Dishwasher Buying Guide 2023

Buying a new dishwasher in 2023 can be a smart investment for your kitchen, as modern dishwashers come equipped with advanced features and energy-efficient technology.

Scrubbing baked-on, caked-on food off your dishes is no fun. That’s why you need a dishwasher that can handle the tough messes. But finding “the one” that can clean quickly, quietly and thoroughly — and looks darn good on top of it — probably seems too good to be true.

It’s not. You can have it all. Simply check out our guide to lend some much-needed clarity and insight to the shopping search, and you’ll soon find the perfect dishwasher that puts the sparkle in your dishes.

Choose Your Style and Color

Color

Color won’t be a complicated decision when you’re just buying a new dishwasher to match your existing appliances. You may need to consider buying the same brand of dishwasher as your other appliances to get an exact color and finish match. That being said, mixing and matching brands isn’t a problem in many situations because colors of stainless steel, black and white appliances are often extremely similar across brands.

When you are picking a new color of dishwasher or kitchen appliances, you’ll have many choices in 2023. Consider these top dishwasher colors:

• Stainless steel. This timeless classic is still the most popular color of replacement dishwashers and appliances. They’re easy to clean and their finishes last practically forever. Stainless steel is an easy choice when you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen to a modern and professional appearance. Stainless is also easy to match across various brands.
• Matte black. A popular choice in 2023, matte black appliances offer a modern and sophisticated look. They can create a striking contrast when paired with lighter cabinetry and countertops.
• Slate black. Often described as a dark matte gray, slate appliances provide a unique and elegant alternative to stainless steel. They are known for their smudge-resistant surface.
• Black stainless steel. Combining the elegance of black with the practicality of stainless steel, black stainless steel appliances offer a contemporary yet bold look.
• White. This color’s wane in popularity has taken an about face in recent years as more homeowners are finding that white appliances can make their kitchen feel bright and clean. They pair well with a wide range of cabinet and countertop colors and styles, making them a versatile choice.

Of course, you don’t have to worry about color when you cover your appliances with custom cabinet panels. You’ll just need to choose a dishwasher that’s panel-ready.

Style

Choose the style of your new dishwasher based on your aesthetic preferences, kitchen design and cleaning habits.

Console: Console dishwashers boast the classic good looks you’re used to. Control is right at your fingertips with buttons placed conveniently on the exterior of the dishwasher, and the time-remaining display is always front and center.

Hidden Controls: Hidden controls are found on the top edge of the door, so they’re out of sight when the door is closed and out of reach of little hands. The fully integrated console is not only easy to clean, but lends the appliance a clean, sleek look that will complement any modern kitchen.

Panel-Ready: Already mentioned above, this style dishwasher comes with an unfinished face so you can attach a panel that blends in seamlessly with the rest of your cabinets. This gives your kitchen a cohesive, continuous look.

Consider Noise Level and Price

There’s nothing worse than a dishwasher that rumbles like a rocket ship during takeoff and disrupts your daily activities. That’s why some of the latest dishwashers employ noise-dampening features to keep cycles so quiet, you barely even know the dishwasher is running. The quietest models have stainless steel tubs surrounded by sound-dampening insulation such as mastic.

The quietest dishwashers typically cost the most. Your choice of noise level may depend on how much you’re willing to spend for noise reduction. You don’t have to go all-in financially to get a reasonably quiet dishwasher.

Here’s some guidance for finding a quiet dishwasher that is reasonably affordable.

When it comes to keeping a dishwasher hushed, it’s all in the dBAs (decibel A-weighting) — that’s how noise levels in dishwashers are rated. Refer to this rating when shopping for dishwashers. Here’s how to decipher the decibel ratings:

• 57 dBA TV-Watching Quiet: Catch up on your favorite show without interruption.
• 53 dBA Background Music Quiet: Sing along to your favorite song without interruption.
• 50 dBA Conversation Quiet: Comfortably chitchat without interruption.
• 45 dBA Whisper Quiet: Make phone calls without interruption.
• 44 dBA Virtually Silent: Run the dishwasher without waking the baby.
• 39 dBA Quietest Quiet: You might not even know the dishwasher is running.

Correlate the price and noise level that you’re willing to tolerate when choosing the dishwasher that’s right for you.

Look at Special Features

Dishwashers now boast so many cutting-edge convenience and cleaning features, it seems like they can leave your dishes spotless and fly you to outer space. They’re not quite rocket ships yet, but they’ll certainly make life more amazing.

Of course, special features typically correlate to higher prices in dishwashers as well. The model with all the bells and whistles can be quite costly.

Choose the special features that you like while keeping an eye on the price.

Here are common cleaning and convenience features that you can choose from in 2023 dishwashers.

Special Cleaning Features

Exclusive 360° PowerWash® Plus Technology: Delivers a comprehensive, spiral-patterned spray with a motorized spray arm that moves backward and forward to hit dishes from every angle. And if a dish or utensil falls, it senses the obstruction and reverses direction for a continuous clean.

MicroClean™ Wash System: Delivers peak cleaning performance in less time with less water. Plus, the superfine filter traps food particles as small as 150 microns (that’s approximately the size of a human hair), so wash water stays clean and clear for the entire cycle.

Exclusive TurboZone Reach™: Uses 24 powerful jets to reach deep inside bowls, bottles and glasses in the upper rack — leaving no corner left uncleaned.

Exclusive TurboZone® with Rotating Spray Jets: Power cleans stuck-on foods in the back of the bottom rack with four rotating jets and reaches into the deepest corners with two stationary jets to deliver focused cleaning.

SmartDry™ Plus: Uses a heating element, extra drying time and a fan to deliver a thorough dry. It also automatically adjusts dry time and energy to match the selected wash cycle and deliver optimized drying for every unique load.

Sanitize Rinse Option: Is NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certified and eliminates 99.9% of bacteria, so you can feel good that you’re protecting your family.

Look for these cleaning options when shopping for a new dishwasher and pick the model with the affordable features that are best for you.

Enhanced Convenience Features

Here are some common convenience features in 2023 dishwashers that you can look for.

LED Interior Lighting: Illuminates the dishwasher’s interior, so you can easily find items you need and see just how clean those dishes are.

Removable Third Rack: Frees up space on lower racks by providing more loading area. It’s perfect for large utensils like cooking spoons, spatulas and chef’s knives.

Upper Rack Height Adjuster: Lift and lower the upper rack with one quick motion to accommodate large, oddly shaped items.

Wi-Fi Connectivity: Smart dishwashers offer the convenience of remote control and monitoring via smartphone apps. Users can respond to any concerns with the dishwasher alerts, monitor detergent levels, and receive cycle notifications.

Choose the convenience features that are right for you and that fit your budget.

There’s a dishwasher that’s perfect for every kitchen. Now go find the one you’re enthusiastic about and sold on.

Visit Our Sears.com Upgrade Page to Find Special Offers and Savings

When the time comes to replace your dishwasher, or all of your appliances, visit our Sears.com Upgrade page to easily select the products you need and get help with financing.

We’ve consolidated all help, financing offers and savings into one location on our Upgrade page to make it easy for you to replace your appliances now. No hassles and no waiting. Get your new home appliances today.

Efficient and durable appliances help make a house a home. Whether you just need a new fridge or you’re buying a whole set of appliances, Sears carries a wide selection of home appliances from top brands like Kenmore, Frigidaire, GE, Samsung and LG.

No matter what you need, we have all the products and resources to make your life easier.