GUIDES TO DISHWASHERS

FIND OUT WHAT- AND WHAT NOT!- TO LOAD, HOW TO CHOOSE A CYCLE AND MORE

Psssst! You may be doing it wrong. Yes, you, with the dishwasher. I know. You’re diligently prerinsing before loading in your own trademark style that no other human in your household can quite do correctly. Except…well, read on. We talked to two engineers who have spent decades testing dishwashers to tell you the errors of your ways.

What kind of dishwasher should I get?

First things first: Don’t buy more than you need. Dishwasher design has been revolutionized in the past decade and prices have plummeted. Here’s what else you need to know:

You don’t need to spend a fortune. Cost-saving secret: The cleaning performance of very expensive machines equals the cleaning performance of cheaper, name-brand dishwashers. Why? Because the cleaning systems are essentially the same. On fancier models, you’re paying for three things: appealing exterior design, extras such as adjustable loading racks and precision sensors that choose the cycle for you, and silence—pricier models are much quieter. If clean dishes are all you need and you don’t mind some noise, midsize models from companies like GE start well under $300.