Is it really worth spending $1,200 or more on a dishwasher?
That was a question I asked myself about a year ago when my old, cheap dishwasher failed.
I was faced with replacing it and looking to install something that I hoped would last 5 to 10 years. The question was whether I should invest in a fancy, expensive dishwasher or replace my current one with another cheap model.
To give some perspective, a cheap dishwasher typically costs around $300 to $400. These usually have plastic interiors and limited settings.
Fancy dishwashers, on the other hand, come from brands like the German company Miele, and can cost $1,200 or more—sometimes much more! These high-end models typically have shorter wash cycles and metal interiors, which hold up better over time and provide superior drying performance.
I ended up deciding to go with a fancy, expensive dishwasher. I spent about $1,500 total on my Miele dishwasher, replacing the cheap one I had before.
So, how did it turn out?
My unequivocal advice is that you should spend as much as you can reasonably afford on a new dishwasher.
Whereas my previous dishwasher took three hours to wash dishes on its normal cycle—and still left many of them with residue—my fancy Miele dishwasher takes only 49 to 59 minutes per cycle. In that short time, it removes all the dirt from my dishes, and I almost never have to rewash anything.
I have three little kids, so I run about three loads of dishes per day. The time savings from this make a huge and noticeable difference in my day-to-day life. Yes, my dishwasher cost as much as a vacation. But given that time is money and you can’t buy time back, I see huge benefits in paying more to reduce the time spent rewashing dishes and waiting for the dishwasher to finish.
Another bonus is that I don’t need to prewash the dishes before putting them in my Miele dishwasher. It handles dishes even if they’re covered in stuck-on dirt.
That said, there are plenty of people who shouldn’t invest in an expensive dishwasher. If you rarely cook or live alone, a basic, cheap model is probably enough for you.
However, if you have a family or love to cook, I recommend splurging on your next dishwasher. It might be painful upfront, but over the years, you’ll be very happy you’re spending much less of your precious time on this planet washing dishes.
