news_kitchenaid_dishwasher2There is a new dishwasher champion in North America according to a leading consumer magazine. The magazine ranked the new KitchenAid KDTM354DSS as the No. 1 dishwasher, in particular because of its meaningful innovation.

“This coveted number one rating reaffirms and revalidates our longstanding leadership in the dishwasher category,” said KitchenAid Senior Director Cynthia Soledad. “Once again, KitchenAid is being recognized for product innovation that offers major consumer benefits and clear differentiation from competitive brands.”

The new model claimed the top spot because of its short cycle time and a new self-cleaning feature that does away with the noisy grinding common to most self-cleaning machine. The KitchenAid dishwasher features a self-cleaning, ultrafine filter that removes food particles throughout the cycle without all the grinding. This precise filtration system results in 35 percent less water use and 13 percent less energy use on the heaviest loads – all while cleaning 18 percent faster.

The magazine praised the new KitchenAid dishwasher’s 125-minute normal cycle. The unit beat the previous No. 1 dishwasher – The Kenmore Elite 12793 – by 20 minutes! The reviewers also said KitchenAid‘s dishwasher offered superior drying of plastic items, which are typically the hardest to thoroughly dry. To top it off, the KitchenAid dishwasher retails for $1,200 while the Kenmore unit retails for nearly $150 more.

“We’re tremendously pleased with the No. 1 rating, and with the advantage it gives KitchenAid within a super competitive category,” said Jason Wilkinson, Cleaning Category product director. “It’s always rewarding to have such an influential third party validate our consumer centric insights and technology.”

Other innovative features found on the new dishwasher include the optional ProScrub® cycle, which helps eliminate the need to soak or pre-scrub, with 40 targeted spray jets that concentrate cleaning power on more stubborn messes like baked-on foods. A selectable ProWash™ feature automatically customizes the wash cycle based on load size and the soil level of dishes. The optional ProDry™ cycle uses a specially designed fan and recessed heating element to further optimize drying. The upper rack of the dishwasher features the SatinGlide® Max System, designed with dual channels  and dual ball bearings that allow the rack to move smoothly in and out, even when at full capacity.