OK, I hate doing dishes. My one saving grace is my Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer – yes, I said drawer. Rather than the traditional ‘pull down door and slide out the rack’ dishwasher, this is a full drawer that pulls out and loads easily.
I am by no means old (although my kids may say different), but I hate bending over to load the bottom tray of a standard dishwasher.
The Fisher & Paykel Dishdrawer changes that. There are two versions, one with a single drawer and another model with two drawers. I had the two drawer version installed in my kitchen (the DD605 in Black). For the most part, however, I just use the top drawer. Having the second drawer is great for special events when the dishes pile up. Each drawer runs independently and can handle all varieties of dishes, glasses, and silverware. I can load and unload the top drawer with very little bending (more of a reach than bend). In my dream kitchen, where space is not an issue, I would have a single drawer on each side of my kitchen sink – now that would be awesome.
The F&P DishDrawer is whisper quiet as well. The most noise it makes is the water flowing in to the drain in the sink. Great for running a load right after dinner and not interrupting family time.
There are a few different brands of DishDrawer washers, but the Fisher & Paykel seems to be the standard. I believe the Whirlpool version is actually made by Fisher & Paykel. Some of the earlier F&P models had some issues, however, the most maintenance I’ve done on mine is replace the rotor after several years of use. The dishwasher started making a squealing sound while draining. The rotor ran about $85 and can be replaced easily with no tools required (my type of repair).
There are some basic settings for heavy, normal, fast, delicate, and a rinse cycle. There is also an eco mode that uses less power. Each drawer has its own controls and digital display. The display shows the time remaining and a graphic representing the current cycle.
You can compare prices and purchase through Amazon at this Link – the two drawer runs approximately $1200 and the single drawer runs approximately $650 – pricey but a great investment – IMHO. It is very durable – I’ve had mine for about 7 years, my sister has had her model for over 15 years.
The DishDrawer is sharp looking and comes in several different front panel colors.
A few notes:
The Fisher Paykel DishDrawer should fit in any standard dishwasher opening but be sure to check measurements just to make sure.
If you don’t use the bottom drawer, it is good to run it at least once a month to keep all parts moving.
Useful links:
Please see my brief post on Keeping Your Dishwasher Sparkling for an additional dishwasher tip.
I found this to be the best video for rotor replacement instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dUhQ8lzfcM
Replacement rotor can be found at this link – please verify part numbers with your user manual
