Sleek, stylish German engineering---not my car (I wish)-- my Bosch dishwasher!
Written: Apr 13 '06 (Updated Apr 14 '06)
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Pros: Quiet; no pre-rinsing required; cleans very well
Cons: Not a lot of room for taller utensils
The Bottom Line: Excellent value. Very attractive, cleans well, and is very quiet. Great dishwasher for small family.
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| pilarzmom's Full Review: Bosch SHX46B05 Stainless Steel 24 in. Built-in Dis... |
It's been almost a year since we got our new Bosch SHX46B dishwasher as a part of our kitchen remodel. To say we're pleased would be an understatement. This sleekly styled stainless steel dishwasher has surpassed our expectations in most every way, with its super quiet operation and superior washing capabilities. Read on to learn more about the crown jewel of our new kitchen.
Summary of primary performance features and benefits of the SHX46B
Sensotronic Wash--energy saving feature--advanced scanning eye sensor determines dirt level of wash and whether or not secondary wash is needed.
Flow-Through Water Heater--water passes through heating chamber rather than direct contact with heating element, allowing it to heat quickly to 161 degrees.
Suspension Motor--Isolates motor and cuts down on noise
Condensation Drying--More sanitary than traditional drying. Does not release steam into kitchen.
Two-Pump Motor System--an additional feature to help cut down on noise. Two small pumps instead of traditional one large one.
Extra-Tall Item Sprinkler--Since top rack is easily removed, you can stick larger pots and pans in bottom for easy cleaning.
NSF Certified (National Sanitation Foundation) for the following cycles: Power Scrub Plus, Regular Wash, Delicate/Econo Wash
Energy Star Rating 353 kWh per year (on a scale of 194-465)
Miscellaneous features
Stainless steel TALLTUB, AUTOCLOSE door (smooth close if less than 10 degrees),PERFECTDOOR (stay in fixed position if open more than 10 degrees), hidden controls, adjustable racks.
Available Cycles: Power Scrub Plus, Regular Wash, Delicate/Econo Wash, Top Rack Only, Rinse & Hold
Purchasing Info
This particular model is a Sears exclusive. We purchased for around $800. Other similar models from the Bosch Integra 500 series are available at various retail outlets.
What we like about the SHX46B
First of all, we love its simple but stylish look. The controls are on the inside--top of the door to be precise--and this creates a sleek, uncluttered look. These controls are very simple and straightforward, too. Simply pick your cycle and press the on/off button on the left. Nothing could be easier. It should be noted, however, that if you are one who likes to know what which cycle the dishwasher is in, then this isn't a good choice for you, as no cycle indicator lights are on the outside.
I absolutely love that I don't have to rinse clean my dishes before loading. As long as I don't overload my washer, every thing comes out clean. I have put in plates with dried-on spaghetti, cheese, knives with sticky stuff like peanut butter and honey, and just about anything else you can think of. Only in a few instances have I had any dirt on a dish or silverware--attributed to sloppy loading for the most part.
Loading the dishwasher is simple and straightforward, with plenty of room for larger plates on the bottom, and smaller dishes and glasses on top. Our family of four goes through a lot of dishes everyday and I find on average that we do a load once a day. I have yet to use the Top Only Wash nor have I washed oversized items using the bottom rack only. I did test out removing and reinstalling the top rack and found it very easy to do.
The PERFECTDOOR feature is very nice. I can't recall how many times I hurt my shin when the door slammed down accidentally on my old washer. With this washer it doesn't fall and requires that I push it all the way open.
For a stainless-steel appliance it's quite easy to clean. I just use stainless-steel wipes to keep the outside free of dirt and fingerprints.
But perhaps what I love most of all is the quietness of this washer. No longer do I have to run the washer at odd hours or put off running it at certain times because the load noise would interfere with Saturday night movies or a T.V. show. Even our contractors who installed it said it was the quietest washer they'd put in.
What we don't like about the SHX46B
Performance wise, we are extremely satisfied with our Bosch washer. However, there have been a few minor annoyances.
When we first got this dishwasher we were extremely annoyed by the cycle complete signal. This series of beeps occurred several time after each wash. There didn't appear to be anyway to turn it off, but finally I found the instructions deep inside the user manual and turned off the signal.
I am not extremely satisfied with the Rinse Aid Dispenser. While the detergent dispenser is simple and easy to fill, the Rinse Aid is not. The hole is quite small and it is difficult to read the fill lines as well. I've found, however, that by using Cascade Complete a rinse aid isn't really necessary.
My final little gripe with this model is that it isn't quite tall enough in its standard rack configuration for me to put long-handled serving spoons and spatulas and such in the silverware basket on the lower rack. The dishwasher does have what have a flip down knife rack on the top rack, but if I got a lot of longer utensils to put in, this narrow rack can get quite full.
It's also my observation that while this is a standard-size dishwasher from the outside (24 inches wide X 30 inches high), it doesn't appear to have to quite the space of some of its American-made counterparts. It's sufficient our family of four, but for a larger family it might not be.
Final Thoughts
I've never enjoyed washing dishes and having an efficient, quiet dishwasher has always been a dream. Now that I have one I can't imagine what life was like before with our inefficient, noisy freight train that we had. Despite a few minor gripes which really are convenience issues and not performance issues, we are very pleased. The quietness and washing efficiency of the Bosch SHX46B dishwasher were exactly what we were looking for. 5 stars.
Related Reviews:
Amana Easy Reach Stainless Steel Refrigerator (with bottom freezer)
Frigidaire Built-in Convection Oven
Maytag Gas Cooktop
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 800
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