I just bought a new dishwasher — and I’m amazed by this one feature

Bosch 500 series Dishwasher
(Image credit: Future)

In late August, our dishwasher finally gave out. While it still went through the motions of cleaning, it wouldn't drain after the final cycle, leaving a pool of water at the bottom of the tub.

I tried a few things to fix it — I cleaned the filters, checked the drain hose and swapped out the spin arm and rear stopper — all to no effect. I entertained the thought of changing the dishwasher's solenoid valve, but then my time and patience were beginning to run out, so I decided to opt for one of the best dishwashers on the market and wave goodbye to my old model.

Fortunately, we were able to take advantage of an early Labor Day deal on a Bosch 500 series dishwasher, and because the Bosch dishwasher is Energy Star compliant, I was able to get another $25 from PSE&G, my local utility, which offers rebates on energy-efficient appliances, including dehumidifiers, air conditioners, washers and dryers, smart thermostats, and more. If you're ever buying a new appliance, you should definitely check to see if your utility offers something similar — it's easy money.

But it wasn't the savings that most impressed me about our new dishwasher. It was the fact that it was dead quiet when cleaning dishes.

Bosch 500 Series 24-in Top Control Smart Built-In Dishwasher
Bosch 500 Series 24-in Top Control Smart Built-In Dishwasher : was $1,099 now $989 at Lowe's

The Bosch 500 Series 24-in Top Control Smart Built-In Dishwasher is super-smart and extra quiet, hitting 44 dBA in use. With an EasyGlide rack system, it should be smooth to use even when all three racks are fully loaded.

Silent Running

Bosch 500 series dishwasher sound level

(Image credit: Future)

Our previous dishwasher, a GE Nautilus model that was about 20 years old, served us well, but we could clearly hear it in our living room, the next room over. It wasn't loud enough to be distracting, but I would tend to increase the volume on the TV a notch or two.

The Bosch is so quiet that it's hard to hear it even when I'm in the kitchen.

The Bosch, on the other hand, is so quiet that it's hard to hear it even when I'm in the kitchen. Bosch advertises the 500 series as one of its quietest models, with an average noise of 44 decibels. Never one to take a company's word at face value, I stood about 6 feet away from the dishwasher with a sound meter, and registered noise levels of 47-50 dB.

That's not as quiet as advertised, but still very close. And, given all the other noise in my house provided by a dog, two cats, a 4-year-old, and an air conditioner, the Bosch doesn't register at all.

Rack it up

Bosch 500 series dishwasher top rack

(Image credit: Future)

We went with the 500 series for the slightly better sound-dampening, as well as an adjustable third rack, which gives you a lot more space for silverware and other kitchen utensils. In fact, apart from the quietness of the dishwasher, its adjustable third rack has been our favorite feature.

We found the top controls easy to use, too, and they give the front of the machine a nice clean look. While more and more appliances these days are connected to an app, the Bosch 500 isn't one of them, which is fine for us. I don't know how smart my dishwasher needs to be.

I also like the small red light that shines on the floor when the dishwasher is running. It's a good visual indicator, especially for something this quiet. Amusingly, the first time our dog saw the light, he tried to eat it.

Cleaning up

Bosch 500 series dishwasher top controls

(Image credit: Future)

I get that dropping $900 on a dishwasher is out of many budgets — the Bosch 100 series costs a little more than half as much — but based on my experience, the two features you should prioritize are sound levels and if the dishwasher has a third rack. Yes, cleaning performance is essential too, but after that, those are the features I'd look for. Hopefully, I won't have to make a similar choice for another 20 years.

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Mike Prospero
U.S. Editor-in-Chief, Tom's Guide

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.