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DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Finish

  • Controls

  • Interior

  • Top Rack

  • Bottom Rack

  • Cutlery Basket

  • Electricity Use

  • Water Use

  • Yearly Running Cost

  • Washing Speed

  • Washing Performance

  • Quick Wash Cycle

  • Normal Wash Cycle

  • Heavy/Pots & Pans Wash Cycle

  • Washing Cycles

  • Customization

  • Additional Wash Options

  • Capacity

  • Wash Arms & Filters

  • Lower Dish Rack

  • Upper Dish Rack

  • Cutlery Holder

  • Detergent Dispenser

  • Ease of Use

  • Noise

  • Controls

  • Comparison

  • Comparison

  • Efficiency

  • Washing Performance

  • Features

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Finish
  • Controls
  • Interior
  • Top Rack
  • Bottom Rack
  • Cutlery Basket
  • Electricity Use
  • Water Use
  • Yearly Running Cost
  • Washing Speed
  • Washing Performance
  • Quick Wash Cycle
  • Normal Wash Cycle
  • Heavy/Pots & Pans Wash Cycle
  • Washing Cycles
  • Customization
  • Additional Wash Options
  • Capacity
  • Wash Arms & Filters
  • Lower Dish Rack
  • Upper Dish Rack
  • Cutlery Holder
  • Detergent Dispenser
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise
  • Controls
  • Comparison
  • Comparison
  • Efficiency
  • Washing Performance
  • Features

Introduction

Okay, we admit, the idea of taming an appliance sounds absurd. But as you read on you’ll see it’s a fitting metaphor, at least in regards to performance.

Front

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“Three buttons is all you need,” says {{product.brand.name}}. The stainless steel front shines brilliantly and will look fine in most kitchens. The control panel—which is less of a panel than it is a few buttons with some lights—is situated at the top of the washer door.

Our one complaint with the overall design—as well as the functionality—is that it’s significantly shorter than most built-in dishwashers. Installing this beast demanded a frustrating process of manually screwing in and unscrewing the four preinstalled legs. Even more frustrating was that two legs required the use of a prepackaged wrench to adjust, while the other two were connected via a fixed screw that required a painstakingly slow process of adjustment. Then we had to measure each leg according to the height of our cabinet space, all while continuously flipping the machine onto its rear and then back again, possibly scratching the machine in the process. This may be convenient for non-standard counter-top heights or wheelchair accessible kitchens, but for most people this will just prove annoying.

The front of the GE CDWT980VSS.

Finish

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The {{product.model}} is sealed in a stainless steel that is certainly not immune to fingerprints, but it looks nice enough. A brief rubdown from time to time will keep the machine looking nice and shiny.

Controls

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What controls? Oh you mean those three buttons right there? I guess those are controls.

This is Blomberg’s statement on what a dishwasher should do: Wash—no more, no less. To do that all you need is an on/off switch, a cycle selector, and a start/pause button. And, honestly, who are we to argue? Those really are the most important functions of a dishwasher. Are they not? Something tells us Steve Jobs would have liked this machine.

Interior

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The wash tub is made of stainless steel and is very shiny, almost enough to give the impression of a more spacious interior—another example of the {{product.model}}’s hidden complexity.

The CDWT980VSS with door open.

Top Rack

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The upper rack includes four rows of tines, none of which are foldable. In fact, adjustability seems to be one of the concepts {{product.brand.name}} jettisoned in pursuit of simplicity—either that or a low budget.

The rack does include a collapsible cutlery holder that doubles as a support for small dishware. There’s also a handle for sliding the basket in and out of the tub, which is convenient given the heavy locking mechanism that holds the upper basket in place.

The top rack of the CDWT980VSS.

Bottom Rack

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Like the top rack, the bottom rack has four rows of tines that cannot be adjusted, although they do seem to bend easily. The grid layout of the rack’s base is pretty sparse, which is frustrating if you’re trying to fit smaller dishware.

The bottom rack of the CDWT980VSS.

Cutlery Basket

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The cutlery basket is pretty limited—sorry—simple. While we didn’t have a problem loading our own cutlery, it’s not hard to imagine a scenario, such as a dinner party, in which the amount of space just wouldn’t cut it (super pun!). One neat feature is that it’s designed to slide across the tines, allowing for maneuverability within the lower rack.

The CDWT980VSS cutlery basket.

Electricity Use

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The Quick Cycle and Regular Wash are very efficient in their energy use, enough to drive the machine’s overall strong efficiency score. The Quick Cycle used just 0.29 KwH and accounted for 3 cents of the total cost of 8 cents per wash, compared to the Regular Wash’s 0.54 KwH (6 cents out of the total 13 cents per wash). However, the heavy cycle—dubbed Pots & Pans Plus—consumed 1.12 KwH per wash, making for an electricity cost of $0.12 per wash (out of a total of 20 cents/cycle).

Water Use

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The {{product.model}} was a bit more efficient in its water consumption. The Quick Wash used 3.34 gallons of hot water—for a water cost of $0.01 per wash—and the Regular Wash consumed 5.16 gallons of hot water per wash ($0.02/cycle). Surprisingly, the Pots & Pans Plus cycle used only slightly more water than the Regular Wash (5.66 gallons). This made for a water cost of just $0.02 per cycle.

Yearly Running Cost

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On average, the Quick Cycle, Regular Wash, and Pots & Pans Plus will cost you $0.08, $0.13, and $0.20 per wash, respectively. This averages out to a yearly operating cost of $27.44—considerably lower than competing dishwashers with comparable performance.

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Washing Speed

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For the Regular Wash and Pots & Pans Plus, the {{product.model}} is neither slow nor fast. At a running time of 108 minutes for both cycles, you’ll be able to go watch a standard-length movie, including the credits (if you’re into that).

The Quick Cycle, however, is indeed quick; we clocked it in at a mere 27 minutes. However, this speed is definitely reflected in the quality of the wash.

Washing Performance

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This is where the wild horse metaphor comes into play. When it’s in the mood, the {{product.model}} offers an extremely thorough clean—it’s loyal. But when it’s mad at you, it spatters food particles throughout the load and just ends up wasting your time—it’s petulant.

So why is this? At first we thought it was just the filter, and it’s definitely true that the filter needs to be removed and cleaned pretty much every time. That’s right: every time. (Thankfully, the filter is easy enough to remove.) But it also means your dishes should be scrubbed down before each wash; don’t just toss them into the machine as is. If you do, then this will happen:

BLOMBERG ANNGGGRRY! BLOMBERG NO CLEAN FOR DISRESPECTFUL MASTER!

So when the {{product.model}} is in the mood, it offers a truly thorough clean, but its inconsistency lowered its overall performance scores. It should also be mentioned that we found this problem to be most apparent in the Pots & Pan Plus Cycle. So if you can tame this monster, which will require effort on your end (such as scrubbing dishes and cleaning the filter), then it’s truly worth the price.

Quick Wash Cycle

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“Meh” should be added to the dictionary as an adjective, because it perfectly describes the {{product.model}}’s Quick Cycle. For a duration of just 27 minutes it did pretty well, but for your average quick cycle the {{product.model}} was just mediocre. Nonetheless, this cycle is ideal for rinsing off dusty dishes; it should be avoided in cleaning off heavier stains.

Normal Wash Cycle

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We found the Regular Wash to be the most consistent of the three main cycles, and it was surprisingly thorough. It had some trouble on our egg test, which was about the only place the Regular Wash was inconsistent. In all, this option was one of the better regular wash cycles we've come across, and it will definitely be the go-to for most dish loads.

Normal Cycle

Heavy/Pots & Pans Wash Cycle

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Inconsistent. Petulant. Demanding. Very clean (when it feels like it). As mentioned, you’ll need to wash out the filter and scrub your dishes to reap the full benefit of this cycle. If you do, then everything will be sunshine and rainbows. If you don’t, then the {{product.model}} will transform into Optimus Prime and obliterate your kitchen. Well, not really. But it won't perform as well as other machines we've tested.

Pots & Pans Cycle

Washing Cycles

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The four cycles—Quick Cycle, China/Crystal, Regular Wash, Pots & Pans Plus—should satisfy most washing needs. But the lack of customization and extra features may be frustrating if you’re looking for complexity.

Customization

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We wish we could tell you that an On/Off switch counts as a customization feature, but... no.

Additional Wash Options

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Most dishwashers offer—at the very least—a wash delay, sanitizing option, or heated dry. The {{product.model}} offers zilch.

Capacity

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Another area where the {{product.model}} falls short. We could only fit 9 place settings, including a serving setting. That’s considerably lower than the 12 settings marketed by Blomberg. It's true that most dishwashers overestimate their capacities, but this one was as generous as a Match.com profile.

Top Rack

Bottom Rack

Wash Arms & Filters

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The {{product.model}} includes two linear wash arms, one attached to the bottom of the tub, the other to the base of the upper rack.

The removable filter includes two components for fairly easy washing, which is necessary if you have any interest in taming this beast. We thought it frustrating that a thorough clean was dependent on washing the filter before every cycle. Then again, simply scrubbing your dishes beforehand should be enough to ensure a good wash.

The CDWT980VSS wash arms.

The DW 14140 upper wash arm

The CDWT980VSS filter.

Lower Dish Rack

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The tines in the lower rack bend easily, in a way that was probably not intended, but some folks may find this useful for fitting awkwardly shaped dishware. They also cannot be folded, which is frustrating and contributed to the machine's low capacity. There are four plastic wheels on either side of the rack for sliding in and out of the tub, but we found that they easily went off-track when handled too aggressively.

The bottom rack of the CDWT980VSS.

Upper Dish Rack

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The tines and spindles were placed in a way that seemed to leave a lot of empty space between dishes. This is frustrating when you’re trying to fit a heavy load and you notice a lot of empty spaces that are not quite large enough to fit an extra glass or mug (another example of this machine’s deceptive appearance). There's also a frustrating locking mechanism on the upper rack that fastens it in place when inside the tub. This is useful for keeping the basket at bay, but it requires a bit too much force to remove, and that can be quite a nuisance when you have a large, delicate load.

The top rack of the CDWT980VSS.

Cutlery Holder

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The cutlery basket is small but versatile. It has eight interior bays, all of which are enclosed by two removable lids. The fact that the lids are removable and not foldable seems silly, as they can easily become lost. We even found the lids to be a bit tight around certain kinds of silverware. The solution would be to remove them entirely, but then you have a mishmash of cutlery and two plastic lids that you have to store somewhere—and probably lose.

We did like that the basket was fitted to the tines on the lower rack, so you can easily slide it along the corresponding row. This actually came in handy when trying to position larger dish loads.

The CDWT980VSS cutlery basket.

Detergent Dispenser

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The dispenser flips open via a pivoted latch and includes two levels for measuring detergent volumes. The rinse aid dispenser opens in the same manner but in the opposite direction. Interestingly, it also includes a dial (1-6) for measuring the volume of rinse aid you’d like the cycle to consume.

The CDWT980VSS detergent dispenser.

Ease of Use

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This machine was designed for ease of use. With just three buttons and four wash cycles, a monkey could figure out how to operate this machine. The racks may not be the smoothest or the tines very flexible, but the {{product.model}} is generally a very straightforward dishwasher. Once again, though, this ease of use was not seen in the installation, which was overly complicated. Also, the short stature of the machine may be a convenient feature for some consumers, but we would have liked it to be more easily adjustable.

Noise

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The {{product.model}} is not the quietest machine on the market, but it’s certainly not going to wake you up or disrupt your yoga stretching. If you’re looking for a machine that can operate in a sensory deprivation tank then look elsewhere. If you like the wooshing sound of most dishwashers then this machine will prove familiar.

Controls

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The Cycle Select button scrolls through the cycle options, indicating the selection via a small red light. The other two buttons—Start/Pause and On/Off—should be self-explanatory. There is also a light indicator for the corresponding wash stage: Wash, Rinse, Dry, End.

Comparison

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The Kenmore is considerably more expensive and less efficient than the {{product.name}}, but if price is not a main concern its range of extra features, superior design, and high-end performance make it the better option.

Comparison

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The Samsung DMT800RHS is one of the best machines we've tested and, when on sale, is well within the price range of the {{product.name}}. It boasts a larger capacity, stronger design, and a familiar brand name; the only reason to go with the {{product.brand.name}} over the Samsung would be if you're looking for a highly efficient machine, and little else.

Washing Performance

Efficiency

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Anyone looking to keep their energy and water bills to a minimum will appreciate the {{product.model}}’s efficiency. We found it will cost you an average $27.44 per year to operate—well below market competitors and worth the strong, albeit inconsistent, performance.

Washing Performance

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The {{product.model}} is as reliable as Siegfried and Roy’s tiger; if you treat it well—clean the filter, scrub your dishes—you’ll be rewarded with a near-perfect clean. If you don’t take care of it you’ll have a virtually unusable load of dishware on your hands.

BLOMBERG ANNNGGGRRY!

If you don’t have a problem with frequently cleaning the filter and scrubbing your dishes then the {{product.model}} offers a very solid clean for minimal water and electricity consumption—and a decent price to boot, especially compared with its European competitors.

Features

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There’s something so endearing about this machine’s simplicity that we almost didn’t care that there are no extra features (unless you count the China/Crystal cycle as a feature). But then we thought about it and realized that, no, we would have liked some more wash options, even if they contradicted the minimalist vibe that {{product.brand.name}} seems to be pitching. Sorry, Mr. Jobs.

Meet the tester

Tyler Wells Lynch

Tyler Wells Lynch

Contributor

@tylerwellslynch

Tyler Wells Lynch is a freelance writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Vice, Wirecutter, Gizmodo, The Rumpus, Yes!, and the Huffington Post, among others. He lives in Maine.

See all of Tyler Wells Lynch's reviews

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