Having had some very serious problems with the new Kenmore Elite HE (clothes) washer/dryer set we purchased from Sears a couple years ago, I was concerned and cautious when I needed to replace my old dishwasher. I have kids, so I knew I needed a sturdy and reliable machine with the all-important food disposal function included. My first stop was Consumer Reports. Surprisingly, this was one of the top-rated machines for functionality, reliability and durability. There are a lot of terms used to describe dishwashers that none of us had heard five to ten years ago when most of us purchased our last dishwasher. Here's the breakdown on those terms:

TALL TUB - means there is no sprayer arm at the bottom-center of the washer. This allows more room for taller dishes. Platters, large frying pans, broiler pans, etc. are no problem with a tall tub, and they fit in the same space the older-style dishwashers used. Some models also have adjustable racks, so you can raise or lower them to fit odd-size objects on the top or bottom rack.

TURBO ZONE - means the machine is equipped with rotating spray jets that provide concentrated wash to dishes placed in the back of the racks. It is claimed that if you have a dishwasher with Turbo Zone, you don't need to to pre-soak or pre-wash your dishes before you start the cycle. Personally, I would still do it. When I'm not watching, my kids will stick just about anything into the dishwasher, and so far, everything has come out clean.

SMARTWASH - Like Turbo Zone, this is another trademarked feature of the Kenmore line. According to the manufacturer, "SmartWash™ Cycle determines the right amount of time, water, and energy needed to clean each load, so you get excellent cleaning results while using fewer resources." I have found this to be true with the singular exception that if you use liquid detergent and do not run your dishwasher immediately after you've added the detergent, it tends to dry up and "drool" down the inside tub door instead of spreading out and cleanig all the dishes.

We have extremely hard water in our area. It usually takes only one run through the dishwasher (no matter what brand you're using - we've seen this all over town) for the local water to form a cloudy film over dishes - especially glass. Even when we use the latest "spot-free" detergents and additives like JetDry, this is still a problem. The up-side is that this machine has NOT developed a build-up of calcium and lime deposits. If you have extremely hard water, I personally recommend adding a cup or two of white vinegar to the tub before you start your wash cycle. It will help keep the dishes from collecting residue, and will wash cleanly and safely away in the rinse cycle.

Overall, this has been a highly reliable machine. It is quiet. Perhaps not the most silent I've ever heard, but quite good for the price (about $750). Dishes always come out clean, and the disposal works wonderfully! The adjustable racks and tall tub make this an excellent value. 

ONE WORD OF WARNING: For some reason, Sears does not include a power cord with this (and other) dishwashers. Their explanation? "Some people like to re-use the power cord from their old machine... or you order one from us now!"  Yeah... whatever. I suggest just going to your local Home Depot and picking up a new cord for about six bucks. Other than the somewhat bizarre exclusion of a power cord as a standard part of the dishwasher, this is a really good machine. I highly recommend it - especially for familes who have kids or hate rinsing dishes before they put them in the dishwasher. You can get cheaper - but you can't do much better for the money.