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another dishwasher problem
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:32 pm
by cypressgirl
I have a Jenn Air dishwasher that I HATE. No matter how long I wait, the dishes are wet. Glasses don't tilt and always have a puddle resting in the bottom. Tupperware ends up on it's back and full of water. It cleans great, but I'm sick of drying dishes.
I looked at the Miele on line and really don't want to pay that much, and worry about repairs on such an uncommon brand. Is it really worth the $$ and would I have dry dishes? I also need a new microwave. I'm on my second Kitchen Aid. Each lasts about 4 yrs. The inside is bubbling up and has holes. It gets too hot. Any recommendations for a micrewave too?
Thanks guys!!
Cyp
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:45 pm
by chicagoans
Can't help on the dw because I have a Jenn Air "pro-style" dw I like. We run it at night and everything is dry in the a.m., maybe a bit of water on the tops (or bottoms I guess) of coffee mugs. I agree that having them on a tilt would help. I use the heated dry option; I have run it without that and the dishes stay a bit wet.
I looked at a Miele dw when we picked out our appliances. It was really nice. Went with Jenn Air because I liked (and could afford) the whole set (ref., dw, oven, warming drawer. Went with other brands for cooktop and microwave.)
We opted for a drawer microwave because I wanted one that would go under, not over, the counter. (I don't like how they stick out so much when they're installed over the counter. I feel like it blocks out access to some of the counter.) Ours is from Sharp.
Pros: really like the built-in and sleek look of having it under the counter. It is big: wide enough to hold a 9x13" pan. Has more options than I'll ever use. I like opening it like a drawer and having a view of what's in there (rather than bending down to look, like I would have to if I put a conventional microwave below the counter.)
Cons: The interior is not as tall as our old over-the-counter microwave was. I notice because my Venti coffee doesn't fit... have to pour it into a mug to reheat. Also, since it's a drawer, you have to be careful when heating bowls of liquids like soup; if the bowl is filled near the brim you might slosh it when opening the drawer.
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:41 pm
by Connie
Cypress, welcome to my world.

)
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:29 am
by Teresa_Rae
I don’t remember what brand of dishwasher we have (I can look when I’m at home later) but we have never had any problems in the 6 years we’ve had it. The dishes are always dry and we don’t use the heated dry cycle. It isn’t a high-end model.
And what are you doing to your microwave woman? We still have the same one I used in college...it is 11 years old and still kicking

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:46 am
by djmom
I bought a dw this year. For the drying part, several different salespeople sadi the newer efficient models with stainless steel inside use a different method of drying which involves the moisture being attracted to the steel and condensing on it. No matter what, these newer models are not expected to 100 percent dry tupperware. You also HAVE to use a rinse aid.
Now tupperware not drying due to tipping and filling up with water is a different issue.
I ended up buying the Kenmore elite. It is fabulous. Someone told me it was made by Bosch and the interior looks just like the Bosch models except I think it is a little larger. It is SO quiet you usually cant tell it is on- and our dishwasher is on an island.
It actually gets the stuff quite dry. I haven't had a big problem with wet tupperware-just a few drops on occasion.
It was the most expensive dishwasher I considered-way out of my original range-but my husband is the type that will NOT replace things that are not completely broken. So I knew if I was unhappy with a low model I would be stuck with it forever.
He must have been in a good mood when I called him and told him I really thought it was the better choice.
It has a lot of really cool features too. I highly recommend it. It looks great- really nice exterior too.
Like I said I love it. I was hugging it every day when I first got it.

Might even go over and give it a hug now.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:00 am
by Chet
We have a stakable Asko washer and dryer in our house, located in the walkin closet off the bedroom. When we remodeled our Capitol Hill basement into a 1-bedroom apartment, we installed an Asko washer and dryer. They are quiet and the washer uses 7 gallons per wash vs. 40 for a top loading monster. The washer has a heating element so it only needs a cold water connection. Both are very energy efficient.
We installed an Asko dishwasher in the basement kitchen. It too saves energy, cleans very well, and is quiet.
Check out Asko products. I'm a fan.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:09 am
by djmom
cypress- this is my deal on dishwashers after my experience.
the cheap ones suck. take the price of a good one and divide it over how many days you will use it.
if you can't afford it now, just wait till you can. since yours works now-you might not be much happier with another cheap one. we moved and I thought it would be great to have this "new" dishwasher. It was also a builder grade and the reality was that my first one wasn't broken, it was just that it sucked and so did the one at the new house.
in the future I will skimp on the stuff I might not use much, but after two really crappy dishwashers I am sold on that concept.
I can't tell you how many times I had to rewash stuff. That adds up expense too.
of course there are times we have to spend less-especially when the purchases are due to appliances breaking unexpectedly and we havent budgeted for it.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:32 am
by California Girl
Hey Cyp - I have to reiterate what I posted on Pia's thread. We have a Bosch and I LOVE IT! It's almost silent... sometimes I have to put my ear to the door to see if it's running or not! It's sleek and beautiful with no visible controls on the front of the door. It dries the dishes awesomely... however if I put glasses in a spot that's not designed to tilt them, they do get puddles on the bottom, and it doesn't dry tupperware. But when I open the door, it's no problem to lay a dish towel across the top rack to soak up any random puddles, and I just pull out the tupperware, shake off the drips and put it back on the rack to air dry. This all being said, I don't use the heat drying cycle, either.

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:47 am
by cypressgirl
Thanks for all the info. This is not a very exciting topic, but a necessary part of my day. My dishwasher is not broken, I JUST HATE IT. My husband keeps asking me how much a new diswasher costs. I have no idea. The house was new 8 yrs. ago, and the dw came with it. I don't think I've ever replaced a dw in any home we've lived. I may wait and see how Pia likes hers.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:55 am
by DaveS007
When it comes to D/W's I'm all about the Fisher & Paykel
Before we bought ours the store did a demo with a frozen pizza, box and all, through the cycle and, viola, nothing left. Nadda. They are drawers.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:20 pm
by PA Girl
I looked at a Miele last year when we replaced our (very) old JennAir.
I was shopping at a locally owned place and the owner talked me out of a Miele for the simple reason that he said the dishes need to be very clean when they go in, no bits of food on anything, as Meiles will clog easily.
Nearly clean dishes into the dish washer wasn't going to happen at our house so I went with something else. I can't even remember the brand.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:04 pm
by cypressgirl
PA Girl wrote:I looked at a Miele last year when we replaced our (very) old JennAir.
I was shopping at a locally owned place and the owner talked me out of a Miele for the simple reason that he said the dishes need to be very clean when they go in, no bits of food on anything, as Meiles will clog easily.
Nearly clean dishes into the dish washer wasn't going to happen at our house so I went with something else. I can't even remember the brand.
My JennAir cleans great. I just don't think it was engineered well as far as stacking the dishes. Also, if I don't wait at least 6 hrs. to unload the dishes, it drips water from the door. I also need new wood floors.

Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:31 pm
by PA Girl
Our Jenn Air cleaned great too but the interior stackability was awful. I don't think ours even had a drying feature. Or maybe it did but broke before we bought the house.
We were so excited (lame, I know) when we got the new dishwasher and could actually put pots on the bottom rack.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:35 pm
by cypressgirl
Now.........do I have to change every appliance so they all match.

I have a KitchenAid frig and microwave (need to replace the mw too) and a JennAir dw, stove top, and oven. Love the oven. I would never again get the grill on the stove top. Who in their right mind would cook steaks on their pretty new JennAir and have that mess to clean up? (Me....I did it once, and never got all the crap off the heating elements.) I use it to warm buns.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:24 pm
by California Girl
cypressgirl wrote:Now.........do I have to change every appliance so they all match.
No, as long as one is not Harvest Gold and one is Pink and one is Avocado Green... LOL!
cypressgirl wrote: I use it to warm buns.
So you sit on it during the winter?
