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Tuesday, March 19th
Surprised to learn that your mobile phone manufacturer also makes dishwashers? Samsung only offers about eight models, which have sleek styling and various color fronts, including the newer black stainless and the even newer Tuscan stainless steel, which is a premium alternative to the traditional stainless.
Tuscan stainless
This finish is a smoky, rose-gold, bronze-type of finish that's slightly matte. It's a different look than the traditional stainless or black stainless, and adds a modern, elegant element to your kitchen. If you're thinking about replacing all of your kitchen appliances, consider the Tuscan stainless for that bit of a wow factor.
Unique third rack
Almost all the dishwasher brands have a third rack as at least an option. However, Samsung's FlexTray Third Rack includes a removable tray inset so you can easily remove and transport utensils to their kitchen location. It's a lot simpler and less time consuming than taking out the silverware off the top rack, mixing it up in your hands, and then re-organizing them to place them in the drawer or on the counter. This added feature is an a-ha concept that will save you time and a small headache.
Auto Release Door
Some dishwashers don't get their dishes all the way dry as they are heating the humid air that's trapped in the appliance. Samsung's door, however, pops open a little to let the cooler, less humid air enter, and a fan helps to push out the heavy, wet air remaining from the wash/rinse cycles. This allows for a better dry and less drying time.
StormWash
Place a pot or pan that's heavily soiled over the red nozzle, and it will get special attention for its especially cooked-on dirt.
ZoneBooster
Found on a few of the models, this feature includes extra nozzles on the lower spray wand to target an array of heavily-soiled dishes on that bottom rack.
AquaBlast/Linear Wash System
This newer feature, started in 2019, has six jets on a bar that moves back and forth to hit dishes at a different angle.
Entry level models
The entry level models include fewer fancy features, but still do a great job of cleaning, with a variety of cycles, such as Heavy and Express60 (a quicker cycle), delay start, a third rack, and an upper rack that's adjustable in height. This model is a bit loud, though, at 51 decibels - 44 decibels is considered a quiet dishwasher by industry standards. If you want to have a conversation or watch your favorite show anywhere near your dishwasher, the appliance might be competing for your attention.
Cost
Mid-range models
This range of dishwashers has the nice feature of hiding the controls on the top panel, so you don't notice the buttons and lights: your dishwasher just blends in with the rest of the kitchen. The auto-release door and the StormWash jet for a specific pot or pan are included here. This machine is considered quiet by industry standards as it boasts 42 decibels.
High-end model
An even quieter 39-decibel machine won't fight for your attention, it will just do its job quietly. The racks slide quietly and smoothly, so as not to jostle your glassware. Added features are the Linear Wash System, where water can spray in a line, in addition to the traditional circular-motion sprayers. The Zone Booster adds extra powerful jets to the lowest rack for those dirty pots and pans or dishes with stuck-on food. You can even remotely monitor or control your dishwasher with your phone or other smart device. These high-end models can come in the new, smudge-proof Tuscan stainless option for a subtle elegance.
Our favorite Samsung
The model number DW80R0R9950US offers advanced features at a mid-range price point when on sale. The door automatically opens after drying for a faster and more complete dry cycle. The linear wash system washes side-to-side to spray on more area than just the circular water motion. The flexible third rack is a great feature where the silverware area lifts out for ease of putting away silverware. The zone booster sprayer focuses its energy on that one pot or pan that's going to take more cleaning effort. The ball bearings in the rack support make the racks slide effortlessly so that the glassware doesn't rattle when in motion. It's quite quiet at 39 decibels, and the stainless steel front is smudge proof. The appliance can also be monitored or controlled from your smart device.
Warranty
There's a 1-year limited warranty, and the coverage can vary by model. The 2-year warranty covers parts, and the 5-year warranty covers the circuit board, electronic control system, linear motion parts, and the racks - specifics again depend on the model. The 10-year parts and labor warranty covers the tub and door liner, varying by model.
Not the best or the worst
Samsung offers a nice number of models without getting overwhelmed, a good range of quality features, and their dishwashers are quiet. Many reviewers are pleased with the quietness even with the loudest, or 50-decibel machine. Common complaints are issues with drainage, leaking, other mechanical issues, and not drying completely, especially on the entry-level models. Samsung dishwashers offer some value for your money, though we suggest taking a peek at more highly-rated brands first.
Most of us don't think too much about our dishwasher. We load the dishes, it cleans, we empty. But when the dishes aren't coming out as clean as they should, it's taking more rinsing to get all the food off, you're drying your dishes by hand because the machine doesn't, or if the coating on the tines is chipping off, you might start thinking about replacing your appliance for one that holds up and maybe has some nice features that you deserve.
Did you know there are three types of dishwashers? There's built-in, countertop, and drawer. Built-in dishwashers are the traditional dishwashers most of us have had in our homes. They are full-sized or even narrow and apartment-sized, and are slid in below the counter. Counter-top dishwashers can be found in Europe and are just that - they are small and fit on the counter. The drawer models are shallow and fit below the counter. Because they are the most common type, we will look at only the built-in models.
Think about what you want in your new appliance. You'll obviously want a dishwasher that does a good job of washing your dishes. There are a lot of fun features you can have, such as a third rack, lights, and smart capabilities, but if the machine doesn't do a good job of actually washing your dishes, what's the point of any of the bells and whistles?
So once you choose a brand that you like, you can select your wish list features such as the third, top rack; a quick-wash cycle; a delay start; self-cleaning filters - yes, you should know if you need to clean your filters for maintenance, which is typical; food pulverizers; interior components made of stainless steel to promote longevity; child locks; sanitizer settings; sustainable materials; special jets under the silverware caddy; and smart capabilities, so you can control the dishwasher from your phone or smart home system.
And that's just the beginning. Here are several other criteria to keep in mind as you shop for your new kitchen appliance:
To help you make this important purchasing decision, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated today's most popular dishwasher brands. If you're done spending too much time pre-washing your dishes, continually re-arranging them because the rack and tine design is poor, drying them after the dishwasher supposedly dried them, or re-washing after the clumps of old food just don't come off after a full cycle, do consider a new dishwasher. You can save a lot of time by not pre-washing, post-washing, and drying. And with all that extra time, you could relax reading a book or watching your favorite show while a super quiet dishwasher does all the work while making virtually no noise.
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