Best dishwashers reviewed for overload of choices

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Dishwashers last about 10 years, so it's not every day you have to think about buying a new one. And chances are your needs have changed too. Fortunately Consumer Reports tested nearly 100 new models. See which ones will fit your budget and your lifestyle.

Looking for a new dishwasher? You might feel "overloaded" with all of the choices.

Consumer Reports says job one of any dishwasher is clean dishes -- and its tests are tough! Testers spend a day dirtying dishes, glasses and silverware, smearing on peanut butter, sauce, egg yolks, spinach and more. Then the dishes are left in the dishwasher overnight, letting all that food get caked on, just like you might do.

"A dishwasher that does well in our tests, whether very good or excellent, should be able to handle anything you throw at it," said Consumer Reports tester Emilio Gonzalez.

Some dishwashers leave behind small bits of food, but many dishwashers produce nice clean dishes. After cleaning performance, there is more to consider, like run time.

"The normal cycle for most dishwashers these days is between two and three hours," said Gonzalez.

The $800 Blomberg cuts cycle time almost in half with an 85-minute normal cycle. It is a bit noisy. But even with its shorter cycle, the dishes come out super-clean.

In the end, top ratings went to the $1,300 Kenmore Elite from Sears, which solves another problem. With most dishwashers' spray arms, if something like a stray fork gets in its path, it gets stuck and the water can't reach everywhere. The Kenmore Elite has a motorized spray arm, so when it hits the fork, it reverses direction.

The Kenmore Elite is also available without the motorized spray arm for $100 less.

Consumer Reports also named a "best buy" for about half the price. It's a little bit noisier and doesn't have a stainless-steel tub, but it delivers excellent cleaning power. It's the $730 Bosch Ascenta.