Thread Number: 59196  /  Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
'A KitchenAid dishwasher for every kitchen....or basement....'
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Post# 817625   4/5/2015 at 19:07 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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So, after last week's 'shakedown' testing of the 62 KitchenAid Superba Varicycle portable, I figured it was time for a real test load with dishes.  

 

First, one has to make sure that the appropriate supplies are on hand.  Hacksaw? Check. Low-gauge home-made extension cord? Check.  Mop and rags for leaks? Check.  Exacto knife to make sure any safety seal on gin bottles can be dealt with? Check.  

 

Ah, but Hubby's in Brazil, so the testing could have gone ahead anyway.... Force of habit. 


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Post# 817628 , Reply# 1   4/5/2015 at 19:13 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Of course some dishes would be needed... So I gave the pair of GE's in the Ogden kitchen a long Holiday weekend off and carefully accumulated this pile of dishes since my arrival back down here on Thursday evening.  

 

We have a nice assortment of dirty dishes: plates with salmon and chicken residues, a bowl that contained Greek Salad, cups, glasses, a barely dirty skillet, and the pièce de résistance, the bowls, mixer beaters, and utensils used in the fabrication of a banana chiffon cake. 

 

Worse still, these dishes were totally neglected! No pre-rinsing was done.  These are the original, unretouched photographs!  How will the rebuilt KDS54 cope?? 


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Post# 817629 , Reply# 2   4/5/2015 at 19:15 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Never having owned a front-loading KA until now, I had to improvise a wee bit.  Here's my first attempt at loading the bottom rack. 


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Post# 817630 , Reply# 3   4/5/2015 at 19:16 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Looked good, but that skillet hit the top rack.... Can't have THAT now, can we. 

 

A bit of presto-chango-rearrango was in order and it seemed to work this time.  


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Post# 817631 , Reply# 4   4/5/2015 at 19:18 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Now for the upper rack.   I'll say it publicly, but the back section of the rack is not that easy to load (Yeah, I know this from the person who owns HOW many impeller-wash top-loaders....).  Still I think I did OK for a first attempt here.  


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Post# 817632 , Reply# 5   4/5/2015 at 19:20 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Well a little further 'refinement' to my loading technique was needed...  I put the sugar bowl into the lower rack and freed up space for a measuring cup.  


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Post# 817634 , Reply# 6   4/5/2015 at 19:21 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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BUT... not everything fit.  I'll need to practice my Bob-Loading technique on this dishwasher for sure.


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Post# 817636 , Reply# 7   4/5/2015 at 19:23 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Now for the moment of truth!  Modern Cascade was used in both detergent cups (I figured the dishes needed a double-wash).  I had to use the turquoise Full Cycle button, too... 


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Post# 817638 , Reply# 8   4/5/2015 at 19:24 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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It's running!  My neighbours are away so I had no phone calls about power hits or brownouts...  Phew!


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Post# 817640 , Reply# 9   4/5/2015 at 19:28 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

I cannot believe how quietly this dishwasher runs!  I must admit I heard less water splashing around than in my empty-tub tests.   I also noticed this dribble of water while the machine was washing or rinsing.  A quick review of the Service Manual quickly revealed that I did not leave quite enough 'gap' in the drain hose when I replaced it.  Fortunately I'll be able to correct that easily.   

 

But how will the 'Turquoisedude's Totally Unscientific Dishwasher Test' turn out???


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Post# 817642 , Reply# 10   4/5/2015 at 19:32 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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After the last rinse and before the final drain, I had to open up the door and peek.  

 

All I can say is WOW!  

 

The plates are sparkling, the utensils shiny, the mixer bowls and beaters and cake whip have no trace of dried-on batter, and the vintage Texaco 'Starburst' glasses are clean.  Not even a trace of the dreaded yibblets on the tops of the cups. 

 

I am totally impressed! 


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Post# 817644 , Reply# 11   4/5/2015 at 19:34 (3,280 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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And phew! the detergent cup for the main wash seems to be releasing properly!  

 

Looks like I've got me a keeper here... LOL 

 

I still need to do some cosmetic work on the machine's outsides.  The butcher-block wood top needs to be sanded and varnished and I need to clean up the cabinet.  Heck, if I won't get run out of town, I may consider repainting the cabinet and front panels... turquoise.   Bet ya didn't see THAT coming... 


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Post# 817645 , Reply# 12   4/5/2015 at 19:38 (3,280 days old) by Classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia)        

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Wonderful Paul! I'm still so green with envy. Glad it's working great for you!

Post# 817646 , Reply# 13   4/5/2015 at 19:38 (3,280 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)        

gansky1's profile picture

Squeaky clean, of course.

 

 Good loading techniques there, can't speak for Bob, but you'll at least get a BobLoad runner's up award.  You don't get the sash and roses that come with a full-on BobLoad win, but it's still an honor :-)


Post# 817649 , Reply# 14   4/5/2015 at 20:00 (3,280 days old) by cadman (Cedar Falls, IA)        

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Wow Paul, that's a serious load of dishes there and a great test for the new KA. There's a certain style to that panel I've always liked and I bet it'd look great in turquoise! Out of curiousity, what have you been running in the other DW's? Have you tried the Fryer Boil-Out yet? -C

Post# 817652 , Reply# 15   4/5/2015 at 20:11 (3,280 days old) by appnut (TX)        

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Paul, you get BobLoad certification with the KitchenAid 1-arm wonder handicap scoring factor. I've been debating for a while what I could do to factor in the 1-arm wonder handicapping design. If I'd been there, I think I probably could have figured out a way to get the skillet in, had an idea just looking at the pictures. And if it had been a machine with upper level wash arm, I could have EASILY put in all the surplus with some "engineered" loading.

Post# 817663 , Reply# 16   4/5/2015 at 21:08 (3,280 days old) by toploader55 (Massachusetts Sand Bar, Cape Cod)        
Noooooo.

toploader55's profile picture
Hi Paul.
Don't Varnish or Urethane the top.

Start Coarse then work your way up to 300 grit. Tack Cloth it then use Mineral Oil.

Might take 4-5 coats but you'll get a rich patina and a safe cutting board to use for prep.


Post# 817664 , Reply# 17   4/5/2015 at 21:09 (3,280 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
Congratulations on a successful first test, as well as your official BobLoad certification! I'm always amazed at how well these single arm KitchenAid machines clean the upper rack when properly loaded. "Hurricane-in-a-box," indeed.

Post# 817684 , Reply# 18   4/6/2015 at 03:28 (3,280 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
So far ahead!

Of ANYTHING made today!!!!


Post# 817696 , Reply# 19   4/6/2015 at 07:31 (3,280 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
That is an

jetcone's profile picture

amazing use of a Blue Arm KA !!

 

Coming up a BobLoad® in the portable Youngstown Jet Tower....


Post# 817701 , Reply# 20   4/6/2015 at 08:07 (3,280 days old) by firedome (Binghamton NY & Lake Champlain VT)        
nice machine Paul!

firedome's profile picture
that series is their best looking imo, and the only "modern" looking KA with the Cast Iron Wonder. Having used a single arm KDC-17 for 15 yrs in our first house, we never felt it lacking in "Washability" in any way, as long as minimal attention was paid to loading. We always put deep section items up top and flat section items below, which seems rather obvious, but evidently a concept beyond some folks! And ya gotta love being done & done in 45 minutes!

Post# 817713 , Reply# 21   4/6/2015 at 08:58 (3,279 days old) by appnut (TX)        
but evidently a concept beyond some folks!

appnut's profile picture
I"m not oblivious to that fact. But it cannot be done when all you have is an entire load of both racks of pots, pans, casserole dishes, mixing bowls, ... Stupid to run a load with just one rack full twice. And that's what I've always hated about 1-arm wonders. I observed in real-time ssurburbia in the 60s & 70s pots, pans, mixing bowls and such being washed by hand because housewives knew they could not load it up with all this type of stuff and expect the top rack to get clean. Or tops racks filling up with glasses and cups/mugs wayyy before plates were accummulated enough to fill the bottom rack. Whereas at OUR house it wasn't an issue and requiring premeditated loading.

Post# 817723 , Reply# 22   4/6/2015 at 10:25 (3,279 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        
Congratulations, Paul!

Did you notice water dribbling out of the drain hose during washing and rinsing? I had that and found it was water falling into the overflow drain at the left front corner. I put some seal on the top holes and it stopped. I love the shwoop-shwoop of the walls of water moving past the door. I have often wondered what a 15 would have been like with a BBWA.

Post# 817726 , Reply# 23   4/6/2015 at 10:43 (3,279 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)        
KDS-58

combo52's profile picture

Great demo Paul, yes the little bit of water dribbling out the drain during wash is somewhat normal as Tom mentioned, it might also be a slight leak past the drain valve seal, in any case the wash period is too short for this to be a problem. It might also be the automatic sediment purge, LOl.

 

Hi Bob I have also lived with one arm DWs and while with careful loading they are sure better than no DW, but after a while you just get tired of the restriction and difficult loading.  My friend Bob in Cleveland though he would NEVER get rid of his KDS-17 till I got him to install a TOL 1987 Kenmore Ultra-Wash DW and he has never looked back. He and I are constantly amazed just how dirty dishes can go in and you never have any stinky mess growing in the bottom of the machine.


Post# 820643 , Reply# 24   4/23/2015 at 16:02 (3,262 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
A test of the 'Utility and Utensil' cycle...

turquoisedude's profile picture

which could also be called 'Turquoisedude's Totally Unverifiable Dishwasher Torture Test'...  

 

Last weekend was a 'short cycle' one due to visits on a couple of potential new homes on Saturday.  I made a belated Easter supper on Sunday (Hubby had been in Brazil) following one of my bizarre family traditions.  I made a smoked pork shoulder (aka 'picnic' ham) with scalloped potatoes; to go-with, I oven-steamed some turnip cubes.  

 

I had some pretty dirty cooking utensils and I figured I'd try out the suggestion in the KitchenAid 14-Series owners manual - wash your dirty pots and pans using the 'Utility and Utensil' cycle to soften the soils, scrape or scrub off what may have been left, then run 'em through a 'Full Cycle'.  

 

Well, I wish I had taken some before pictures, but I trundled the utensils and dinner plates down to the basement for a bath.  

 

 

 


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Post# 820644 , Reply# 25   4/23/2015 at 16:03 (3,262 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Definitely not a Bob-Load...  I was trying to maximize water exposure, what can I say... 

 

I filled both detergent cups and hit that yellow button.  


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Post# 820646 , Reply# 26   4/23/2015 at 16:12 (3,262 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Now, I will swear any oath you want on this...  These result photos have not been touched up, photoshopped, or double-exposed.  

 

When the cycle ended, I opened up the dishwasher to check on the results.  Hubby came running at the second "I don't effing believe it".

 

The unrinsed, unsoaked, and un-hand-scrubbed pots and pans came out beautifully clean!! 

 

The Revere Ware pan had been used to make the white sauce for the scalloped potatoes.  Not a trace was left on the pan bottom or sides.

 

The oval pyrex dish had been used to 'oven-steam' the turnips.  When it went into the KA, there was coating of steamed residue on the dish and lid.  One Utility and Utensil wash later, nada!

 

Finally, the stainless roaster was used for the pork shoulder.  There was not a lot of heavy goop, and I did scrape out some of the heavier residue and most of the grease with a rubber scraper before washing.  But look at this - nothing left on the pan bottom at all.  And it was in the TOP rack!  

 

Hubby may disagree, but I think the KDS-54 will have a permanent place in a kitchen really soon.  I cannot believe how well this dishwasher has performed so far.  And yes, I'll admit, the '56 GE impeller-wash machine could not have even come close to this.  Oh, wait Hubby may read this... DELETE   DELETE  ....  LOL 


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Post# 820647 , Reply# 27   4/23/2015 at 16:32 (3,262 days old) by norgeway (mocksville n c )        
I love

Most any old dishwasher,especially the old impeller models and Frigidaires Spin Tube, but the fact remains, nothing will blast off burned on greasy food like a OLD Kitchenaid, I found this out with a KDS 17 I had years ago in Lenoir, I wish I still had it, I have a Custom 21 now that's fine, but the one arm wonder still will outwash anything, forget about what you have heard about the top rack not getting clean, unless you lay a cookie sheet down flat on the bottom rack...whatever you put in it will get clean, that water is under such high pressure ,it gets everywhere.


Post# 820650 , Reply# 28   4/23/2015 at 16:56 (3,262 days old) by dynaflow (rockingham nc)        
I want

dynaflow's profile picture
soooooooooooooo want one

Post# 820660 , Reply# 29   4/23/2015 at 17:30 (3,262 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

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Results don't surprise me.  :-)


Post# 820701 , Reply# 30   4/23/2015 at 23:41 (3,262 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        

Paul that is a very nice KitchenAid!  Do you have a whole set of   "Stanhome"  Ivy dishes?  I always thought they were  so pretty.   Great Thread.

Arthur


Post# 820704 , Reply# 31   4/24/2015 at 01:11 (3,262 days old) by Jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
50 gallons/mimute

jetcone's profile picture

is flying around in that tub and that about does it !

But I gotta say I love my 21.

 

Paul how did you prepare and cook your pork shoulder?I have one sitting in the fridge right now.

 


Post# 820734 , Reply# 32   4/24/2015 at 06:35 (3,262 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

turquoisedude's profile picture

Arthur - I don't have the full set, but I've almost got a service for 6.  I'm missing 3 fruit bowls; I don't know if they had cereal bowls, but I don't have 'em...

 

Jon - I'll post the recipe in Super.  It's incredibly easy and it's delicious!


Post# 821431 , Reply# 33   4/29/2015 at 11:10 (3,256 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
And now....

turquoisedude's profile picture

A verifiable test of the KDS-54... Yes, it's time for "Turquoisedude's Totally Unscientific Dishwasher Torture Test"!

 

So this time around, I had some pretty challenging soils.  The clear pyrex roasting pan was used to bake chicken breasts, the white pyrex pan was used for a batch of scalloped potatoes, and the Mixmaster bowl had some dried-on peanut-butter cookie batter.   Plus an assortment of plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery.  Only a slight amount of pre-treatment was done on the two roasting pans and that consisted of a scraping off of heavier residue.  The big difference with this load is that soils were allowed to dry on while I waited to fill the dishwasher (running a half-empty dishwasher was a serious mortal sin when I was a brat...)

 

So let's load up the KA and see how we do this time around... 


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Post# 821432 , Reply# 34   4/29/2015 at 11:11 (3,256 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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Cycle used was 'Utility and Utensil' with both detergent cups filled. 


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Post# 821433 , Reply# 35   4/29/2015 at 11:14 (3,256 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        
Well....

turquoisedude's profile picture

The results were a bit less impressive than my first U&U test...

 

The scalloped potato dish was mostly clean but there was still some residue.   The picture I took of the clear pyrex pan after did not turn out, alas.  There was some blackened residue still left in the corners of the pan.   And oopsie, looks like we got some yibblet residue on the top of the mixer bowl and inside a mason jar...

 


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Post# 821434 , Reply# 36   4/29/2015 at 11:16 (3,256 days old) by turquoisedude (.)        

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But the rest of the load, including the inside of the mixer bowl washed fine!  

 

I'll need to try another "Torture Test" with soils that haven't dried on.   I need to get some people down to Ogden so I can throw a dinner party.... LOL 


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