a whole lot depends on your budget and priorities.
For a vacuum I currently have a Bissell. I really like it and think it does a better that average job. I have had a Kirby and a Dyson and think the Bissell actually does a better job than either of them did at 1/3 the cost.
My DW is a Fisher Paykel drawers. I have to say a really, really like this. It is at the mid to upper end price-wise, but I love having 2 dishwashers. There are only 2 of us in the house, so one of them gets run almost every night.

I have an Oreck vacuum (actually two of them - an upright and a small canister) that I love. They have good suction and are very light, which is important to me.

I have the Fisher-Paykel dishdrawers for my dishwasher, and love it, too. I did have some trouble with them in the beginning, though, before I learned to load them properly.

I would buy both again.

I love my Oreck. Like Joann23456 said, it's light so it doesn't kill my back. It also goes flat to fit under furniture. It really fluffs the carpet up, too. Look for sales or coupons. The only down side is that they use a bag instead of the cup you can empty. No big deal considering my back.

I'd love to have the Fisher-Paykel dishdrawers! I just have a regular old GE but it's quiet and gets the dishes clean.

I just bought a Shark at Walmart a couple of months ago. I don't usually like uprights, but this one is super light. the first time I used it, I vacuumed the great room rug (8 x 10) which had been vacuumed just a few days before, and the canister was almost completely full. I was very impressed with the suction and the job it did. It's under $200. I have a Bosch dishwasher. It's my second one and am pleased with it. About the dishwasher drawers, if you're thinking about them, it's a good idea to bring a dinner plate with you to see how it fits. I would also check the Appliance Forum. You'll get some great feed back there.

My vacuum choice won't help you--LOL--it's a 38 year old GE cannister that I bought for $1, (it was a floor sample). Everytime I think I really should invest in a better vacuum, I find the new one doesn't do half the job of 'old faithful'. So I've gotten rid of the newer ones and stick with the one I know I can count on.

Dishwasher? I have 2 Maytags. The one at the country house is old--don't know exactly, but I'd guess, based on the style that it's probably 15-20 years old, possibly more (it has a dial! not push buttons). It's fantastic, runs great and cleans EVERYTHING. At the other house, I've got one of the 3 rack versions. Nothing gets clean if you have the lower rack in, and even without that rack, only the dishes on the middle rack get truly clean. And then, only if they're slightly soiled. I don't attempt to wash anything with heavy duty soil on it in that machine. Newer Maytags are not the quality that their older appliances were, and don't have the same dependability.

Have you considered checkin in at your local used appliance store? A few months back, before we listed the house for sale, I wanted to replace the gas range. Got an AMAZING one (better than anything I've ever had before) for only about $320. It was like new, has 3 racks in the very large oven, a warming drawer, nice choice of burner sizes, is self-cleaning. And for that price, they even installed it! All the real estate agents in the area use this particular store, and you can often get some really good appliances. I was one who would never have considered used appliances in the past, but I've been in there a few times, checking things out. It really depends upon when you hit them, but the one I go to has some really nice, high-end, like-new items from time to time. And SO cheap! Just a thought, in case you'd like to save about half what you'd pay for a new one.

Georgysmom makes a good point - my everyday dishes (corelle) fit in both drawers. My good dishes (pfaltzgraf)are a little bigger and do not fit quite in the bottom - which is slight smaller in height.

I have a central vac (and love it).

Another Fisher Paykel dishdrawer fan here! Both that and the plain old GE at our Maui condo are ten years old, and both work great. (Although I have to remind myself to use the bottom dishdrawer.) The condo is in a rental pool, so you know the GE gets very little TLC.

I have an Oreck vacuum that I bought at a yard sale... I do like that it is lightweight, but dislike the fact it has no attachments. When I get a new one I may try one of the Dysons.

As far as dishwashers go, I have a 10 year old Whirlpool which I love. It cleans so much better than the GE I had before. I will definitely get another Whirlpool when mine quits. Below is a dishwasher review website which might be helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dishwasher ratings

I have a Bissell vacuum that I am very happy with. I have had it for 4 years. My dishwasher is a Kenmore energy star that was in my house when I bought it 6 years ago. It is just OK. I don't know how old it is but does not have dials. I have always heard that Kitchen Aid is the best dishwasher.

We just bought a Dyson 33 a few months ago. Every kind has its pros and cons. I had always had a canister until my last Kenmore. The Dyson does pick up great, the only fault I find with it and any upright is that you can't really get under the edges of the cabinets and under low furniture. Yes, you can use the attachments but the hoses are difficult to manage and awkard at best.

It really appears that the Dyson is picking up alot more than the canisters or other upright but it really is because the dirt (hair in particular) is "whipped" with air in it versus the firt settling down to the bottom of the bag in the canister and the hair compacted. But I'm pleased with the Dyson. Will see what the carpet cleaning guy says when he comes to clean the carpet.

I love our Dyson, and disagree about the hoses being difficult to manage and awkward. We've had ours fr about 5 years, we have the animal and it really keeps control on the hair from 4 (3 huge!) long-haired, cats...and the feathers from our lovebirds. The dyson replaced an Oreck that we still use upstairs, the major drawback with that vacuum was it not having the attachments on board.

I won't comment on the dishwasher, ours is okay but nothing I'd rave about. It's a Maytag and does a nice enough job but we only run it once a week or so.

Dyson which I love and does a great job keeping up with the dog hair.
Electrolux, about 2 years old and I LOVE it. Does a great job, I only run it every other day.

Old, old Electrolux tanker, that I thought had almost had the biscuit, a month or so ago, but found the pack of bags that seemed to have taken flight, and it worked like a charm.

Have an old Hoover upright, as well.

Both do a good job.

Living alone, I haven't felt a major need of a dishwasher.

My dishwasher is of the built-in, custom-built, tailored to my individual needs, that I'd received at birth (well, starting somewhat prior to then) ...

... but hadn't put to use in that capacity for some time after I received them. Have carried them with me for many years, though - and they've continued to work well (after some encouragement - should one add, almost bullying, on occasion?).

Some folks figure that theirs need to be sheathed in rubber ... but I haven't seen the need of doing that with mine. And they've continued to work well, with little deterioration (though they've developed some brown spots, here and there, on the surface, in recent years - which doesn't seem to have interfered with the efficiency of their operation).

Good wihes in your quest.

ole joyful

I own a rainbow. Doesn't suck as well as the built in from years ago, in a previous house... but also does NOT put any dust what so ever back in the air. I need that with my allergy problems.

Dishwasher, mine is like Ed's. Cheap. LOL, cept the hand cream after...

Moni

Dyson animal that pleases me greatly

Kitchen Aid dishwasher that washes well but the dishes are always damp even after heat drying cycle. It was purchased from Sears. Their serviceman said it was becasue the jet dry liquid was low. He added a little and I have kept it full, but it still does not dry the dishes.

I have had it 10 years and have used it maybe a dozen times. I hate it.

Just an FYI: I had to have my fridge repaired [which went well, thank you] but the repairman told me that the formula for dishwasher soap is being re-formulated to change the phosphate levels after the first of the year. They were told this at a technician repair seminar. I have not verified this with anyone, but don't be surprised if your dishwasher stops cleaning as well as you'd like.

that is true cate. So, if you really really like the detergent you are using now, this would be something to stock up on.

I hate my vacuum..It's a cheapy, and I need a new one. Love the bagless feature, but hate that the stinking belt comes off almost every time I use it. It takes 5 screws to undo the bottom to fix it. I could do it with my eyes closed now.

I have a Bosch that does a beautiful job!! So much better than my Kenmore dishwasher that came with the house. Well worth the $$.

I like my Dirt Devil Breeze canister vacuum for the tile. Haven't found an upright that does a good job. I heard Dysons aren't what they are cracked up to be. Not even in the top 5 in Consumer Reports.

finally broe down a bought a dyson after trying hoover (my brand of choice for 40 years) when i couldn't lift or puch the heavy hoover...

as for the dishwashers...it really doesn't matter unless you buy one of the "off" brands, from europe..they're all made by whirlpool (maytag, kenmore, ect)

Another Dyson convert here. Used to have an Oreck, but it blew dust back all over the house and the bag was messy and porous.

We have 8 indoor cats and the Dyson Animal is nothing short of miraculous for picking up dust, fur and dandruff. The turbo attachment is especially terrific for picking up fur on fabric.

The hose arrangement is a little awkward but perfectly manageable once you get used to it. Wouldn't trade my Dyson for anything.

Dishwasher is a Kitchen Aid. Works great and the china cycle is gentle enough for delicate stuff.

Put both of my dishwashers to work last night.

They worked well.

But ... need to use them again tonight, as the water got rather dark brown ...

... and there were more dishes that needed washing: dryer rack full, too.

Asked the hands whether they were up to the job ... and they, rather reluctantly, agreed.

Avoided washing cups after the old guys' coffee hour at church, this morning - another guy did them.

One handy thing about my dishwashers, though - they're (both) portable!

o j

There is no such thing as a good vacuum cleaner...Far too much noise and they all suck...get a broom.

I have a Bissell 10amp upright vacuum. Only drawback, it doesn't fit under the edge of the kitchen cabinets.....but it does a better job than my Kirby 6amp upright and weights less.

I have a Kitchenaid dishwasher. I looked at the Bosch, it was supposed to be quieter, better insulated for noise, but it was small. The Kitchenaid is much larger, the silverware basket is HUGE and it does a GREAT job.....just not as quiet as a Bosch.

*When researching Paykel dishwshers, I was told in Europe people have small kitchens with no room to store their dishes...so you store them in the dishwsher. One drawer is always clean.

Note: My brothers Bosch dishwasher spewed steam out the bottom and ruined his wood floor.

I have a SEBO vacuum. It's an upright and gets very high ratings. It does hardwood floors as well as it does carpets and area rugs (and doesn't disturb the fringe.)
It is indestructible.

Vacuum cleaners I've had a few over the years.Starting with a kirby. to electrolux. to hoovers, and throw in a couple of Orecks that I have now.Nothing spectacular about anyone of them in my opinion.
I did just recently purchase a small little Monster Vac for quick pickups etc and absolutely love it and only cost less than 30.00 I use it for my kitchen floor which is large and for under furniture etc..it is fabulous.

Just got a Dyson ball and LOVE it! I had a central vac in my last house and didn't really like it.

For dishwashers, I like the Kitchen Aids with the stainless steel interiors

I like Hoovers, happy with everyone I have had. I tried half a dozen others even a Kirby my husband had when we married. I still went back to Hoovers when time to replace one. I once bought a light weight one, big mistake. It ran over my floor like a it was on a wash board, the sales man said it did that because it was to light weight. I got a whole house vacuum now and I still you my hoover, most of the time.

I love the Oreck products - my upright ultra-light vac is about 15 yrs old now, works like it did the first day. I have two of the cannister types with soft brush attachements, great for things like lamp shades etc. This Fall I added the floor steam cleaner, somehow its a little more work than I'd imagined but it really does produce a clean floor. I was in the Oreck shop just yesterday and bought more 'bonnets' for the steamer, my one complaint would be that the cleaner should have come with more than one each style/weight.

joyfulguy, I took my dishwashers into the laser clinic in one of our local doctors offices last Spring - 5 minutes and $150 later, the brown spots were gone ;) If they don't come back for another 62 years, I'll consider it a good investment.

I have an old Oreck but am now using a cheapie
Hoover mach 3 cyclonic I got from Walmart. It's bagless and
works just fine. My last one lasted for years. I broke
the release mechanism and DH glued that part shut so you
had to turn it upside down to dump the dirt out. I gave it to
my niece who said she didn't care as long as it worked, and I got another one.