You can have a quiet dishwasher, if not quiet kids

In case you didn't know that noisy dishwashers are really annoying, Bosch recently commissioned a national survey asking Americans to name the loudest noisemakers in the home. Surprise, surprise, the dishwasher loomed large in the results, with 38 percent of Americans naming it as their home's loudest noisemaker. Children got the most votes of all, with spouses, domestic partners, and roommates also ranking high.

The point of the survey, of course, was to dispel a misconception about dishwashers. "While we can't control noise made by kids, significant others or roommates, quiet dishwashers like those from Bosch certainly reduce the noise level," said Bosch brand manager Micaela Shaw, in the news release. Bosch has the top dishwasher in our current Ratings of several dozen models. Superb washing and efficiency account for its top overall score. In noise tests, the Bosch scored very good, though a recommended model from Kenmore was quieter.

The Bosch survey revealed another misconception: nearly half of respondents believed that washing dishes by hand uses less water than cleaning them in the dishwasher. The opposite is true. Consumer Reports has found that even pre-rinsing dishes is a waste of water, since most modern dishwashers can power away stuck-on food.

—Daniel DiClerico