Whirlpool DU1055XTS 24 in. Built-in Dishwasher

Dishwashers are becoming more and more commonplace among American households and it has now reached a point where many consider a dishwasher a necessary part of any kitchen. I once considered dishwashers a luxury myself and since I didn't find the chore of washing dishes all that tiresome, I didn't really see the point in owning one. But times change and with them, attitudes change as well. I appreciate dishwashers more than ever before and I realize their usefulness not only as a time saving device, but also as an energy saving appliance. After my last dishwasher drew its final breath, I immediately began shopping for a replacement and the appliance I ended up buying is the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher, Model DU1055XTS, a medium- priced dishwasher with all the basics plus a little bit more.

Basic Facts About This Dishwasher:

Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is a four- cycle dishwasher that includes cycles for Pots and Pans, Normal, Light, and Rinse Only. Each of these four cycles has its own length of cleaning time, ranging from Pots and Pans (longest cycle) to Rinse Only (shortest cycle). Along with the four cycles, there are also several options available to choose from. These include a High Temp Wash, Sani- Rinse, and Heated Dry. Four status lights (Washing, Drying, Clean, Sanitized) indicate the point in the cycle in which the dishwasher is operating.

On the inside of the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher, one will find an upper and lower rack. Underneath the upper rack is a spray arm that aims water at the dishes down below, on the lower rack. Beneath the lower rack is a large, rotating spray arm that sprays hot water upward toward the dishes on the lower rack and also on the upper rack. As many as fourteen place settings will fit inside this dishwasher. Silverware is washed by placing it inside the door- mounted basket.  

The Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher measures about 34 inches in height, 24 inches in width, and 24.5 inches in depth. Soap is dispensed by using one or both of two cups (one open, one closed) and there is a special dispenser for rinsing agent. A food disposer helps to grind up particles of food before sending them down the drain and an insulated body keeps sound to a minimum. This Whirlpool appliance is also Energy Star qualified, and thus is operates very efficiently.
 
Final Thoughts:
 
Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher Model DU1055XTS is a nice, sturdy, quiet dishwasher that offers a fairly large capacity and the ability to get dishes clean after running a single cycle. I purchased the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher following the demise of my old dishwasher (it came with my house when I purchased it and was several years old) and I was attracted to this model for several reasons: Its moderate price, its stainless steel appearance, its cycles and options, and its promise of quiet operation. My previous dishwasher was good, but it was also somewhat of a noise maker and considering I have two young girls, I don't think my household needs any additional help making noise. So, I purchase the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher and hoped for the best.

Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher has no problems getting dishes clean and among all the factors to consider when purchasing a dishwasher, the ability to clean dishes is obviously the one that matters most. I have had only moderate success in the cleaning category with past dishwashers and I was never sure if I should blame the detergent, the water hardness level, or the dishwasher itself. I don't know what caused the mediocre performance level of past dishwashers, but the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is an appliance that gets dishes clean the first time. I usually use the normal wash cycle without any of the special options. This is all it takes to produce clean, sanitized dishes and I am grateful that I don't have to run the dishes through a second cycle. There is no need to pre- scrub or anything else. Just some simple rinsing of any excess food before loading is all it takes to prep dishes and ensure that they emerge squeaky clean.

Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher has two cups for your dishwashing detergent, and this is standard for most all dishwashers. But one thing that isn't standard is the rinsing agent dispenser. What I like about the dispenser on the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is that it doesn't have to be filled before every run. This dispenser is larger than most and it can hold enough rinse agent for many loads of dishes and many cycles. A gauge indicates the level of agent present with an indicator that ranges from Full to Add and once full, it will be prepared to keep dishes streak and spot free for many cycles. This is better than the rinsing agent dispensers found in many dishwashers that often require a re- filling each time dishes are loaded.

Part of the reason the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher gets dishes so clean is that the cycles can take quite some time to finish. In fact, based on the selections you make, this Whirlpool dishwasher can take up to three and one- half hours to finish a cycle! This is why you need to be careful when you select your cycle and option combinations. Selecting Pots and Pans cycle, along with Sani- Rinse and heated drying will result in a very long cycle process and unless your dishes are extremely dirty, this cycle will likely prove to be a waste of time and energy. I try to stick with the Normal cycle, no special options, and no heated drying. This helps to save energy and it results in a reasonable amount of cycle time while still getting dishes clean. The Light cycle option is even faster, but one has to be careful about choosing this option. Unless your dishes are very lightly soiled, there is a good chance that this cycle option will result in dishes that are not quite clean.

Another positive aspect of the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is the low noise level. It turns out that "Quiet Partner" isn't just a nice sounding name intended to help sell the appliance. The Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher really is a quiet machine and the special sound insulation is the main reason. This helps to filter out the sound and make for a quiet run each time the dishwasher is operating. Don't get me wrong- there is some noise, and you can certainly tell the dishwasher is running if you're in the same room or an adjacent room. But the operation isn't distracting in any way and it doesn't interfere with hearing the television, phone, or anything else.

Now that I have covered the good points, it's time to move to the negative. I like the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher overall, but it does have a few qualities I wish were different. First, there is no digital display showing the amount of time left in the cycle. My old dishwasher had a digital display and I'm not sure why I wasn't thinking about this when I purchased this Whirlpool dishwasher. The only time indication you have with the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is the status light, which indicates the point in the cycle that is presently in process: Washing, Drying, Clean, or Sanitized. This is better than nothing, but it still leaves you guessing about the actual time remaining.

Yet another flaw is with the silverware basket. This basket is long, narrow, and fits onto the inside of the door. This is great in some ways, for it frees up space on the bottom rack (where silverware baskets are usually found) to be used for dishes. It is also very handy for unloading purposes because the entire basket can easily be lifted out and taken directly to the drawer where your silverware is stored. But the bad thing about this basket is its tendency to trap some of the flatware. The basket is shallow and it has a cover that can be pulled over each of its sections. The cover and the shallow design mean that some knives, forks, and spoons are likely to get stuck. This isn't a huge problem because the flatware can easily be removed with a little effort (it often requires standing the basket upright and finding an opening to slip the flatware through). Still, this is an inconvenience and it negates some of the door- mounted basket's advantages.

Overall, however, I like the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher and I have few complaints about it so far. The stainless steel appearance is very nice, the dispensers work well, the operation is quiet, and the dishes come out clean in a single cycle. I would like to have a digital readout showing the minutes remaining and I would like to have a slightly wider silverware basket that would help prevent utensils from getting stuck. But the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is still a very good appliance and it is one I recommend.

I am far more appreciative of dishwashers today than I was in the past and now that I have been using them for several years, I cannot imagine life any other way. The Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is a very good choice for those who want a moderately priced dishwasher that gets the job done the first time and it rates as a very solid appliance from one of the foremost names in the business.