My daughter has this dishwasher (recent remodel) and loves it. Two little kids, loves the top rack for lids, etc.

i may consider it.

Can you post of picture of your bottom rack? I want to see if it's the same as mine, in which case I'll show you how I put pots on the bottom rack.

Hi, sj. Here are two pictures from this morning. The first is how I loaded it last night. I had to handwash another pot that didn't fit, (and my big sauté pan and lid take up too much real estate, so I always hand wash those anyway)

The second shows the tines. Some are close together and only little plates fit. All of them slant, so it's hard to put a pot in; they want to go straight. Even the box grater you can see between the strainers above wants to go in straight, but can't. And none of the tines fold.

The basket is pretty big, and I'm thinking of getting a different, smaller basket for more space on the bottom, or just always putting the flatware on the third rack, for more pot space on he bottom.

Is this the same as your bottom rack?

I see you don't have a reply yet, but would you mind telling me what model Bosch you have? I am hoping to purchase soon. I would also be interested in how SJ does the loading.

Susan

I'll take pix tonight.

We were going to buy Maytag washers as I always had good luck with them and they came in about 500-600 each and ran at like 50 decibels.

After reading posts here, we opted to get 2 Bosch 500 series for like $900 each that run at 44 decibels..

Hoping that 3rd row and 6 decibels is worth almost doubling the cost.. heh.. but sounds like most like them.

R

Homegrown, we got a 500 series, 5-cycle, 3rd-rack.

Russ, don't know if it's worth twice the price, but it is pretty nice!

I put my pots and pans - and any other big, bulky stuff - right where you show your silverware basket. I'd suggest removing the basket and using the 3rd/top rack for those items. It takes some getting used to, but some people (including me!) prefer using the 3rd/top rack and getting rid of the removable basket.

It's always something. I loaded the top rack with all my flatware. When I went to put it away, I had to do this:

Yep, thats as far as the silverware drawer will pull out with the top rack pulled out. And in fact, the drawer is pushing the rack to the right a bit, they actually collide, so I don't think I'd want to do this very often. I did not design this kitchen, but have always appreciated how the dryer opens right over e silverware basket. So easy to empty.

Bp, if I'm right that in the picture from May 22 at 6:40 a.m., the front of the door is at the left (perpendicular to the silverware basket), then it's the same as mine. The tines that go all the way across the back are an inch apart, the ones to the right about 3/4" and the ones to the left about 1-1/4". I never bother folding down the tines, I just load it like you did - dishes all across the back, and everything else (including pots) laid over the tines in the front. Sorry I couldn't be more help. I did remove the silverware basket as soon as the dw was installed.

Thanks, Sj. I think I'm going to get a half-basket. It will hold my flatware, and still leave me more room for big bowls. I can put the utensils on top because it doesn't interfere with my utensil storage.

I wish the bottom basket had a tighter grid on the bottom, so I could put smaller bowls and mugs down there sometimes.

Why don't you put your flatware on the 3rd rack? It's great for that and for us (just 3) there's still plenty of room for utensils.

Ha ha, see my picture above yours! I am experimenting with that all week, to see if I can figure out a good unloading technique since I can't have full access to both the drawer and the rack at the same time. So far the best is to sort all the flatware into my hand, then close the rack, open the drawer, and put it all away.

But, loading them into the dishwasher is not as easy as with a basket. Can't just drop 'em in, you have to place them a bit more mindfully.

True about the loading - it is harder than with a basket. Like someone told me when I got my 3rd rack, unloading is so much easier! I'm a tad OCD when it comes to loading the utensils in the 3rd rack, so I just grab a handful of spoons, a handful of forks, a handful of knives, and I'm done.

Salex, so far I'm using your method: putting the knives together, then the forks, spoons, and everything else goes where it fits. But, since we load the DW throughout the day, it takes some planning, and training of the family.

Anne, I remember staying at a vacation cottage with no dishwasher...that was no vacation lol! Hoping for a true vacation home for you :)

Welcome to the 3rd rack fan club! I hate bending so had been dreaming about having Fisher and Paykel extra wide draws flanking the sink for years and years.

I had a d/w with the cutlery rack in my last house, and while I would have missed it, I was still planning on my dream drawers. Well, I'm temporarily in a house with a cutlery basket, so now I have scraped the plans for the drawers and am going for the 3rd rack again. I miss my high cutlery rack every single day!!!

Hi, CATS, so happy to be a club member! I am getting totally used to it :) I'm figuring out how to put the knives together, etc, and how that can change when everyone is home all day versus when DH travels, school is in session, etc.

My current experiment is, aha, lifting my flatware tray out of the kitchen drawer and setting it on the counter, transferring the clean flatware into it, then continuing on with the rest of the racks. It's a step, but pretty easy.

Im loving using the tray for little things like the cat food can covers, little prep/custard bowls, zester, knives without bumping other things!

Hmm, does anyone make drawers with a cutlery rack instead of basket?

I use it for cat food can covers too :) Argh, I was hoping someone would come out with drawers with a cutlery rack, but alas, it doesn't appear to be in the cards.

bpathome- do you have the smell issue that some have complained about with bosch? also, which handle/controls do you have? im looking at a couple of the 500 and one of the 800 series. the 800 has foldable tines for $100 more than 500.

Hi, Jess, sorry, I just saw this. I don't have the odor issue! I've heard of it here, but havent experienced it. I have a 500 series I think (why isn't that on my manual?) The controls are on the outside, the cycles are Heavy, Auto, Normal, Express, and Rinse. I usually use Normal or Auto. A row of tines on the middle rack folds down, but not on the bottom rack. The handle is recessed (it's in a corner and a protruding handle would hit the cabinet knobs, and vice versa)

Hmm, I wonder if the foldable tines on the bottom make a difference? I wish the bottom rack had weren't quite so open on the bottom, that the mesh or whatever you call it were closer together. I have. To watch small plates and be sure I put any square pans just so so they don't dip too far below the bottom of the rack.

We have three 800 series and one 500 series dishwashers between our main home and our vacation home, purchased about three months ago. The 800 series is far superior. The foldable tines, more quiet, the third rack. LOVE love love the third rack and I use it for our flatware. I do not use the basket at all!