7) How we test dishwashers

11) What to look for when shopping for men's bar soap

8)

When we test dishwashers, we challenge them with dirtier loads than you would ever have at home. And, we never pre-rinse anything before loading it in. Plus we assess the capacity and flexibility of all the racks, trays and baskets and evaluate how easy each dishwasher is to use, load and program.

9)

Prior to testing the cleaning performance of various cycles, we uniformly apply, then bake-, dry- and burn-on mac and cheese, hamburger, oatmeal, egg yolk, milk and more to cookware (pictured) and 10 five-piece settings of dishes, glassware, cups, saucers and flatware. We even "kiss" each coffee cup with lipstick, a stain that many dishwashers struggle to completely remove.

Between staining, drying and cleaning each load, we spend at least 7 hours testing just one cycle, not counting the time it takes to examine each piece once the cycle is done. We test multiple cycles on each machine, including any special options and the app if the machine works with one.

10)

We follow the manufacturer’s loading guidelines and use the same detergent in each machine to wash our dirty loads. Post-cleaning, we look for and note water spots left after drying, and we examine and score every item for any specks of soil that remain. The glasses are checked and scored for spots and leftover film in a special lightbox (pictured).

A weighted cleaning score is calculated for each cycle, and all the cycle scores are averaged to get an overall cleaning score for each dishwasher. We also assess and rate each appliance for energy efficiency and sound and note any special features, like fingerprint-resistant stainless steel fronts.

12) How long should a dishwasher last?

Today's dishwashers have an average lifespan of about 10 years. And as long as it is installed correctly and you take care of it by loading it correctly and keeping the dishwasher clean and maintained, those 10+ years should be trouble-free and may even stretch to 15 years or more.

However, warranties exist for a reason. Sometimes things do go wrong. Most appliance manufacturers offer at least a one-year full warranty, meaning that both parts and labor are covered for any repairs within the first year. If you need repair, it's always best to use a manufacturer-authorized repair service. They have access to the correct parts and the most up-to-date information from your model's manufacturer. Using an unauthorized repair service, especially on a new machine, can leave you without recourse if something goes wrong. At the very least, you may have to fork over the cost of another service call to reassess the situation.

After the first year of the warranty expires, some manufacturers offer limited five-year (or more) warranties on parts (not labor), like the electronic controls and racks should they be defective. Some offer lifetime warranties for the stainless steel door and tub if they should rust through. Always check the warranty terms for any model you are considering. Before the first year full warranty is up, we recommend using the appliance often and trying as many cycles and options as you can to make sure all work to your satisfaction.

13) How much should you expect to pay for a dishwasher?

There are dishwashers to fit every budget. You could get a basic model with only a few cycles in a standard finish for less than $500. What you likely won't get is a model with a wide assortment of cycles, stylized controls, flexible racks, a front panel that matches your cabinets or one that's noticeably quiet. For those perks, you'll have to trade up.

While it's not necessary to go totally top-of-the-line to get good cleaning performance, spending $1,000 to $1,500 will get you solid cleaning performance along with a nice assortment of perks and maybe even Wi-Fi connectivity. At the very least, we recommend getting a stainless steel tub, all the basic cycle features — including a boosted drying option — and if possible a fingerprint-resistant door.