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Thread Number: 85758
/ Tag: Vintage Dishwashers
Powerclean/Ultrawash |
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Post# 1103050 , Reply# 1 1/3/2021 at 19:34 (1,201 days old) by appnut  (TX) |
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| Post# 1103062 , Reply# 2 1/3/2021 at 20:15 (1,201 days old) by Awooff (Peoria, Illinois) | ||
Beloved powercleans
Haha. Yes many here do know the tell tell designs/pics of the sump modules in the bottom of dw - just from glancing past the bottom rack!
kenmade ultra washes/whilypools quiet washes had the unmistakable "bump out" on the side of the power module. -At about the 3 to 4 pm area (right hand side) of the module. | ||
| Post# 1103122 , Reply# 3 1/4/2021 at 12:27 (1,200 days old) by anyandevery (Chillicothe) | ||
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Well I think I found one that will get me by until I pick up a good vintage KA (or one that matches my kitchen better).
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| Post# 1103125 , Reply# 4 1/4/2021 at 12:37 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
The Powercleans and Ultrawashes were introduced in the mid 80s as said, they to me are very distinctive if you pay attention to the spray arms ams and most of the time you can tell by the outside of the machine, basic older style Whirlpool which featured the Powerclean unit, and Kenmore who offered the Ultrawash unit. Same machine, different name, branded and named by the Whirlpool corporation.
The oldest models of these dishwashers feature a flat sump area with a circle ring heating element with a stainless steel lower wash arm with a black rubber cap in the middle that shoots water into the sea blue colored or white tower on the lower rack which directs water flow into the upper wash arm directly as it’s a very powerful spray force. In the late 90s or somewhere close to the 2000’s they updated the sump area and lifted things not too much changed, and then they got rid of the tower feed supply wash system and began manufacturing new Powerclean and Ultrawash models with a feed tube going from the lower spray arm area to the upper wash arm, and above to the ceiling for a shower spray. Both systems are very effective in cleansing power, and as far as I’m concerned definitely one of the most powerful dishwashers ever created. Both the old tower system VS the newer condensed version with a new spray arm feed supply work amazing. Here are some photos of the Ultrawash and Powerclean design, I’ll add below. | ||
| Post# 1103126 , Reply# 5 1/4/2021 at 12:42 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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Newest generation Powerclean & Ultrawash design
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| Post# 1103127 , Reply# 6 1/4/2021 at 12:44 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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Older models with the tower design
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| Post# 1103128 , Reply# 7 1/4/2021 at 12:46 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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The oldest and first generation of the Powerclean
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| Post# 1103129 , Reply# 8 1/4/2021 at 12:50 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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I like the tower design a bit better myself but this is the machine I ended up finding recently and as mentioned this was the last and newest generation of the ultra wash and power clean system. They condensed the upper arm supply in a different fashion with what everybody else was doing.
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| Post# 1103133 , Reply# 9 1/4/2021 at 12:58 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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Last generation of the tower models...
This one particularly is a Kenmore Ultrawash. All Powerclean and ultra wash machines are distinct also by the fact they are not tall tub dishwashers, and they have a noticeable and obvious kick plate at the bottom of the exterior unlike new modern tall tubs, which the kick plate is the very tiny small one that meets the floor under the door.
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| Post# 1103140 , Reply# 12 1/4/2021 at 14:21 (1,200 days old) by maytaga806 (Howell, Michigan) | ||
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YES!!! I totally forgot about those Durawash models that look exactly like them just a different wash system and tower but the Durawash models don’t even feature a second wash arm, it has what GE I believe started which works well for what it was which essentially was a rising tower with jets that sprayed the upper rack and it extended up from the center of the lower main wash arm. In my opinion, get a powerclean/ultrawash. It’s way more interesting than the Durawash models as they were base line machines from my understanding.
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Post# 1103141 , Reply# 13 1/4/2021 at 14:24 (1,200 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay) |
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 I picked up a Kenmore Ultra Wash for my step-daughter and son-in-law after they bought a house several years ago, and it was a very capable machine that included a "sensor" wash option. This is the system that was advertised as being able to make an entire chocolate cake disappear. I don't know how old it was when I got it from a private party for $30, but it was in like-new condition. They remodeled their kitchen about a year ago and the Kenmore was replaced. It was a beautiful machine and I was sad to see it go.
Here are pictures I took of it before and after installation. They might offer some additional points of reference for you to identify the various iterations of the Ultra Wash system.
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Post# 1103198 , Reply# 15 1/4/2021 at 23:04 (1,200 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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And you can tell by the sound these machines make when they run. I love the vibrating/rumbling sound of the motor when the wash system picks up pressure. | ||
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Post# 1103199 , Reply# 16 1/4/2021 at 23:06 (1,200 days old) by GELaundry4ever (Nacogdoches, TX, USA) |
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Now, we have point/voyager, global wash and microclean wash systems. I wonder what whirlpool will do with their latest wash system on their own brand now. | ||
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Post# 1103209 , Reply# 17 1/5/2021 at 00:21 (1,200 days old) by appnut (TX) |
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| Post# 1103237 , Reply# 18 1/5/2021 at 06:59 (1,199 days old) by Awooff (Peoria, Illinois) | ||
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1st gen pc
My favorite feature of the 1st gen pc over newer models is that selecting "hi temp wash" would provide 145 f water heating for main wash and final rinse, which is only 5 degrees hotter as the rest (140) but in my experience did provide more perfectly cleaned burned/cooked on foods from pans.
Additionally in my experience, burned/cooked on foods in both older and newer pc's usually wash perfect with loose powdered detergent. -Kroger brand detergent being my favorite. Gels are for general dish soils while detergent packs produce too much foaming in pc's and older maytags. I could live without a microwave but not without a powerclean. | ||
| Post# 1103238 , Reply# 19 1/5/2021 at 07:06 (1,199 days old) by Awooff (Peoria, Illinois) | ||
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Silverware in door | ||
| Post# 1103243 , Reply# 20 1/5/2021 at 07:40 (1,199 days old) by anyandevery (Chillicothe) | ||
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Wow, I even have a manual now thanks appnut! Thanks all for the input/education - much appreciated. | ||
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