Your best dishwashers, when it’s working well, is a workhorse in the kitchen you hardly think about. You load it with dirty dishes and it quickly turns them sparkling clean. When your dishwasher doesn’t work well, though, it’s a daily annoyance of pre-washing (and re-washing!) and drying dishes, glassware, cookware and more. If you’re doing the work for your dishwasher, that’s when you know it’s time for a new one.
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Here are the most reliable dishwashers we recommend in 2021:
1. AutoDos G7566 Smart Dishwasher – BEST OVERALL DISHWASHER
MIELE
Model # G 7566 SCVi SF
This Miele Dishwasher with its top hidden controls is not only stylish and beautiful to look at, but more importantly, a real workhorse when it comes to cleaning, and its innovative features make it easy to use. The AutoDos system works with Miele’s PowerDisk, which dispenses the correct amount of cleaning powder for the cycle, and lasts for up to 20 washes – no need to remember to add cleaner each time.
The dishwasher is very easy to load with its adjustable racks and shelves, fold-down tines, and padded stemware grips. The top 3D cutlery tray not only keeps flatware from nesting for better cleaning, but is deep enough to even hold small bowls and ramekins, and slides from side to side to provide more headroom for tall stemware in the rack below it. Its QuickIntenseWash cycle can clean a very heavily-soiled load in under one hour. The control panel is clear and easy to navigate.
All these performance features translate to energy savings, too: This Miele is equipped with an EcoStart feature that allows you to program the dishwasher to run when utility rates are lowest and an EcoTech Heat Exchanger that captures heat already in the dishwasher and transfers it to the incoming water, so it isn’t wasted. The dishwasher is smart, too. It works remotely with the Miele app.
Pros:
- Excellent cleaning performance
- Interior LED lights
- Energy Star certified
Cons:
- Pricey
2. Gallery Dishwasher – BEST VALUE DISHWASHER
FRIGIDAIRE
Model # FGID2476SF
Frigidaire appliances are always very good performers and considered easy to use in GH Cleaning Lab tests, and like others we’ve featured, this Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher is a steal. At a super low price, you get a machine that not only cleans and dries well, but comes with lots of high-end extras, too. The control panel is hidden for a sleek look, is very clear and easy to use, and includes a “favorite cycle” that, once programmed, selects your preferred cycle and options with just one touch. Only have few items? This dishwasher offers the option to wash half loads in either the top or bottom racks for greater energy savings.
Nice perks at this price include a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel front, cushioned stemware holders, adjustable water pressure for the type and soil of the load, an NSF-certified sanitize option, and because it’s so quiet a light beam that projects on the floor to let you know when the cycles complete. What keeps this model so reasonably priced is its plastic (vs. stainless steel) inner tub and the lack of a top-tier flatware and cutlery tray.
Pros:
- Well-priced
- Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel front
- Hidden controls
- Energy Star certified
Cons:
- Plastic tub
- No third rack for flatware
3. Smart Dishwasher with AutoDos – BEST INNOVATIVE DISHWASHER
MIELE
Model # G 7316 SCU
This dishwasher is smart in many ways. You can start, stop, and monitor it wirelessly from your smart phone and get an alert when the Power Disk is running low or even order more disks right from the app. don’t want to go automatic? No worries. This dishwasher takes regular gel, powder or tablet detergent, too.
This dishwasher has all the loading and cycle bells and whistles we love on all the Miele dishwashers that carry our Good Housekeeping Seal, like energy efficiency, fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and a QuickIntense cycle that cleans a load in under one hour. Plus, the top tier rack is now extra deep to hold a wider variety of small items and the fold-down cup shelves in the top rack have flip-up dividers to better keep small items in place. Genius!
Pros:
- Energy Star certified
- Automatically dispenses detergent
Cons:
- Pricey
4. Smart Dishwasher with QuadWash and TrueSteam – BEST SMART DISHWASHER
LG
Model # LDT7808BD
This innovative model has four lower spray arms (compared to most models, which have two, hence the name QuadWash) that spin and pivot with the pressure of the water, so they direct water toward the corners to reach every inch of every dish. LG’s TrueSteam technology fills the tub with steam in the pre-wash and main wash portions of the cycle for better cleaning of crusty, baked-on soils and to help eliminate water spotting. Or, use it to more gently clean on load of delicate crystal that needs freshening. Easy to load, this model includes both a top tier tray and a separate flatware basket in the bottom rack and we like that it has a heating element for better drying.
The LG’s Smart Diagnosis app allows you to download extra cycles onto the machine (!) and is made to problem-solve in the event of any issues, like if your dishwasher won’t start. It will also alert you via smartphone, Alexa, or Google Assistant when the cycle is complete. LG dishwashers do so well in our tests that our Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen uses this same model and gives it a real workout.
Pros:
- Uses steam to improve cleaning performance
- Comes in black stainless and regular stainless
- Energy Star certified
Cons:
- May not hold as much as others
5. Built-In Dishwasher with Stainless Steel Tub – BEST DISHWASHER FOR AVID HOME COOKS
KITCHENAID
Model # KDTM604KPS
This KitchenAid has a large third rack that is adjustable to fit glasses and bowls and a removable utensil tray for cooking tools which, together with the adjustable middle rack to accommodate tall items like platters or a stand mixer bowl, make it a great pick for frequent home cooks. Its Clean Water Wash System circulates clean water to all three racks, and its quiet operation lets you use it at any time – or program it to start later to fit your schedule or take advantage of lower utility rates.
This dishwasher is uncomplicated and easy to program with only five key cycles and six options – ideal for busy cooks in a hurry. And we like the additional dry options for better results on plastics and to achieve spot-free glassware. Top controls add to its clean look, and whether you choose the stainless steel or black finish, both resist smudges and fingerprints and need only water and a soft cloth to clean.
Pros:
- Stainless steel interior
- Adjustable third rack
- Easy to program
Cons:
- No interior light