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December 2007
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LG LDF9810[ST] Dishwasher: First Look
Excellent washing performance and a stylish look come together in this pricey, steam-equipped dishwasher

LG LDF9810[ST] dishwasher
HIGH STYLE, HIGH PRICE:   The LG LDF9810[ST] dishwasher delivers excellent washing performance in a sleek package.
Price we paid: $1,500

Date of Consumer Reports full report: March 2008

What it is. This new LG dishwasher offers a Steam Cleaning option that, according to the manufacturer, will enhance wash performance and provide thorough cleaning of baked-on foods. The dishwasher is equipped with a sensor that adjusts the wash cycles to the amount of dirt in the load and also features hidden controls, an LED-lighted stainless-steel tub, and a utensil tray as the third rack, part of LG’s Design-a-Rack System.

What we liked. As appealing as this model’s sleek, contemporary look is, the stainless-steel LDF9810 [ST] has made its mark by delivering excellent wash performance with and without the steam option in our preliminary testing. What’s more, its 6-gallons-per-load water consumption is less than many other models we’ve recently tested. Our initial testing also reveals this LG to be a quiet, energy-efficient appliance. Indeed, LG claims it's the quietest in the industry, though we have tested quieter dishwashers.

What we didn’t like. The steam option makes this a very pricey dishwasher—our-top rated model costs only $650—and wash performance with steam was not significantly better than without. The standard wash cycle runs about 2 hours, 20 minutes, among the longest of the models we’ve tested.

Our initial take. This dishwasher delivers some worthwhile features in an attractive package. But given that there were only slight differences in wash performance between the normal and steam cycles, the high price might not be worth it. You can save a lot by choosing a nonsteam dishwasher with similar cleaning ability.

Use our free buying advice if you’re in the market for a new dishwasher and look for our latest report on dishwashers in the March 2008 issue of Consumer Reports.