waco Custom Countertops · Gloucester Custom Countertops
sprtphntc7a
10 years ago
try the Appliance Forum, u will get more responses....
zorroslw1
10 years ago
I have the Bosch 800 series in my new build. I don't have a problem with plates and bowls on the bottom rack. If I don't have room for all the bowls I put some on the second shelf with the glasses. My dishes are dry when the cycle is finished. You need to use a rinse agent to help with the drying and also the Bosch has a heat pump to heat the water which in turn helps with the drying. Apparently when the hot water is removed it leaves the inside hot enough to dry the dishes. When I open the door a LOT of steam escapes. I let the door open until the steam is gone then close the door to allow the remaining heat to continue to thoroughly dry the dishes. I love my Bosch! It does run a little long but also has an express wash cycle.
cpartist
10 years ago
I hate my KA dishwasher with the third rack. It hasn't held up well. In my new build, I'm going with the Miele dishwasher.
practigal
10 years ago
Personally I just lay utensils down on the upper rack put the bowls right over them the utensils are not so wide that they block the item above from getting clean...
Karenseb
10 years ago
I have the Bosch and I really like it. I bought a different more versatile Bosch utensil rack as an option because I like to wash 9X13 pans and other large items and found the utensil rack that comes with the dishwasher was using that valuable space. Some people use the top basket for utensils, but that seems like more work to load and does not work for me anyway because the utensil drawer is not nearby, so I need a utensil basket. The optional utensil basket can go just about anywhere. I do think some of the tines could have been made or spaced differently. With my dishes I can fit 10 large plates and soup/salad bowls. Some of my small deep cereal bowls are harder to place. I usually put them on top, but they take up a lot of room and I had the same issue with my KA.

I did not load all 10 in the pic, but I can see that why would fit. The utensil basket also fits in the back.
PRO
Deck The Halls
10 years ago
I also have a Bosch 800 and I like it. I've not had any issue with plates or bowls fitting in it, I have Fiestaware, which I tested out before I bought it. I find it holds a lot of dishes and the 3rd rack is really great because if necessary, I can take the utensil rack out and put them all up there instead allowing for more room in the bottom rack. I've also had no issue with drying as long as I don't open it before the light goes off.
Nancy Trainer
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the photos, Karenseb. Man, it's so nice to hear from people with actual experiences (and who are clearly very serious in researching their choices). Great feedback, Houzzers!