I have a Bosch SHX68TL5UC that we got last year. It has a small round sprayer disk at the top over the third rack. Of course, it has the two sprayer arms as well. I use the powder Finish tabs. Dishes are always clean, but I've always scraped and prerinsed before loading, so my dishes "look" clean before going in. Guess I got in that habit when I had a horrible dishwasher.

I did find it to be a learning curve when loading certain dishes, but like anything, you eventually learn which way works best. Unless I load something that rattles against something else, I don't hear it running unless I really get close and listen. Will never go back to a dw without a third rack. Love it!!

I have a lower end bosch, small round sprayer disk at the top, no third rack, two sprayer arms. Use Finish brand tabs after trying many others. I do not scrape or pre rinse, (waste of time and water). If something comes out dirty, 90% of time it is because someone (not me) overloaded the dw or did not load properly.

I have the Bosch 500 series with panel and love it. I use only Finish powerballs. You will get loads of good responses on the Appliance Forum if you head over there with your questions.

I have the same Bosch model as designsavvy and the dishes always come out clean. I scrape but don't rinse. With a two person household, it usually takes two days to accumulate a full load. In the "old" days, I would have rinsed dishes before holding them two days to wash. I am very happy with the performance of the Bosch. BTW: I have Fiestaware and no problems loading plates and bowls.

I have a 12 y.o. Miele which is the great grandma to the Miele G6365SCVI you're looking at. It's never had a service call. They've tweaked the new models with things like "half load" (my top only), Express and others so you'd have the advantage of new additions.

I have washed everything in it from antique china to pots and pans, Riedel crystal and even sterling on china & crystal with half a Method tab. Previously, in another house, we had the Optima with similar configuration. Loved that one equally well. Most who have these really like them. Occasionally there are non-fans. But at this point, after two of them, I would only buy a Miele.

Not all of my bowls fit perfectly either. I've learned to load it to hold a ton though. It cleans everything even when I have things piled on in a second tier.

Thanks, everyone, for responding, especially you, zwizzle1, since you also have Fiestaware. I'm glad to hear you haven't had any problems loading your dishes!

debrak, I guess I didn't look well enough to see the small round sprayer over the utensil tray. Good to know it's there!

rococogurl, does your Miele have the fold-down tines? That was one reason why we liked that model.

Mizlizzie, I wish I could get a 500 series, panel ready but it's not shown on Bosch's website so they must no longer offer that series panel ready.

We stopped at Sears and looked at their Bosch models. The bottom tray in their display model had a different lay-out than the one we saw at an independent appliance store. It would actually work better for us. It was model #SHX68T55UC and it did come in a panel-ready model. We liked the sales price, too.

I've ruled out the KA. From what I've read on-line (taken with a grain of salt, of course, but there was a pattern), they have a higher rate of repair than the other 3 brands. Plus, DH reminded me that we didn't have very good luck with their customer service when our KA DW was still under warranty. We got a hand mixer out of them for our troubles but I'd rather have had a working DW without the headaches.

We recently bought the Kenmore Elite DW. I brought my plates when shopping. Of all those brands, the only one that my dishes fit in well was the Kenmore Elite. Plus it was highly rated by CR.

I'm so glad I got this dishwasher - the first time I used it we thought it was broken - we barely heard it working. All of our previous DWs promised they were quiet and were highly rated as being quiet but this is the first one that lives up to the promise. Unlike my old one, this takes 2 hours but it really gets the dishes, pots and pans clean - really clean. The sprayer has a different set up than older dishwashers and I think that's partly why it's more effective. I never set the DW to dry, I prefer to open and let it air dry. Well the dishes basically come out dry enough to put away immediately- frankly I don't think it's worth using the drying setting. I also like the adjustable second shelf which I've had on my last two DW - it's a feature I've found useful.

We got a KA Architect Series when we remodeled in 2008. It died last year - they don't last long. In addition, it NEVER cleaned well. We had to wash everything on Heavy Duty from Day 1 and even then we had to scrutinize the glasses, bowls, and silverware b/f putting them away. (My DH wanted it, I never did - I wanted a Miele, but he really balked at the price difference. Since he does the dishes, I let him have his way. Hah! As always, he says he should have listened to me...but I digress...) :-)

When we replaced it last year, he gave me free rein. I looked into Bosch DWs and decided they were a good compromise b/w price and performance. We have an 800 series and I love it! Everything is clean the first time and no more melted plastic containers, etc. when my DH forgets and puts them on the bottom - there's no heating element and dishes are no wetter than they were with the KA (and Maytag, Whirlpool, & GE we've had over the years). They're no drier, but that's OK.

At first I thought that third tray was something we wouldn't use - but we use it all the time! Not for silverware (we still use the basket), but for small items like the little Tupperware cups - they don't turn over and fill with water b/c there's no room for them them to turn over! We also put mixing spoons, scrapers, scissors, knives, etc., in that tray - it's been great!

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"...a pie-shaped knife holder on the side of the bottom tray..."

Yeah, we had that in our old KA and took it out - it was always in the way and knives still weren't clean.

If it helps, we have Pfaltzgraff Yorktowne and Snow Bear dishes and they all fit fine in the Bosch. My DH thinks the Snow Bear fit better, but I think they both are fine.

Yes, Lisa, the tines fold down. And sections lift out. I have the back right corner flat and put my large pots there. Havent been lucky with all my appliances but the Dw has been a gem.

We will have a miele dw in our new kitchen extension. Had one in our old house when we extended that kitchen and it was the best dw ever. We have a second hand bosch in our existing kitchen and it is really good. It will be relocated to the new utility room as a second dw. It's not quite as god as I remember our old Miele being but almost there. I don't think you'll go wrong with either brand tbh

Sorry to hear you've ruled out the KitchenAid. I've had one in each of my last two houses, 10 years each, and they cleaned great. No repair issues. Just scrape off the big, loose stuff, and no pre-rinsing. So quiet that guests standing in the kitchen ask "don't you want to turn on the dishwasher?" when it's already running. No experience, though, with Bosch or Miele, so I can't say they're not as good.

We have the 800 Bosch DW and really like it. It cleans very well without pre rinsing and is extremely quiet. I love the third rack for misc utensils. I was not fond of the utensil rack on the bottom because it limited placement of large items in the bottom rack. (baking dishes, cutting board, choppers) I bought the more versatile double sided utensil rack and am able to arrange dishes, pots and etc more easily.

FWIW, even though the Bosch has fold-down tines, I never actually bother. I just put the pot or pan or casserole dish "around" the tines.

Buehl, could you post a picture whenever you get a chance of your third rack in use with the little Tupperware items. I find that I can't put much that has "depth" on my third rack, so either I'm doing something wrong, or it adjusts! Thanks.

So glad to see more people post their experience with their machines. Thank you!

alexamorrie, good to hear you're happy with your Kenmore Elite. I liked our old DW but I have to admit that I also like the 3rd tray Bosch and Miele feature. We always have a lot of flatware, spatulas, knives and such, more than we could fit in the flatware baskets in our old machine. Our old Kenmore had a small, long basket at the back of the top tray that came in handy but the new Kenmores don't have that, unfortunately.

Buehl, good to hear from another happy Bosch owner. Thanks for letting me know that your dishes fit. I'm familiar with Pfaltzgraff (our previous dishware was Pfaltzgraff) so I know it's roughly the same thickness as our current Fiestaware.

Thanks, rococogurl, for answering my question. I don't know how often I'll fold tines down or lift sections out but it would be nice to have that flexibility.

Thanks, somersetlass, glad to hear you liked your Mieles.

I'm glad you've had good experiences with your KAs, catbuilder. Our Kenmore badged KA was great, the previous KA not nearly as good. That said, neither lasted much beyond 10 yrs. And that's just crazy! Seriously, when did a 10 yr appliance lifespan become the norm?

Karenseb, glad to hear you're happy with your Bosch. I'd love it if you'd take a pic of it in action. I'm curious to know what you mean by " more versatile double sided utensil rack." Thanks!

sjhockeyfan, I think our old DW had fold down tines that we never folded down. But since the tines on the Bosch and Miele aren't quite as generously spaced as our old Kenmore, it might be an issue for us when we wash casserole dishes and fry pans. I think I'll need to take another trip to the appliance store to look at the machines again.

A2, you are awesome for posting a pic of your Miele DW in action! I can't believe how much you fit in it! Do you remember which model it is?

You mentioned on your 3rd year anniversary thread that you had a service call on the machine. What was it for?

Thank you, everyone!

Hi Lisa,

Definitely check that the new dishwashers are the same as mine and will hold the double utensil basket if you like it. My dishwasher is a little over a year old and I don't know if they've changed it. I like to use the utensil basket on the bottom, but I found the long narrow one that comes with the dishwasher too restricted for my use. With the Duo Flex silverware basket, it can be moved around to a lot of different spaces to free up areas for something else. Now I can fit a baking dish where the utensil basket used to be on the side, You can also just use half of it if you like (which I've never done). I usually leave it where you see it, but I have moved it on occasion, one time to where it was probably not supposed to go ):

Duo Flex Silverware basket

I have the double silverware basket as well. It's nice to have it when I need it, but most of the time I store it under the sink so I can free up space for pots, pans, plates, etc. The third rack is usually enough space for my flatware and cooking utensils.

Thanks, Karenseb! That set-up looks like it will work well for my family, too. Going to check into it for sure.

Thanks for the reminder that I'll need to figure out where to store it when not in use, designsaavy.

Lisa- as I said in my other post. DW is 5 years old as it was a re-use item.

Minor issue that the flap on the filter wouldn't stay closed. They also replaced(although not sure it was an issue) the softener dispenser.

Ours is the LaPerla and the door opens at the end of the cycle; which aids in drying.

Thanks, A2, for letting me know it was a minor problem and easily fixed. The door on the Dimension model (2nd model posted above) also pops open at the end of the cycle. Slick! I can see that being a handy feature.