Shopping for a dishwasher? We have a lot of options at Village Home Stores. With so many to shop from, what model is right for you? We hope this article will be helpful in narrowing down some of the categories and maybe even point to specific features that would be great in your household. Let's explore the dishwasher styles and features available right now to best match them with what your kitchen may need.
If you found this post, chances are you are looking to replace an existing dishwasher. Or maybe yours is showing signs that it may need to be replaced soon. We can assure you that there have been a few changes in kitchen cleanup appliances since your last dishwasher purchase, so let's "unload" the basics together.
Dishwasher Styles
What is new in dishwashers that you can see? First, the fronts do have a different look. Controls, buttons, and displays aim to be more minimized. The goal of most new dishwasher designs is to give a clean and cohesive look with the rest of your kitchen appliances. If your dishwasher is over ten years old, you will find when you are shopping that appliance finishes have shifted focus to stainless steel. Stainless remains the bestselling kitchen appliance finish in all categories and you will see that reflected in most of our showroom displays. Many models can also be ordered in black, white, and black stainless steel as well. This will be indicated as an option on our website or our digital price tags in-store.
When you are purchasing an entire suite of appliances at once, you can match all your handles and brand badges together at the time of purchase. But if you are only aiming to replace your dishwasher, sometimes you may be introducing a new brand into the space that better serves your needs. When a dishwasher needs to be replaced, this can be a wonderful time to begin transitioning to a new kitchen appliance finish. Trust us, most of our dishwasher purchases are being made because the current one is no longer working. Most households aren't ready to replace all the kitchen appliances at that time. Begin to transition now to stainless steel, and as you replace other items over time, marry in that new finish.
Pocket Handle Dishwashers
We still offer many dishwasher models from each of our appliance lines that include a handle to complement the brand handles that are also found on oven doors and refrigerators. But if you are concerned about matching older handle styles to your new dishwasher, a pocket handle dishwasher may be a great option. Pocket handle designs include a recess area for your hand to grab and open/close the door of the dishwasher unit. This style is popular for many reasons. Often, the dishwasher handle can become an obstacle in a high-traffic area, or a handle may even keep nearby doors and drawers from opening.
Pocket handle models look great and even give you the opportunity to exclude an exterior brand badge altogether. This is a conscious choice made by our brands to allow you to truly choose the unit you want and not be tied to a specific brand. If you plan to slowly replace with Whirlpool kitchen appliances as they need it… but love the features and performance of a Maytag unit, it's okay! Ask a salesperson at Village if your desired features come in a badge-less pocket handle model. These models are incognito and can vibe with any kitchen suite in a stainless finish.
Top Control Dishwashers
Dishwasher units also have the option of controls on the front or on the top of the door. On top control, the dishwasher models the dishwasher cycles and options are located on the top of the dishwasher door itself. Locating buttons and controls on the top of the dishwasher door (shown below) conceals the buttons and panel, giving a cleaner look when the door is closed. Fun Feature: the KitchenAid dishwasher model shown below has a door-open dry system that automatically pops open the dishwasher door for enhanced drying.
Image Courtesy of Whirlpool Corporation
With the controls on the door, how will you know what is happening inside? Don't worry; there are indicator lights located on the front of models that have integrated controls. That way, you can know when the unit is running and when a cycle is finished. This is especially helpful as dishwashers continue to get quieter and quieter, so it can be hard at times to know if the load is still running or if it is finished. There is even a new feature available on some KitchenAid dishwashers that projects an LED lighted cycle status onto the floor near the dishwasher unit (shown below).
Image Courtesy of Whirlpool Corporation
Dishwasher Interiors and 3 Rack Options
Now let's talk about what's changed behind that door of the dishwasher. Interior capacity has gotten much bigger on all dishwashers. The manufacturing process and parts and components have evolved in innovative ways. The result is more space inside for you and, in many cases, a quieter dishwasher when it is running. No matter what brand or model you select, chances are the interior capacity and rack layout of a new model will be better than the one you are replacing. That is something you can appreciate every time you load and unload the unit.
Dishwasher racks have innovative new loading layouts, and manufacturers have even added a third rack. Some third racks are shallow layers that can house utensils or lids (shown above on the left). Other models boast a fully functional third rack (shown above on the right) that can be loaded just like the main racks. Bowls, tall mugs, and even pint glasses and travel mugs can fit. Ask to see the difference on the sales floor between the options for third-rack models from all of our brands.
Dishwasher Cycles and Options
And what about what we can't see? The performance of dishwashers certainly has improved, along with exciting new cycles and options for you to select from. Here are some of our current customer-favorite features that are available.
- A delay start option lets you load everything up but wait an hour or so before starting the cycle. This can be great if you don't want the noise of the unit to interfere with a surrounding space or if you think you may still find some items to sneak in as you are cleaning up after entertaining.
- Just like with our laundry units, "sanitize" cycles can be so amazing and help to give you peace of mind that items are clean and safe to use. Baby bottles and even toddler (or adult) travel cups that may have been left in the car for a few days can benefit from a sanitize cycle.
- If you need a load done in a hurry, select the "1-hour wash" option that is available now on many models.
- Select models even have a "top rack only" wash. This allows you to efficiently wash a half load of dishes if your household doesn't warrant a full load every time. It is like having a dish drawer paired with a standard under-counter dishwasher appliance.
- Presoak cycles can help dissolve away stuck-on foods without you needing to add extra rinsing or soaking time in the sink.
- Select models can also come with fan-enabled drying options that combine a heating element with a fan. This thoroughly dries your dishes by circulating hot air around them after the wash cycle. Humid air is drawn out from the tub and cooled off as it exits down below the door.
While you may not be able to order these features and cycles a-la-carte for your dishwasher, bringing your wish list to the showroom can help our sales team point you to your best options.
Benefits of a Stainless Tub
As you open up dishwashers in the Village showroom, you will notice some have metal interiors, and others are plastic tubs. Stainless steel is a dense material. This gives it the ability to help absorb sound and vibrations better. Both sound and vibration are created when you run any dishwasher cycle.
Some models even offer a hybrid option, giving you a gray plastic interior tub to help reduce your cost paired with a stainless steel interior door that helps reduce sound. Stainless steel interior dishwashers will be priced higher than plastic tub models. The truth is that most households run their dishwasher nearly every day. Any time you can make a conscious choice to include a more durable material and features that can make your time spent at home easier, it is the right move.
Dishwasher Filters and Food Choppers
You work hard. Let your dishwasher get to work for you. Most new dishwashers do not require you to pre-rinse or even soak your dirtiest dishes. It may be a hard habit to form at first, but you truly only need to scrap off what you can and load dishes up. Filtration systems and food choppers will do the work for you. Units with these systems will continue to monitor the water exiting the dishwasher and how much food particles are rinsing away throughout the cycle. Food filtration systems and models with food choppers help to break down and remove food particles throughout the cycle.
Want to know how to find and clear out the filter in your current dishwasher? Check out this past article or watch this short TikTok video that David made to help you. The great news is that if you have a newer model and the filter looks like the one David is holding above, it is self-cleaning and works to break down food particles and wash them away over time. You should never need to clean or empty it! Have you ever had a dishwasher leak in your home? Ask about our options, which include a leak detection system. Leak-detect dishwashers measure and monitor the flow of water at various points. If a problem is sensed, the dishwasher can drain the tub and alert you.
Shop Local and Have us Install it!
Don't forget that when you shop locally with us, you get our local low-price guarantee, and we can also offer new dishwasher installation and haul-away/disposal of your old unit by a member of our team. You never shop alone when you work with us. Even if you found us online, know that we're just a call, click, or tap away. Please also consider stopping by the showroom to browse some of our options in person with a member of our expert sales team. If you are just scouting options online, feel free to scroll the dishwasher selection on our website and fire up the webchat to connect to our team and get some help. You can visit us at 105 S State in downtown Geneseo, IL, Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm or on Saturdays from 9 am-noon. Our phone number is 309-944-1344.