you look at higher-end dishwashers, and they all seem the same. they have stainless tubs, more cycles than ever and have decent to unbelievable quietness. in fact, it may be a bummer to replace a dishwasher, but the new ones are much quieter.
it wasn't always this way. bosch and miele changed the market in the early 1990s with a better dishwasher. for awhile, they owned the premium dishwashers. american companies like kitchenaid responded with competitive products years later.
now you can choose tons of decent dishwashers from bosch, asko, miele, kitchenaid, frigidaire pro and even maytag. before we compare ge to bosch, we should look at the differences between american and european dishwashers.
american vs. european dishwashers
european models use condensation to dry, american models use a heating element. european dishwashers tend to heat the water hotter and use less water. they are also amongst the quietest dishwashers as well.
american dishwashers like ge use a food debris grinder at the bottom whereas the europeans utilize a filter system. this seems to be changing as american dishwashers are now featuring filters for noise reduction.
american dishwashers typically stick out 1”-2” from the cabinetry whereas european dishwashers will sit flush.
bosch
bosch is a large global german-based corporation. however, it's dishwasher production is based is in north carolina and is the largest dishwasher factory in the world today.
although they have different appliances as well as the thermador and gaggenau brands, bosch is a dishwasher company. they were the first with quiet dishwashers, stainless tubs, and integrated controls. every year, bosch will introduce a new, improved line of dishwashers, which is very unusual in the appliance industry.
their models offer a wide array of racking adjustability making it easy to fit dishes in all shapes and sizes. they also heat the water to a higher temperature which assists in their condensation drying and yes, this dishwasher is very quiet.
it also has a number of cycle options like eco and a 30 minute express wash
bosch shxn87pw55n - $1,099
features
- adjustable third rack to fit ramekins and larger chef tools
- 40 dba- quietest dishwasher brand
- a flexible 3rd rack with folding tines adds 30% more loading capacity
- touch control technology allows for quick cycle programming
- infolight shines on the floor so you know the dishwasher's running
- rackmatic offers 3 height levels, for 9 possible rack positions
- flexible 3rd rack with adjustable separators provides additional loading capacity
- 16 place setting capacity
- flexible silverware basket can be split into two pieces and placed anywhere for added flexibility
- extra tall item sprinkler cleans items 22" tall
- half load option for small loads
- express wash - in 30 minutes or less
ge profile
ge (general electric) is one of the oldest appliance companies in the world. ge has been a well-known home appliances brand for many generations. they started with home appliances back in 1905 with an electric toaster. ge is typically builder, not consumer driven, and mostly appeals to that segment. in august of 2016, they were purchased by haier of china.
to be transparent, we no longer sell any ge appliances as of 2013 and have no plans to carry ge in the near future
ge profile pdt845ssjss - $899
- reversing quad blade wash arm
- 42 dba with led status indicator on door
- 3rd cutlery rack
- 16 place settings
- 7 wash cycles
- adjustable upper rack
- 140 cleaning jets covering all corners of tub including bottle and deep clean
- hard food disposer up to 3600 rpm
- top or bottom cleaning rack cleaning options
ge's latest dishwasher model is built with a quad arm spray. the arm quickly disburses water into 25 different spray jets changing different directions as they move. this quickly hits all hidden areas on bowls, and plates.
the interior has many fold-down tines, which offers flexibility for tall items. the upper rack can hold up to a 10 ½ plate, while the bottom rack can hold a baking sheet. the cutlery basket can be broken into three pieces and can be relocated to the upper rack.
brand reliability
bosch is the second most reliable premium dishwasher to miele at 9.6% service within the first year. we have not sold ge in awhile, but back in 2013 it was average at about 14-16%. see our service team stats for dishwashers here.
which dishwasher is better?
they both perform extremely well and offer a ton of racking and options. ge is cheaper, but the bosch can be purchased with different rebates and package promotions frequently. ge has different sprays designed to clean bottles. bosch has a spray to clean items up to 22 inches tall.
the racking system in the bosch dishwasher is better because of their railing adjustability and solid construction. you can fit as high as a 9” tall wine glass in the upper rack. each rack has its unique fittings, and racks can accept plates, pots, knives, glass, and utensils.
you will really like the third rack in both, commonly called the “cutlery” rack. this gives you a tremendous amount of flexibility with cleaning large knives, ladles, lids and flatware giving you more space for loading.
both machines are similar in terms of appearance, cycle options, capacity and stainless tubs. they both hold 16 place settings and have heat boost. bosch is 20% quieter at 40 dba vs. 42 dba for the ge.
so it's the spray of ge versus the racks, quiet and reliability of a bosch. both are good choices.
additional resources
want to learn more about the latest dishwashers? get the yale dishwasher buyers guide with features, specs and detailed profiles of all the brands. well over 185,000 people have read a yale guide.
recommended reads
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a note about pricing
pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. we make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. please call the stores for most accurate price.
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