Which bosch dishwasher should i buy

Bosch confirmed with us that all its dishwashers use the same wash system. The Bosch dishwashers did well with even the most ridiculous messes, including dried-on refried beans and cheese, plus burnt-on brownie batter in the bottom of a mug, loaded in the farthest corners of the top rack. This was true even when we used the cheapest powdered detergent we could find at the corner store near our office in Long Island City, New York. Other reviewers have found excellent results, too.

For one thing, Bosch dishwashers all use a passive drying system, which means that they put all of their energy under DOE and EPA guidelines into washing the dishes, without holding anything back for the drying segment. One side effect is that the more basic Bosch models, such as the Series, struggle to get plastic dishes dry, but pricier models in the Series and especially the Series do a better job. Alona Wells, a senior manager for Bosch, compared the effect to that of an extended-release headache medicine.

The Bosch racks glide pretty smoothly and sit securely on their rails, without wiggling or skipping as much as the racks on other affordable dishwashers.

The higher-end models Series and up have even smoother rack movement because they add ball bearings to the rollers. At the Series level, you get a V-shaped third rack instead of a flat rack or no third rack at all on some Series models.

The V-shaped rack is useful because the small trough in the center is deep enough for spatulas, whisks, measuring cups, sippy-cup lids, baby-bottle nipples, and other not-quite-flat items. Each side of the rack can be adjusted independently, so you can set it at a slant and fit unusually tall items on two different racks at the same time while leaving the third rack in place.

The warranty provides a year of parts and labor coverage for defects, which is standard. Replacement parts but not labor for defective racks and motherboards, as well as tub rust, are covered for up to five years.

Bosch senior marketing manager Cara Acker confirmed with us that the company aims for at least a year lifespan with average use, which is the softly spoken industry standard. Former Bosch product manager Sachin Sood confirmed that, as well.

The pandemic has led to long wait times for service appointments. Bosch dishwashers are also very quiet. But even the affordable Series runs at just 44 decibels, which is quiet enough that you might have to actively listen for it. How are they so quiet? On top of the usual noise-reducing strategies that most dishwashers use, such as a stainless steel tub and water jets aimed away from the walls, Bosch models also have a thick layer of bitumen insulation which also contributes to the drying performance.

And the leak-protection molded base also helps muffle the sound of the motors. Like all modern dishwashers, a Bosch model takes about two to two and a half hours to wash and dry a load of dishes on its default cleaning cycle auto, in this case.

We found in our tests that the Speed60 mode cleans almost as well as the auto wash. Bosch recommends Speed60 only for cleaning fresh soils, not dried-on food—but in our tests it worked great on most of the crusty stuff. The drying was, eh, incomplete, but most of the glass and ceramic pieces came out dry. This is mostly true, though the reality is more nuanced than that. Lower-end Bosch models, up through the Series, have an entirely passive drying system we cover the ins and outs of drying later in this guide.

It works great with glass, ceramic, and metal but not as well with plastic. But most people seem comfortable with this limitation. Or, you could step up to a higher-end Bosch model, which can do a better job drying plastics. The Series has a feature called Auto Air, which pops the door open at the end of the cycle, giving the moisture inside a chance to evaporate quickly. The Series and up has a feature called CrystalDry, which is so, so clever and such an elegant feat of engineering. In our tests, it got all types of plastic completely dry, every time we used it.

You can feel good about paying extra for this feature. The CrystalDry system relies on a type of mineral called zeolite, which has the curious property of getting hot when it gets wet. Zeolites can be found in volcanic rocks, among other sources. As the zeolite gets damp from the steam, it also heats up.

The hot, dry air from the hidden crystal chamber gets vented back into the main tub, where it encourages more evaporation, and the cycle repeats. Bosch claims that the zeolite crystals will last the lifetime of the dishwasher. Zeolites have been in use for decades for an unbelievably wide range of applications, from mining to medicine to cat litter to laundry detergent to radioactive-waste cleanup.

So far, so good, as far as we know. Some people find this layout too restrictive, especially for big or oddly shaped items. An alternative would be something with a more flexible bottom rack, like the Maytag we recommend. Also, Bosch Series models and up have fold-down tines on the bottom rack, a design that gives you a little more flexibility.

But if you think the layout will drive you nuts, just buy a different dishwasher. This problem seems to be very rare, and usually the odor fades after a few cycles. Every brand has some kind of terrible but ultimately rare quality-control problem, and any appliance purchase is a bit of a dice roll. But a lot of the complaints are rooted in a misunderstanding of how all modern dishwashers work.

Yes, Bosch recalled several hundreds of thousands of dishwasher power cords due to a fire hazard a few years ago. But there have also been credible class-action suits regarding fire hazards from Whirlpool and Frigidaire dishwashers recently, as well as class actions against other dishwasher brands for other reasons. There are plenty of people who have had a legitimately terrible experience with a badly defective Bosch unit—but trust us, the same is true of every mainstream dishwasher brand.

The whole supply chain is messed up, and factories are operating at limited capacities, from what we understand. For now, you need to be lucky or patient to get the specific model you want. But Bosch makes dozens of dishwashers, most of which are pretty similar to one another, so you could consider just picking whatever is available.

This Bosch brochure PDF is the most comprehensive and easy-to-scan source for figuring out the differences among the dozens of variants and maybe finding your ideal model.

All Bosch models have the same washing system, so there should be no difference in cleaning performance throughout the lineup. In our tests, at least, this was the case from the Series through the Series. The model series gives you an idea of the racks, quietness, drying system, and other subtle upgrades. Ascenta is the most basic series, followed by the Series which has a semi-random assortment of extra features including the Speed60 fast-wash cycle , the Series quieter, all-stainless tub, always a third rack , the Series ball-bearing racks, better drying, deeper third rack , the Series even better drying, even deeper third rack, fold-down tines on the bottom rack, more cycles , and then the high-end Benchmark series and Thermador brand interior lights and aesthetic upgrades , which overlap a bit.

Nearly every Bosch model is available in a stainless steel finish. Many are available in glossy white or glossy black. Some models come in black stainless. A few are panel-ready, which means you attach your own panel to match your cabinets. Like most brands, Bosch makes models with both front-facing control panels and integrated hidden, top-mount control panels.

The integrated models come in a few different handle styles: scoop, pocket, and bar. Scoop handles are on the lower-end series, while pocket handles are more upscale. Bar handles are found throughout the lineup, but those machines tend to cost a little more than other models in the series. Some variants, at several price points, come with a tray for water-softening salts, which can be a game changer if you have hard water.

Bosch also sells some inch-wide built-in dishwashers in the Series and Series that have many of the same features as the inch models. And Bosch sells a bunch of ADA-compliant dishwashers, too; the company had sold more than a half-dozen models when we started working on this project, but now the lineup is limited to the inch models we mentioned above.

Think of it this way: Many people love Bosch dishwashers, some people hate Bosch dishwashers. If you demand bone-dry dishes every time you run your dishwasher, the works as well as anything out there. Like all Maytag dishwashers and not many others , the also has a food chopper.

But most people, most of the time, would never notice the difference between a filter-only dishwasher and one with a chopper. Like a lot of dishwashers, the Maytag has only two racks; not everyone needs the extra capacity of a third rack. The step-up Maytag is a few decibels quieter and also has a third rack. In our cleaning tests, the Maytag performed nearly as well as the Bosch models we tested on its default wash cycle as did the other midrange Whirlpool models we tested.

The Maytag and Whirlpool machines washed away almost every tough mess, including crusty oatmeal and burnt brownies, even when we used mediocre detergent. One big caveat tied to the cleaning performance: The can easily take more than three hours to finish a load.

Our test load was also filthy to the point that it did not resemble any real load of dishes and probably triggered the soil sensor to keep the cycle going, going, going longer than it would have with a normal stack of dinner plates and breakfast bowls. They were much more likely to leave behind globs of tough soils like oatmeal and egg. Whirlpool Corporation dishwashers seem to be pretty reliable. Maytag dishwashers earn just a Good rating, though that could be a holdover from historical data collected a few years ago, before Whirlpool and Maytag models became so similar to one another.

To put that in context: Bosch models are all built around the same basic machine, with steady and obvious improvements as the price increases. The results are often pretty similar, though. KitchenAid models look great and have some interesting features, but they were a bit of a disappointment in our tests, especially for the price.

The cheaper Whirlpool dishwashers are bad in several important ways. Kenmore dishwashers are also made by Whirlpool, and they should work fine. Miele dishwashers are known to last about twice as long as those from other brands, including Bosch.

Like a lot of modern machines, not all Miele models are great at drying plastic, though. As you step up into the G series, Miele adds more and more wash cycles and comfort features. In July , Miele will be replacing the G series with the G series, with useful features like the fast-wash cycle trickling down from the pricier G series.

How can we know that Miele dishwashers last so long? Nobody has good data on appliance longevity by brand, so our best sources of info are anecdotes and brand promises. Miele claims that it designs and tests its dishwashers to last for 20 years with average use, while most brands aim for about 10 years and some make no promises at all. And the folks at Miele have been making these longevity claims for so long decades that it seems likely somebody would have caught on by now if they were full of it.

Buzzing solenoid valves were apparently the most common problem by far—a nuisance, but not a critical failure. Of course, some people have had a bad experience with a faulty Miele and less-than-ideal product service. It can happen with any appliance. This seems really uncommon, though. We tested two different Classic Plus units both installed in our office in Long Island City, New York , and they struggled a bit with the stubbornest foods, including a cheese-and-bean plate, egg, oatmeal, and burnt brownie.

But with most loads, most of the time, a Miele should still get everything totally clean. The passive-drying system works well for most dishes but can leave some moisture on soft plastic items just like the Bosch Series and other dishwashers without a heated-dry system. Some step-up variants have an auto-open feature, which cracks the door open after the final rinse to help moisture evaporate quickly similar to the Bosch Series and a few other models.

As with Bosch and some other brands, paying for a higher-end dishwasher gets you more flexibility, with more rows of fold-down tines and deeper third racks.

Some of the lowest-cost models have just two racks, but most have a third rack of some sort—some that hold only cutlery, others that are deep enough to fit spatulas or ramekins, a few with segments that you can slide around to make space for deeper bowls or open up some clearance for tall items on the rack below.

Miele also does a better job than other dishwasher makers of indicating where you can adjust the racks, with tabs, sliders, and levers that are helpfully colored in yellow. Some even have illustrations to show how you can use them. As for noise, the G models are rated at 46 dBA, right on the cusp of being inaudible from across the room.

Miele G machines get as quiet as 42 dBA, which is functionally silent. This is another feature that we unfortunately were not able to test, though our editor says that it works great in her Miele. One plausible theory is that the prepackaged detergent tabs and pods that are so popular now are actually an overdose for many loads of dishes. So an automated dose-management system could prevent waste, keep some money in your pocket, protect your dishes from etching, and save you the hassle of loading the tray before every load.

One thing to note about Miele appliances not just its dishwashers is that Miele sells them only through certified dealers and will send only a certified technician for installation and service. If you live far from a major mainland metro area, you may not even be able to buy a Miele dishwasher, let alone get it repaired by a qualified tech under warranty.

They clean just about as well as their pricier siblings and should be just as reliable. But they tend to be loud, the racks are rickety, and their food filtration is not always great.

We nearly recommended GE dishwashers as our runner-up instead of the Maytag Machines from the two brands are similar in a lot of ways, with heated drying, a food grinder, great cleaning performance actually beating out Miele , decent racks, and quiet-enough performance.

It has a third rack, plus bottle-washing nozzles built into the tines on the middle rack, a feature that we think is pretty cool even as we recognize how gimmicky it is. But its current lineup is a mixed bag. We tested the KitchenAid KDTMKPS , and it was not one of the better cleaners we used; other reviewers seem to have found better performance in their testing, so maybe we got weird results though we tested it more than a half-dozen times, with different detergents and settings.

The higher-end KitchenAid models have upgraded racks including a deep third rack with built-in cleaning jets , but they can be awfully expensive. Consumer Reports gives the brand a middling reliability rating. Yale Appliance also found not-so-great reliability for several years—though according to Yale , the quality actually began to improve in Hopefully KitchenAid continues its upward trajectory, but there are still a few things stopping us from recommending KitchenAid for now.

It performed okay in our cleaning tests, but it has by far the highest rate of complaints from real-life owners about poor cleaning ability and long cycle times of any dishwasher we looked at. Whirlpool also sells a few lower-end models, also with cheap racks and just-okay ratings. These three brands all make decent dishwashers that should work well for most people most of the time. Frigidaire specializes in affordable plastic-tub dishwashers.

The Frigidaire line uses a heated-dry system, and both models we tested were great at drying dishes. But weak owner ratings at retailer sites, Consumer Reports reliability data, and J.

LG dishwashers do a lot of things similarly to Bosch models, with an emphasis on quiet performance and capacious, versatile racks. But J. Power actually ranks LG as one of the better brands. Power rates the brand among the best for initial satisfaction with dishwashers, and Yale Appliance finds a low rate of service , at least in the first year of ownership.

Owner ratings are more middling, though, and Consumer Reports rates the brand poorly. The racks were also our least favorite among all the midrange models we tested. The bottom rack technically glided smoothly, but it felt awfully heavy. Beko, a mainstream European appliance brand, has been a fringe brand in the US under the Blomberg banner for about a decade.

Many of them are luxury brands, which we admit is a blind spot in our knowledge. It comes in both single-drawer and double-drawer configurations. The double-drawer model also gives you the flexibility of having two small dishwashers—run one while you fill the other. And see where you can save but still get premium-quality cleaning and drying. Or go straight to our best dishwashers recommendations for our top picks across all brands. To compare the good with the bad, visit our Bosch dishwasher reviews.

Bosch splits its range into Series — 2, 4, 6 and 8 — each being more tech-filled, and pricier, than the last. It has 13 place settings, which is pretty average for a full-sized dishwasher, and five programs to choose from: eco, intensive, glass, quick and a pre-rinse option.

It has 14 place settings — one more than the Series 2 model. It's Ultra Quiet. Bosch is the quietest dishwasher brand. This is especially important if you have an open concept floor plan. It's Durable. You'll be investing in a reliable dishwasher that will last you for many years to come.

Variety of Price Points. Bosch is the only manufacturer that makes a great variety of dishwashers that are suitable for all budgets. The company even thought about specialty cases. If you want to cover your dishwasher with panels to match your kitchen cabinets or get a small dishwasher for a bar area, there is a Bosch model for you. They're Easy to Keep Clean. If you're tired of the musty smell in your old dishwasher, you might be ready for a change.

Bosch dishwashers are easy to keep clean and smelling like new. For tips, check out our quick guide on how to keep your dishwasher clean. If you're trying to save money or have special space requirements, you might consider broadening your search. Here's why. If you want a traditional heated dry on top of the Bosch condensation drying system, your only option is a top of the line machine with CrystalDry.

If you're on a tight budget, you may need to look elsewhere. You Have Hard Water. If you live in an area with hard water and need a dishwasher with water softener, you should know that Bosch doesn't have a big selection of water softerner models.

You Need to Save Space. If you need a dishwasher drawer or a portable dishwasher , you need to look at other options on the market. Bosch doesn't make these. Bosch dishwashers are extremely quiet—so much so that they beam a light onto the floor to tell you that they're running.

Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to tell. Bosch calls this feature the infolight or time light , depending on the series. Infolight is standard on all Bosch dishwashers with hidden controls. Time light is reserved for luxury models, and its beam includes time remaining "light stamp.

Bosch is the only dishwasher brand with multiple prominent spots on our coveted best dishwashers ranking in Here are the 6 models we selected to give you a good starting point in your research. It is, however, the go-to model in this series due to its quietness-to-price ratio. The DLX version of the Series Bosch dishwashers adds the ever-important extra scrub program for heavy-duty cleaning such as cooked-on food on pots and pans.

The new Bosch Series dishwasher is quieter than the Ascenta at 48 dB and comes with an extra scrub cycle for pots and pans. We felt the need to remark about this model as many review sites still list it erroneously as a current model. Bosch series dishwashers make up for most of the shortcomings of the series. These models offer everything found in the budget model above plus these features:. This model is versatile with ADA-compliant height and stainless steel, white, and black color options.

It features the timeless pocket handle design, which fits any kitchen environment. With the addition of the door that opens after the cycle is over called AutoAir Dry , this dishwasher will insure you get the best drying job. The Series dishwashers are the flagship design for Bosch. Some notable Bosch dishwashers in the series lineup feature the MyWay Rack.

This special third rack application is ideal for ramekins, cereal bowls, measuring cups, ladles, and more. You can even find a removable flatware tray with tines that fold in this innovative third rack. The HomeConnect feature gets you Wi-Fi connectivity. HomeConnect allows you the convenience of programming your dishwashing cycles from your phone. Similar to the Series, Bosch Series dishwashers come with a variety of design choices, as well as models suited for special applications such as ADA height for raised floors.

This series also includes models with panel-ready fronts, which will allow you to customize them using your kitchen cabinet finish on the dishwasher. There are also models with a water softener and inch slim dishwashers for smaller kitchens.

The Bosch Benchmark series is ideal for people seeking the quietest dishwasher with the absolute best cleaning performance. The Bosch Benchmark series also offers the best cleaning performance.

We also like their conveniences, such as the interior lights and easy gliding racks. The SHV89PW73N stands out as a shallow depth dishwasher with a panel-ready finish that lets you integrate it into your cabinets.