Features to look for

Number of Wash Levels: Water must get to your dirty dishes, glasses, and flatware in order to wash them effectively. Multiple levels of water spray increase the efficiency of this process. Three levels is desirable.

Number of Wash Cycles: Cycles are the wash/rinse combinations available in the dishwasher. The general categories of heavy, medium, and light cover the basic wash/rinse requirements for your dishes. In some cases, as many as nine cycles are available, but their benefits are very subjective.

Pot Scrubber: The pot scrubber cycle is designed to provide the best combination and application of wash/rinse to remove the heavy soil from pots and pans.

Type of Controls: Controls for the dishwasher are mechanical (a combination of dials and pushbuttons) or electronic (usually a touch-sensitive control panel). Although the type of controls doesn't affect how well your dishwasher cleans, the electronic type of controls offers considerable flexibility in programming your desired settings and controlling the time you wish the dishwasher to run. Also, the displays that come with electronic controls can inform you of common problems such as blocked spray arms and clogged filters. A lockout feature can prevent unwanted tampering by children.

Sound Deadening: Sound deadening seems to be where most current dishwasher improvements are being made. The methods used to attain a quiet machine are varied and may impact the durability of the dishwasher. Some manufacturers now use a plastic tub instead of the traditional porcelain-covered steel or stainless steel. Although this plastic replacement may reduce the transmission of certain noises and vibrations, it is far more susceptible to abrasion. A far better approach maintains the porcelain and stainless steel tub and addresses noise through improved motor design and isolation, and by incorporating sound-deadening materials within the exterior walls of the dishwasher.

Self-Cleaning Filter: Filters that trap food from being recycled back onto clean dishes need to be cleaned out periodically. Some dishwashers handle this automatically, relieving you of the need to remember to do it.