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CHOSE THE RIGHT DISWASHER

In the market for a new dishwasher? You can't just look at the price tag. Here is what you need to know before you buy.

In the market for a new dishwasher? You can't just look at the price tag. Here is what you need to know before you buy.

1. Cleaning

If you think every dishwasher on the market will be able to clean and dry dishes, Consumer Reports begs to differ. Not all dishwashers do their jobs. To keep from buying a dud, look for clean and drying settings that suit your needs. For example:

If you wash off your dishes in the sink before loading, you don’t need pre-rinse or pot-scrubbing settings. Look for a model with a basic clean setting to save some cash.

If you don’t pre-rinse yourself, look for a model that has a heavy scrub setting. Otherwise you’ll end up running the dish cycle more than once trying to remove leftover food.

Look for an air dry feature on the heat cycle. Using heat to dry your dishes sucks up a ton of electricity. If you can turn that heater off and air dry, you’ll save money on your utility bills.

2. Features

Modern dishwashers go beyond washing and drying. Newer models can come fully loaded with a ton of features, but the price increases with each extra you add. For example:

  • Stainless steel tubs – Resist stains and look a bit more stylish than plastic tubs, but also cost more.

  • Self-cleaning – Some models have a built-in cleaning system that empties the filter (where food waste collects) and cleans the interior of the dishwasher.

  • Sanitizing – Sanitizes your dishes to remove germs and bacteria that may make it through the dish cycle.

Decide which features you need (and don’t need) before shopping. That will prevent you from being seduced on the showroom floor.