I learned about 50-50 alcohol-water for cleaning granite over in Kitchens. A lot of people over there swore by it. I stuck with commercial products though for awhile. When we reno'd our bathrooms recently, I was searching for stone-friendly, yet disinfecting cleaning products to use on our bathroom surfaces (FWIW, Seventh Generation makes the only stone-safe, disinfecting spray bathroom cleaner that I've found so far--I have a bunch of cans of Lysol Bathroom Cleaner still, so sometimes use it just inside the tub itself and in the sink--very carefully!). Anyway, during my seemingly endless search, came across numerous recipes utilizing vinegar (not stone-friendly), borax powder, etc., in conjunction with essential oils (like lavender, or tea tree, for example). I decided to mix up some alcohol, water, and lavender oil and give it a try. The proportions were mostly from following what they were using in the Kitchen forum (although the EPA doc said 10% alcohol to 90% water, or 85% water and 5% lavender oil, is perfectly effective). I kind of trial and error it when mixing up a fresh bottle, if it doesn't smell "right" or evaporate/dry up nicely (without smearing) as I wipe, I add little more of one "ingredient" or another. I don't think it has to be perfect. I ended up not using it much in the bathroom, but tried it on my granite, and really liked the results (no smears or residue). I figured it was worth trying on my SS as well (we stopped having our cleaning person come, and I had difficulty cleaning the fridge doors without smearing/streaking using the oil-based stuff). I had to scrub off any and all traces of the old cleaner, but once I did I was good to go. Now I can spot clean or fully clean the surface with just my spray bottle and a microfiber cloth. I even "salvaged" my bff's fridge (fingerprinted, smeary mess), by scrubbing it with BKF and then following up with the alcohol-water spray. *Note, "naked" SS appliances reflect light differently than the same appliances cleaned/polished with oil-based product. The surface has slightly less sheen, and because of that, perhaps look a little colder, or a bluer-based grey--not bad, just something I noticed. I'm much happier with the ease of cleaning, so the trade-off is worth it for me. I also use the spray on my sink after cleaning with a soapy sponge or BKF (wipe dry with a microfiber and it looks great). Also really nice on our Wolf range's black burner pans for spot or light cleaning (I make sure not to spray when any burners are lit!).

After speaking with Sears ( where I purchased the dishwasher) They are going to send out a repair man to look at it for free. The gentleman at the corprate office told me that they don't last any more than 5 yrs anymore so be happy with that. Never again will I buy at Sears. They have changed so much. the repair man is coming tuesday... I will let you know what he has to say. Have a beautiful weekend all! Sharon PS. I did purchase the extended warranty that is the only reason they are coming out for nothing

While Aprince's advice to go to a store to listen to a few is OK, the reality is that the stores usually don't have many connected, and there is so much other noise in an appliance store you won't be able to tell much. Also, your home's ductwork will be different, which will have an effect on the noise level. BTW, I am assuming you are having ductwork. If you are doing a recirculating hood, then my following paragraph on ductwork is irrelevant to you. But if you DO have ductwork, check what is its diameter. If it is, e.g. 6" diameter, that will make your selection easier because it limits your choices, as most (but not all) 600 cfm hoods need 8" diameter duct. If you will be installing new ductwork, make sure the contractor installs an 8" duct, and don't let him tell you that 6" is OK, or try to sneak 6" by you. Stand firm on the 8". Smaller ducts increase noise. Many complaints about noisy hoods are actually related to a too-small duct. Try to get a hood with baffle filters, not mesh. Mesh filters clog fairly quickly, and thereby lose efficiency until you put them in the DW. Baffle filters get just as dirty of course, but don't lose efficiency as they get coated with grease. Restaurant hoods only use baffle filters. My final advice is to try to get the deepest hood you can. Since I am sure you will be limited to a 30" width hood over your 30" Bluestar range, try to buy a hood that is closer to 27" deep (i.e. front to back) if possible, and if within your budget. At the very least don't go shallower than 24". You will find lower-priced hoods that are less than 24" deep, which will not provide enough capture area over your range. The 27" deep ones, while better, are harder to find, and more expensive. So you have some shopping to do! Definitely do searches on this forum about hood brands. Don't forget eBay. Many people on this forum have gotten wonderful deals on hoods there.

Bringing this back from the dead with the promised review/impressions of the new Miele G6595SCVi K2O that was installed in late November. Overall we like the new machine, though it's not perfect. Like: Things get really clean! We're using the full Miele consumables range - detergent tabs, salt, and rinse aid. Things that I used to think were clean clearly weren't. Does a great job on range filters and grates, as well as wine glasses (and things in between). Interior lights are great. Thought they'd be a gimmick, but we both like them. 3rd rack is very helpful. Without it, the machine would be too small. With it, I think we're getting more items loaded than in the old Bosch, despite Miele being slightly smaller overall. Dishes actually get dry! The Bosch required all plastics and some glassware to be towel dried. Miele has things nearly touch dry when the door opens. Let it run when you go to bed, and in the morning everything is bone dry. Could be better: Loading flexibility is marginal at best. Yes, there are fold down cup racks and the configurable 3rd rack is good. But tines are either up or down, and only a few of them do that. In the old Bosch, I could create two completely flat racks if I wanted (all tines fold). Not so here. Cycle times seem long. Typically 2.5 hours or so. Dislike: Noise. The old Bosch was rated at 46dB. The new Miele is clearly and noticeably louder despite a theoretical 44dB rating (and the "Extra quiet" cycle rated at 40dB is no quieter than any other). Primarily water noise (spray hitting the door), and occasional dish noise from lighter plastics moving around from the spray. Some pump and motor noise, but not too much of that. Running the machine with the TV on in the next room is ok, but if there's no other ambient noise, the dishwasher is loud enough to be distracting. Our kitchen is completely open to the living area, with wood floors, so this is a tough environment. But Bosch was clearly better, even with the 12 year old version. Ease / Accuracy of installation. This is mostly the installer's fault more than the machine, but still. They installed it with the stainless door misaligned to the cabinetry so much that I noticed, and my wife was ready to tear the whole thing out. Would be better if there were some written instructions to go along with the pictograms. I would think this wouldn't be an issue for an experienced installer, and the guy we used does all of the Miele installs in the area, but I still had to correct them a couple of times (and it still went in crooked) I removed and reinstalled, and it's much better now, but I can still tell it's not perfect. In conclusion, we're happy with our choice. If Bosch cleans as well today as this Miele, though, I would switch back to recover some noise. Obviously too early to comment on durability, but things seem pretty solid so far.