This post has been sponsored by Best Buy
After we moved into our townhouse six years ago we faced the dilemma – should we continue using older appliances that came with the house or should we get something that doesn’t scream 1980’s?
However, that decision was made for us a few weeks later when a light load of dinner plates in my dishwasher just stopped. Do you know the feeling when the kitchen suddenly goes silent and you immediately think “PROBLEM”? I turned around and the kitchen greeted me with the silence that suggested that I finished the dinner load in a manual mode!
Let’s agree, washing dishes for the family of five by hand is not fun!
However, the other thing that isn’t fun is replacing a dishwasher every four years. That is excatly where I found myself fours years later. After spending a few hundred dollars on repairs it became obvious that my super cheap dishwasher is getting more and more expensive every time it breaks down. It was time to come up with a better strategy of buying a dishwasher. That’s why I decided to take a more scientific approach to buying a perfect dishwasher.
Important Dishwasher Features to Watch for When Shopping for a Dishwasher
Best Buy provided me with a lot of food for thought as I browsed through their listings. I also have to say that I will be referencing Bosch Dishwashers a lot. Having the best features sure sets the bar high, but I am a true believer that our appliances should make our lives easier. We have enough to worry about, don’t we?
Must-Haves of Dishwashing Machine Wish List
Adjustable Racks
Dishwasher racks are important! With a variety of items around the kitchen, I bet you have more than one odd item. A flexible rack comes very handily when you have to accommodate non-standard items.
The flexible 3rd rack on the Bosch dishwashers can create the right fit for deep, tall, or uniquely-shaped items. With 3 different height levels and up to 9 possible rack positions, you can customize each load for your needs. In addition, FlexSpace™ Tines on the lower rack can fold down every other tine to make room for larger, bulkier items while getting the most out of the dishwashing space.
Smooth Unload
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to load or unload my machine, yet smoothly moving racks is a start. Can the rack move smoothly when it’s full of dishes?
Leak Prevention System
This is a big one. Recently my friend’s overnight dishwasher load resulted in an insurance claim. While the family slept, the dishwasher leaked across the kitchen floor and into the basement. They had to pack everything from their first floor and a basement and move onto the second floor. They also had to live in the hotel for a month while their house was remodeled and they got very tired of eating out several times a day.
Did you know that 24/7 Aquastop® on the Bosch dishwashers has a 4-part leak prevention system that uses sensors to detect and stop leaks, and can even turn on by itself? That sounds like an absolute winner for me!
Noise Level
With three kids in the house, I have an appreciation for silence. Will the dishwasher wake my dog or can I count on it to wash my dishes quietly?
Bosh dishwashing machines have 44-dBA noise level rating. They are so quiet, you have to check the exterior Infolight® to know they’re on. Its quiet operation incorporates 18 unique sound-reducing technologies such as multiple insulation layers, grindless food filtration, and a sound-absorbing base.
Sanitize
Is there an easy way to sanitize your dishwasher? My dishwasher works hard but I often wonder, how clean it stays on the inside? Bosch dishwashing machines sanitize option reduces 99.9% of bacteria with a hot-wash rinse for sparkling clean and sanitized dishes.
Energy Saving
We live in the era of energy-saving and many appliances promise to save you electricity. Check if your dishwashing machine ENERGY STAR qualified and meets or exceeds federal guidelines, for year-round energy savings!
These last two options should probably make your “nice-to-have” list. If you can get it though – you won’t be sorry
Nice to Have
Moisture Control
Bosch AutoAir™ automatically opens the door at the end of the drying cycle to let moisture escape and fresh air circulate for better drying results.*
(*Compared to Bosch Dishwashers with PureDry.)
Sparkling Clean
The Bosch 500 Series dishwasher delivers a sparkling clean and dry with advanced PrecisionWash technology and AutoAir. Its intelligent sensors continually scan and check the progress of dishes throughout the cycle, and powerful spray arms target every item of every load, for the ultimate clean.
