Consumer Reports finds dishwashers that deliver

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Dishwashers last about 10 years, so it's not every day you have to think about buying a new one.

Chances are, your needs have changed since your last purchase. Fortunately Consumer Reports has tested nearly 100 models and can tell you which ones will fit in your budget and lifestyle.

If you've been dishwasher shopping lately, you may feel overloaded with all of the choices. The number one job of any dishwasher is to clean dishes, and Consumer Reports tests are tough.

Testers spend a day dirtying dishes, glasses, and silverware. They smear on peanut butter, sauce, egg yolks, spinach, and more. Then the dishes are left in the dishwasher overnight, letting all the food get caked on, just like you might do at home.

"A dishwasher that does well in our tests - whether very good or excellent - should be able to handle anything you throw at it," Consumer Reports' tester Emilio Gonzalez said.

Some dishwashers leave behind small bits of food, but many dishwashers produce nice clean dishes.

After cleaning performance, there is more to consider, like run time.

"The normal cycle for most dishwashers these days is between two and three hours," Gonzalez said.

An $800 Blomberg cuts cycle time almost in half with an 85 minute normal cycle. It is a bit noisy, but even with its shorter cycle, the dishes come out super clean.

In the end, top ratings went to the $1,300 Kenmore Elite from Sears, which solves another problem. With most dishwashers' spray arms, if something like a stray fork gets in its path, it gets stuck and the water can't reach everywhere. The Kenmore Elite has a motorized spray arm, so when it hits the fork it reverses direction.

The Kenmore Elite is also available without the motorized spray arm for $100 less.

Consumer Reports also named a best buy for about half the price. The $730 Bosch Ascenta is a little noisier and doesn't have a stainless steel tub, but it delivers excellent cleaning power. This dishwasher is available at Lowe's.

To see the full list of Consumer Reports reviews, click here.