Maytag Performa Review

When we purchased our Maytag Performa dishwasher a few years ago, I was looking forward to a product that lived up to it's claims - a quiet, efficient, dishwasher that doesn't malfunction and melt my plasticware.   How silly of me to expect so much!

Problem number one with the Performa - it doesn't perform it's basic function - to wash dishes.  Or at least to wash them well!  I can't tell you how many times I've had to re-wash my dishes (not even pots and pans), just your basic, average dish or glass.   Usually, I just end up washing them by hand.   Residue builds up constantly in the glasses if they are in the corners of the upper basket.  So, just don't put them there, right?  Sure, then you lose out on space.

Problem number two - quiet???  Nope, noisier than my old one.  Something I thought wasn't possible.  

Problem number three - the heating element for drying went bad and decided to melt a bunch of my dishwasher safe plastic containers and lids.   Solution - buy a new element, or save your money and have your handy-dandy hubby just snip the wire.  No more element, no more hazard.  Which is nice to know, except then the dishwasher never seems to dry completely on the inside and starts to have a very undesirable smell.   And, yes, we've cleaned, several times - which brings us to the next problem.

Problem number four - not easy to clean.   At least with my old dishwasher, the parts came apart very easily for cleaning.  Not this one.   Which most likely does not help the smell problem.  Even after using commercial cleaners, baking soda, vinegar, bleach - nope, still stinks.

Solution - well, I could buy a new dishwasher.  So I went out this morning - and voila - installed it myself - dish tub, dish drainer, gloves, and a scrubbie.   Works for me - and much better than my Performa.