Some dishwashers dry better than others

Man unloading dishwasher

Drying isn’t necessarily top of your list when you’re thinking about buying a dishwasher but new testing done by Consumer Reports shows some dishwashers do a better job than others.

Testers loaded dishwashers with grimy plates and cups caked with all sorts of tough-to-clean foods and they placed two plastic cups inside the top rack. Plastic is used because it’s harder to get completely dry. After the cycle was finished, testers checked the cups; some models got them dry, but others didn’t.

Manufacturers use different methods to dry dishes. Some use heating coils, others use a fan. Others heat the water at the end of the cycle and use the residual heat to dry the dishes. Consumer Reports found you can’t tell by the drying method which dishwasher will do the best job.

Some good dishwashers are: KitchenAid KDTM354DSS for $1,500, which offers excellent drying and cleaning, and the Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7(5)UC for $1,000. It cleans as well as the KitchenAid and offers very good drying.

Whatever dishwasher you have, Consumer Reports recommends using a rinse aid. That will help get your dishes drier. Rinse aids help break the bond between the water and the dishes. Plus they help prevent spotting.

There are other steps you can take to help get your dishes drier. Make sure you place the dishes so they don’t touch. Use the high heat option and as soon as the drying cycle is finished, open the door a crack to let the moist air escape.