DISHWASHERS

    Most dishwashers offer some variation on the basic wash-rinse-dry cycle. A dishwasher's Normal or Regular cycle typically includes two washes interspersed with two or three rinses. A Heavy cycle can entail longer wash periods, a third wash, hotter water, or all of the above. A Light cycle usually includes just one wash.
    These basic cycles are probably all that is needed. Additional washing and drying options abound, necessary or not.
    The common Rinse and Hold option can be useful for small families Instead of stacking dirty dishes in the sink or the dishwasher, you can gradually accumulate a full load, rinsing the dishes as you go.
    Don't expect a machine that offers a Pots and Pans cycle to do the work that requires abrasive cleaners and elbow grease. And think twice before subjecting good crystal or china—especially sets with gold trim---to a dishwasher's China/Crystal setting. The harsh detergents and possible jostling could etch or otherwise damage fine china.

WASHING AND DRYING

  Fancy electronic controls don't necessarily translate into better cleaning. Most machines, electronic or not, work pretty well overall Most machines also use their water-heating element to dry the dishes; some have a blower or a separate duct-mounted heater. Whatever the method, your machine should do an excellent job of drying china and glasses. Drying flatware is a bit more demanding for some.
   No-heat air drying, which utilizes evaporation and heat retained from the wash, produces reasonably dry dishes provided you can wait a few hours. You may be able to speed up drying by propping open the door.

ENERGY AND NOISE

you don't rinse dishes before you load--and you needn't--a dishwasher actually uses no more water than hand washing with a double sink. In fact, a dishwasher uses less water than if you washed dishes under a running faucet. The machines themselves use a small amount of electricity, consuming between 0.6 and 1.4 kilowatt-hours of electricity when supplied with 120 ºF water, which works out to between 5 and 12 cents of electricity at average power rates. No-heat drying saves a penny or two.
    Heating water to feed the dishwasher accounts for the bulk of its energy costs. An electric water heater will consume about 12 cents of electricity to provide the 9 gallons of 120 ºF water typically used for one load; the total comes to about $45 a year, assuming you run the dishwasher once a day. The hot-water cost for a gas-or oil-fired heater will be about 4 cents a load, or a total of about $15 a year.
    Quiet operation has become a dishwasher's main selling point, second only to washing performance and durability. Dishwashers have become quieter over the years.

SAFETY

    All models have a safety interlock that will turn off the power when the door is opened. All models have a float switch, which senses accidental overfilling and also cuts power.
   Many dishwasher accidents involve people cutting themselves, usually on knives or forks as they reach over a flatware basket into the machine's dish rack. It's always a good idea to load flatware with their points down. In addition, a machine's heating element can inflict a serious bum. Make sure that the appliance has cooled before you reach into the bottom of the tub to clean a filter or retrieve an item that has dropped.
   Door vents, often at a toddler's eye level, can emit steam, so keep children away while the dishwasher is running. Some electronic models have a hidden touchpad that locks the controls to discourage children from playing with them--a worthwhile
feature.

DISHWASHER RELIABILITY

  Some of the more reliable brands, based on the experiences of Consumer Reports readers with dishwashers bought new since 1987, have been Magic Chef, Whirlpool, Hotpoint, Amana, General Electric Monogram, and General Electric. Frigidaire,
Tappan, and White-Westinghouse dishwashers were most frequently reported as having needed repairs.