When it's time for a new dishwasher, there are many brands from which to choose. KitchenAid and Bosch, however, are two of the best dishwasher brands and with good reason. Most other kitchen appliance manufacturers started out making refrigerators or stoves and eventually migrated toward dishwashers. Bosch and KitchenAid, though, both began as dishwasher companies and know the product well.
No More Noisy Dishwasher Reviews
Historically, customers who wanted a quiet dishwasher had to go with Bosch appliances. Although KitchenAid's dishwashers cleaned well, they were known for being disruptively loud. Bosch, on the other hand, made units that ran almost noiselessly at 39 decibels. KitchenAid has since made improvements, however, and now makes dishwashers that run at the same 39 decibel level as their Bosch counterparts.
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The Third Rack
KitchenAid and Bosch have both added third racks to many of their dishwashers. These skinny racks make it much easier to wash serving spoons, spatulas, silverware, lids and other flat items without taking up valuable space on other racks. In this area, the Bosch unit is superior to the KitchenAid. Bosch's third rack is deeper than the one in the KitchenAid, allowing you to fit shallow bowls in the rack and providing a bit more versatility.
Rack Adjustments and Configuration
While the Bosch third rack adds versatility to its design, this wasn't always the case. Just as KitchenAid dishwashers historically had a noise issue, older Bosch units suffered from a versatility problem. Like KitchenAid, Bosch addressed its fatal flaw and made improvements. Today, both brands allow users to make lots of adjustments for more wiggle room, but they do so in very different ways.
Bosch dishwashers allow you to wash larger items by adjusting the dishwasher racks themselves, offering three different rack height adjustments. KitchenAid also allows you to make adjustments but uses adjustable sprayers rather than adjustable racks. If you need to wash a large or deep item in a KitchenAid washer, you can place the spray nozzle inside the item to make sure it gets cleaned thoroughly.
Both adjustment methods improve the dishwasher's cleaning power, so it's a matter of personal preference whether you would rather move the racks or the sprayers inside your dishwasher.
Bosch vs. KitchenAid Dishwasher Drying
Bosch may win the third-rack contest, but KitchenAid is the clear winner when it comes to drying the dishes. Bosch uses the heat that accumulates inside the dishwasher during the wash cycle to dry the dishes. KitchenAid, however, uses an extra heating element specifically for drying and a fan to draw the hot air through the entire unit.
The KitchenAid approach dries the dishes much more thoroughly. It also does a better job on those plastic food storage containers that refuse to dry in most dishwashers.
Warranty and Reliability
Bosch and KitchenAid both have a reputation for building solid and reliable dishwashers that provide the appliance's expected 10-year life span. They also do so for about the same price. Their warranties do differ, however, which is a deciding factor for some buyers.
Bosch typically offers a one-year limited warranty on the entire dishwasher that includes parts and labor. Microprocessors, printed circuit boards and dishwasher racks, however, are warranted for five years. Bosch gives a lifetime warranty on rust-through tubs and tub liners.
KitchenAid dishwashers usually come with a two-year warranty that covers both parts and labor. KitchenAid covers nylon dish racks, nylon cup sleeves and silverware baskets themselves for five years, but any labor required to replace them isn't included.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
In 2018, J.D. Power examined dishwasher brands and ranked them based on overall customer satisfaction. Both Bosch and KitchenAid ranked among the top five brands. On J.D. Power's 1,000 point scale, Bosch ranked slightly higher with a rating of 862. KitchenAid was right behind them, though, at 856.