Whirlpool Dishwasher - Quiet Partner 1 Review

Dishwashers were once perceived as a luxury, but they have slowly become more and more commonplace and many consider a dishwasher a necessary part of any kitchen. I appreciate dishwashers more than ever before and I realize their usefulness not only as a time saving device, but also as an energy saving appliance. After my last dishwasher drew its final breath, I immediately began shopping for a replacement and the appliance I ended up buying is the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher, Model DU1055XTS, a medium- priced dishwasher with all the basics plus a little bit more.

Dishwasher Commentary:

Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is a four- cycle dishwasher with status lights to let you know which phase of the washing cycle is running at a given moment. Along with the four cycles, there are also several options available to choose from. These include a High Temp Wash, Sani- Rinse, and Heated Dry. The inside of the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher has a design typical of most dishwashers in many ways, with an upper and lower rack and a spray arm on the top and bottom of the dishwasher, directing water in several directions to get dishes as thoroughly clean as possible. Silverware is washed by placing it inside the door- mounted basket and this dishwasher includes dispensers for soap (two cups- one open, one closed) and a special dispenser for rinsing agent. A food disposer helps to grind up particles of food before sending them down the drain and an insulated body keeps sound to a minimum. This Whirlpool appliance is also Energy Star qualified, and thus is operates very efficiently.
  
Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher Model DU1055XTS is a nice, sturdy, quiet dishwasher that offers a fairly large capacity and the ability to get dishes clean after running a single cycle. Many factors are important when purchasing a dishwasher, but the ability to clean dishes is obviously the one that matters most. I have had only moderate success in the cleaning category with past dishwashers and I was never sure if I should blame the detergent, the water hardness level, or the dishwasher itself. However, the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is an appliance that gets dishes clean the first time. I usually use the normal wash cycle without any of the special options. This is all it takes to produce clean, sanitized dishes and I am grateful that I don't have to run the dishes through a second cycle.  

This Whirlpool Dishwasher gets dishes clean with ease, but part of the reason it is able to clean so well is the length of the washing cycles. In fact, based on the selections you make, this Whirlpool dishwasher can take up to three and one- half hours to finish a cycle! This is why you need to be careful when you select your cycle and option combinations. Selecting Pots and Pans cycle, along with Sani- Rinse and heated drying will result in a very long cycle process and unless your dishes are extremely dirty, this cycle will likely prove to be a waste of time and energy. I try to stick with the Normal cycle, no special options, and no heated drying. This helps to save energy and it results in a reasonable amount of cycle time while still getting dishes clean.  

Another positive aspect of the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is the low noise level. It turns out that "Quiet Partner" isn't just a nice sounding name intended to help sell the appliance. The Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher really is a quiet machine and the special sound insulation is the main reason. This helps to filter out the sound and make for a quiet run each time the dishwasher is operating. Now, keep in mind that the term "Quiet Partner" should not be interpreted in the literal sense- there is still some noise, and you will certainly know if/when the dishwashing is running. But the operation isn't distracting in any way and it doesn't interfere with hearing the television, phone, or anything else.

As much as I like my Whirlpool Quiet Partner, it does have a few qualities I wish were different. What I like least is the lack of a digital display showing the amount of time left in the cycle. The only time indication you have with the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is the status light, which indicates the point in the cycle that is presently in process: Washing, Drying, Clean, or Sanitized. This is better than nothing, but it still leaves you guessing about the actual time remaining. Another small problem is with the flatware basket. This basket is long, narrow, and fits onto the inside of the door. This is great in some ways, for it frees up space on the bottom rack to be used for dishes. It is also very handy for unloading purposes because the entire basket can easily be lifted out and taken directly to the drawer where your silverware is stored. But the bad thing about this basket is its tendency to trap some of the flatware. The basket is shallow and it has a cover that can be pulled over each of its sections. The cover and the shallow design mean that some knives, forks, and spoons are likely to get stuck. You can still remove them, of course, but the inconvenience negates some of the door- mounted basket's advantages.

Bottom Line Viewpoint:

The Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is a very nice appliance with an attractive stainless steel body, useful dispensers, quiet operation, and good dish cleaning ability. I would like to have a digital readout showing the minutes remaining and a slight redesign of the flatware basket would be helpful. But the Whirlpool Quiet Partner Dishwasher is still a very good appliance and it is one I recommend.