Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Up to 43% off Alexa devices $22.99

Snag this sale on Amazon's Echo devices in 12 sizes, colors, and versions. Read Review

BUY NOW
Dishwashers

See How 5 Different Dishwashers Clean Your Dishes

Mysteries revealed! This is what happens inside your dishwasher.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Jeremy Stamas

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Dishwashers are amazing. You load them with dirty dishes, add detergent, and a couple hours later everything comes out shiny and clean. But have you ever wondered how this magical appliance does its dirty work?

Related content

  • Loading a dishwasher

    feature

    Back to Basics: How Do Dishwashers Work?
  • A set of knives hanging on a wall.

    how-to

    Stop ruining your knives: how to get a sharper blade

Well, now’s your chance. We put GoPro cameras inside every dishwasher we reviewed this year to get an inside look at how they worked. Some are basic, some are strange—but all are fascinating to watch. Here’s a peek inside five very different dishwashers.

Bosch Ascenta SHS5AV55UC

Basic, but powerful

{{brightcove '4518086442001'}}

Bosch is a leader in the dishwasher market, and its dishwashers are known for reliable build quality and efficient water use. But the design of the Ascenta's wash system isn't exactly revolutionary. It has two standard wash arms: one at the bottom of the tub and one in the middle, just below the bottom rack. It may not be as exciting as the other dishwashers on this list, but it gets the job done.

Frigidaire FGID2466QF

A wash arm with a wheel

{{brightcove '4187332968001'}}

{{amazon name="Cascade Complete All-in-1 Actionpacs Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh Scent, 80 Count", asin="B00C72BY9U", align="right"}} See that little blue wheel at the bottom of this dishwasher? That's what Frigidaire calls its Orbit Clean wash system. As the main wash arm moves slowly around the base of the tub (like the hand of a clock), the blue wheel spins, spraying water all over your dishes.

In the middle of the dishwasher is a traditional arm that sprays water up and down to cover both the top and bottom racks. At the very top is a tiny third arm that sprays downward, to get even more coverage to the second rack.

Kenmore Elite 14763

Water jets on the sides for added coverage

{{brightcove '4430146117001'}}

The Kenmore Elite 14763 is full of innovative wash technology. The main wash arm has two smaller wash arms sitting on both ends. As the main arm spins, the two smaller arms also spin—at different speeds, mind you—in an attempt to get water to all corners of the tub. Topping it off are a series of red jets on the side of the tub that spray water outward, soaking your dishes even more.

Samsung WaterWall DW80H9970US

And now for something completely different

{{brightcove '3615589854001'}}

Here's a dishwasher that doesn't play by the rules. The Samsung WaterWall forgoes the idea of a spinning wash arm and instead makes use of a sliding—you guessed it!—wall of water. Jets shoot water directly up as the arm slides back and forth along the bottom.

The WaterWall does have a regular spinning wash arm at the middle level that sprays water up at the second rack, but it's the unique WaterWall system that makes this dishwasher special.

KitchenAid KDTM704ESS

Three small wash arms spinning on their own

{{brightcove '4422324850001'}}

KitchenAid's Dynamic Wash Arm may not be as unique as Samsung's WaterWall, but it's my favorite to see in action.

Three small "Y"-shaped sprayers sit atop a large "Y"-shaped wash arm that spins at a constant speed. The three individual sprayers each rotate at different speeds—one spins quickly, one turns slowly, and one barely rotates at all. The whole process looks like an amusement park ride, but only your dishes are in on the fun.

{{brightcove '4599224107001'}}

Up next