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Dishwashers

No Handle, No Problem: Knock Twice to Open This Miele Dishwasher

This knock-knock is no joke.

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Miele's newest dishwasher isn't about technological innovation in cleaning performance: It's about how you open it. We're talking about the new Knock2Open, being showcased at IFA Berlin. It opens automatically with just two knocks of your hand, providing a novel solution to one major design concern in high-end kitchens.

That concern is aesthetics. In Europe, it's not uncommon for dishwashers to fit flush with cabinetry. That means handles either have to stick out from the washer, or the front door needs an indentation where your hand can go. If you've paid extra for appliances that are indistinguishable from cabinets, an ugly handle could be a major design flaw.

Miele got around that problem with the innovative Knock2Open system. A sensor on the front of the dishwasher automatically opens up the front door when you knock twice on a specific area. No handle? No problem.

If you've got curious kids, don't worry—a Miele representative showed us where you can insert a key to turn the feature off.

Appliances designed for so-called "handle-free kitchens" are everywhere at this year's IFA. Without a visible handle or control panel, a dishwasher equipped with Knock2Open can truly blend into that kind of cabinetry.

There's no word if Knock2Open is coming to the US, but it should be easy enough to keep as a feature if Miele's Generation 6000 appliances make it stateside.

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