Kitchenaid Kdfe104hps Dishwasher Review
If you’ve just about had it with your 10-year-old dishwasher, you’ll be pleased to switch it out for the KitchenAid KDFE104HPS. The look is sleek and modern, and its effective, quiet operation will get dishes clean. The interior is stainless steel, the top rack slides smoothly, and our tests show that the exposed heating rod does a yeoman’s job, drying every Normal and Heavy load 100%.
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Design and features
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Long cycle times
This handsome dishwasher has a great contemporary look at a moderate price. Fingerprints and smudges don’t show, which is a good thing when you’re reaching for the pocket handle every time you need to load a plate.
How Long Do Dishwashers Last
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the average dishwasher lasts about nine years. Appliance lifespans are shorter these days for a few reasons, among them broad economic factors that affect all durable goods, production of individual components that are frequently outsourced to the least-expensive third-party manufacturers, and machines being made with more plastic and less metal.
Since most consumers dont buy appliances very often, a decreased lifespan can seem all the more dramatic when a dishwasher breaks down after just 10 years, even though its predecessor chugged along for 30.
Do Kitchenaid Dishwashers Dry Well
Another area where KitchenAid excels is drying performance. While it doesnt beat Bosch dishwashers, it towers over many other popular brands thanks to its extra fan-enabled ProDry system.
The ProDry system uses a recessed heating element to draw moisture off plastic dishes. This means faster drying and better sanitation. Use the extended ProDry, and you can run the heating element for longer. However, you might prefer to use the condenser drying option for ceramic and metal dishware.
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Dba Dishwasher With Freeflex Third Rack And Led Interior Lighting
Please see price in cart
- Color: PrintShield Stainless
- Also Comes In:
KDPM804KBS
FreeFlex Third Rack
- The largest third rack available has a deep, angled design that fits 6″ glasses, mugs and bowls. It features rotating wash jets to clean items in the rack, a drying bar with tabs that help wick moisture off glasses and a removable utensil tray for cooking tools.
Durable Stainless Steel Interior
- offers the beauty and benefits of stainless steel inside the dishwasher. It resists streaks, stains and odors, while retaining heat to help improve drying.
SatinGlide® Max Rails in Third and Middle Racks
- Premium rails with ball-bearing glides allow racks to move effortlessly, even when fully loaded.
Adjustable Rows in Middle and Lower Racks
- fold down to make room for dishes in a variety of shapes and sizes like roasting pans, serving bowls, colanders and dutch ovens.
Six Stemware Holders in Middle Rack
- secure wine glasses along the sides of the rack to prevent them from moving around during the wash cycle.
Express Wash Cycle
- cleans in less time, so you always have the dishes you need while prepping, cooking and entertaining.
Culinary Caddy® Utensil Basket
- provides convenient space in the lower rack for tall utensils like whisks and spatulas, overflow silverware and small items that need to be secured for cleaning and drying.
Sani-Rinse Option
- eliminates 99.999% of food soil bacteria by adding a high-heat final rinse to sanitize dishes.
Top Controls Leak Detection System 44 dBA
Are Kitchenaid Dishwashers Reliable

When it comes to reliability, we have to lean toward other popular brands. While KitchenAid has been improving steadily and garnering more positive reviews, it hasnt always scored as high as its competitors. That being said, KitchenAid dishwashers are still more reliable than the average dishwasher brand on the market.
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Most Luxurious: Kitchenaid Kdtm704kps
If you’re buying a full suite of KitchenAid appliances and want everything to be top of the line, consider the KDTM704KPS.
It’s identical in terms of quietness and performance to the 604. The big upgrades? LED interior lighting and the smoothest gliding rails KitchenAid has on offer.
It also comes with a nicer utensil basket , six stemware holders on the middle rack, and a metal handle.
Noise Level: Are Kitchenaid Dishwashers Quiet
As we said earlier, KitchenAid wasn’t always known for quiet dishwashers. The brand has made a lot of improvements, including removing the hard food disposer on the bottomthat was the source of a lot of the noise.
However, KitchenAid currently makes some of the quietest dishwashers on the market. All operate at or below 44 dB, which is just as quiet as a hushed conversation. One of the quietest KitchenAid dishwashers, the KDTE204KPS, has a noise level of 39 dB. To give you a sense of just how silent that is, 39 dB is only slightly louder than the sound of rustling leaves.
Strangely, KitchenAid’s dishwashers increase from 39 dB to 44 dB as you go up in price. If you’re used to an even louder dishwasher, 44 dB will still be quiet to you. But if you’ve had a dishwasher with a lower rating, it may annoy you. Just compare the quietness with the feature sets of models you’re considering and see which makes sense for you.
Still wondering, “How do I know if a dishwasher is quiet?” We’ve got you covered. Check out our audible sound test:
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Kdtm604kps Kitchenaid 24 Top Control Dishwasher With Freeflex Third Rack
KDTM604KPS KitchenAid 24″ Top Control Dishwasher with FreeFlex Third Rack – PrintShield Stainless SteelItem#: 14645$149.90Why don’t we show the price on the product page?Some manufacturers restrict how prices may be advertised. We are showing you our lowest sale price here in our pop-up cart.You may simply remove the item from the cart if you do not wish to purchase it. Remove From Cart |
Best Overall: Kitchenaid Kdte204kps
The KDTE204KPS packs impressive features that put it among the best dishwashers on the market. While it may not compare with more expensive KitchenAid dishwashers in functionality, its price point makes it a great choice.
At 39 dB, the KDTE204KPS is the quietest dishwasher KitchenAid makes. Its noise level is about the same as a library’s and just below the market standard.
It also has a third rack for improved washing and to accommodate more per load. The PrintShield Finish resists fingerprints and smudges.
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Dba Dishwasher In Printshield Finish With Freeflex Third Rack
- Everyday Price : $1,349.00
FreeFlex Third Rack
- The largest third rack available has a deep, angled design that fits 6″ glasses, mugs and bowls. It features rotating wash jets to clean items in the rack, a drying bar with tabs that help wick moisture off glasses and a removable utensil tray for cooking tools.
SatinGlide® Rails in Third and Middle Racks
- move smoothly for easy loading and unloading.
Adjustable Rows in Middle and Lower Racks
- fold down to make room for dishes in a variety of shapes and sizes like roasting pans, serving bowls, colanders and dutch ovens.
Two Stemware Holders in Middle Rack
- secure wine glasses along the side of the rack to prevent them from moving around during the wash cycle.
Express Wash Cycle
- cleans in less time, so you always have the dishes you need while prepping, cooking and entertaining.
Sani-Rinse Option
- eliminates 99.999% of food soil bacteria by adding a high-heat final rinse to sanitize dishes.
Top Controls
- are tucked away on top of the dishwasher door for a clean look to match your kitchen style. An indicator light on the front of the door changes colors to subtly display cycle progress.
Leak Detection System
- provides peace of mind with three levels of protection against potential sources of leaks, from multiple sensing points with a water flow monitor and drip tray. If the system detects a problem, the dishwasher will stop filling, drain the tub and alert that service is needed.
Energy Star® Certified 44 dBA ProWash Cycle
Great For Kitchen Plastics Food Processor Blades And The Like
Kitchenaid dishwasher third level rack. The third level rack allows you to wash large items such as knives and cooking utensils as well as extra silverware. A third level utensil rack holds silverware, serving utensils and spatulas, and an adjustable middle rack adds flexibility to fit tall items. Always unload the upper rack before adjusting.
If additional space is needed in the upper rack, the third level rack can easily be removed. Choose stainless product description the quietest kitchenaid® dishwasher provides quiet cleaning without compromising. Some kitchenaid dishwashers feature distinct wash zones, which are special areas for particularly dirty items that require special washing.
A third level utensil rack holds silverware, serving utensils and spatulas, and an adjustable middle rack adds flexibility. Some kitchenaid dishwashers even have a third upper rack for better organization. Bosch 800 series shpm88z75n samsung dw80r9950ut.
Kitchenaid kdtm404kps dishwasher review design and quality. Kitchenaid 24 in top control built in tall tub dishwasher in black stainless with stainless steel tub and third level rack kdtm404kbs the home depot in 2020 black dishwasher steel tub built. Creativity is about letting go of constraints.
Your third rack can help you make better use of your dishwasher. Plastic that i used to be able to put on bottom reach in old dishwasher melted in this one. Kitchenaid® 39 dba dishwasher in printshield finish with third level utensil rack.
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Powerful Cleaning: Do Kitchenaid Dishwashers Work
Cleaning performance is the most important feature of a dishwasher, and KitchenAid dishwashers are among the best in this category. Its dishwashers revolve around the following three technologies: ProWash, effective filtration, and water distribution/coverage.
ProWashThe ProWash option gauges the soil level and uses it to pick the best wash cycle for each load regardless of the cycle you chose. Other manufacturers call this “sensor wash.” It helps modern dishwashers clean distinctly better than their predecessors.
Cycles and Washing OptionsA dishwashers cycles control how well and thoroughly it cleans. Most have similar cycles with different names. While the number of them can improve the washing and drying performance, it is not always a matter of how many but how well.
All KitchenAid dishwashers have the typical Normal, Tough, and Light cycles. Newer models also include the ProScrub, ProDry, and Extended ProDry features. The ProWash option also comes in handy for heavy-duty cycles .
In addition to the cycles we already mentioned, you can expect to find Express Wash and Rinse Only. Other options include Heat Dry, Hi-Temp Wash, Bottle Wash, Sani Rinse, Top Rack Only, and the 1-24 Hour Delay option. Sani Rinse, which heats to 155°F, is particularly useful for homes with infants.
More expensive models employ the Clean Water Wash system, which includes a self-cleaning ultra-fine filter.
How Much Do Kitchenaid Dishwashers Cost

Several factors influence dishwasher pricing. These include the stainless steel interior, design, integration, and smart features. Generally, the price of a good dishwasher ranges from $799 to over $1,999.
KitchenAid is a premium dishwasher brand with prices ranging from $899 to $1,899. However, you can still get a good KitchenAid dishwasher like the KDTE204KPS for $999if you can find it in stock.
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Buying Guide For Best Kitchenaid Dishwashers
There are plenty of tedious household chores, but washing the dishes definitely holds a spot at the top of the list. Thats why a dishwasher is an essential appliance in most homes, and its hard to find a better model than those from KitchenAid, a trusted kitchen appliance manufacturer.
KitchenAid offers dishwashers with both front controls and fully integrated controls that are hidden on the top edge of the door. They all offer multiple wash cycles for a variety of situations, such as scrubbing pots and pans with a cooked-on mess. The dishwashers feature a stainless steel tub, too, which is more durable and doesnt absorb odors the way a plastic dishwasher tub can.
But there are many KitchenAid dishwashers to choose from, so finding the right model can be tough. Our buying guide is full of tips to help you choose the best KitchenAid dishwasher for your kitchen. If youre still not sure, weve also offered up some specific product recommendations to jump-start your shopping.
What Is The Third Rack In A Dishwasher For
The third rack is for mainly for larger utensils, like ladles and spatulas, which don’t neatly fit into a traditional cutlery basket. Most third racks can also accommodate smaller bowls and ramekins. Essentially, the third rack allows users to make more of the vertical space that’s already in their dishwashers, by storing excess items above the upper rack.
The one caveat to using a third rack is to not store heavily soiled dishes up there. Most third racks don’t have their own spray jets, meaning they’re getting washed by whatever spray can make it up there from the washing arms at the bottom of the appliance. Lower-end third rack dishwashers may not have correctly calibrated their spray patterns to reach every spot up on every item that’s up on the third rack, especially if the rest of your dishwasher is loaded with pots, pans, or other large cookware.
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What Is The Best Dishwasher
The answer to this question depends on your own personal circumstances.
If you’re one or two people aging in place or you’re a 20-something living in your first condo, you may not need a dishwasher with a ton of extra options and features. However, if you have a big family , you may need more customizability in your dishwasher’s cycles and cycle options as well as a one with a lower sound ratingany sleep you get is precious, so make sure dishwasher noise isn’t keeping you up.
If you’re into special features, you’ll want a dishwasher that has some. One thing to consider is the customizability of the racks themselves. Do all of the tines fold down, or are they rigid? Can you change the height of the racks? Can the cutlery basket be mounted on the door? All of these options give you flexibility when it comes to fitting large or awkwardly-shaped dishes into your dishwasher.
The third rack is a narrow tray that resides above the top rack, and may or may not have its own wash arm. Depending on the third rack’s depth, you can typically fit either just cutlery or dishes with taller profiles, like ladles, pacifiers, or small bowls. While cleaning results on the third rack might not be as good as they are in the cutlery basket, some people find the convenience of a third rack very enticing.
Figure out what special features you need and want, what you can afford and what you want to spend, and go from there!
It Also Offers Adjustable Tines In The Racks That Can Be Moved Into Three Different Positions To Accommodate A Wide Range Of Dishes And Plates
Kitchenaid top control dishwasher with third level rack. Rotating jets on each level help ensure that everything from silverware to stockpots get cleaned inside and out. Designed to stand out on its own or blend with other black and stainless steel appliances the suite makes a bold statement while complementing the design of your kitchen. Thats why kitchenaid designed a dishwasher with a 3rd rack that offers increased capacity and flexibility to help you clean your favorite cookware.
Advanced clean water wash system circulates clean water to dishes in all three racks. A third level utensil rack holds silverware, serving utensils and spatulas, and. A convenient third level utensil rack.
A third level utensil rack holds silverware, serving utensils and spatulas, and an adjustable middle rack adds flexibility to fit tall items. Always unload the upper rack before adjusting. Plastic that i used to be able to put on bottom reach in old dishwasher melted in this one.
The freeflex third rack fits glasses, mugs, bowls, silverware and. Ad browse & discover thousands of brands. A third level utensil rack holds silverware, serving utensils and spatulas, and an adjustable middle rack adds flexibility.
The heating element is hot! Top control built in tall tub dishwasher in black stainless with stainless steel tub and third level rack 1139 model kdtm404kbs 1199 00. User rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars with 217 reviews.
KitchenAid Top Control BuiltIn Tall Tub Dishwasher in
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Best Upgrade: Kitchenaid Kdtm404kps
The KDTM404KPS has some valuable upgrades over the 204even though it’s a little louder.
They both have an adjustable middle rack, but the 404 has the latest FreeFlex third rack and adjustable rows on the middle and lower racks. It also gives you two stemware holders in the middle racknot a huge deal, but good to know. As a result, the 404 can fit 16 place settings compared with the 204’s 13.
The 404 also has five wash arms and the Clean Water Wash system to ensure no dirty water redeposits on your clean dishes.
There’s no discernable difference in the wash cycles or options.
Cons: Reasons To Avoid A Kitchenaid Dishwasher
Unless you’ve got your heart set on KitchenAid, we have to say other brands give you more value for your money. Also, no single dishwasher is perfect for everybody. We want you to have all the information upfront so you can pick out the right one for you.
Pro Tip: If you want your KitchenAid dishwasher to fit flush with your cabinets, be sure to get your cabinet maker and contractor the specs well in advance.
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