Company has just arrived for a friendly gathering, and as and your guests sit to enjoy a meal, you take out that vintage bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion. But, as you pull out a glass from the dishwasher, you begin to panic when you find the cycle you just ran is full of hard water specks and residue.
Your home may deal with hard water, but that doesn’t mean it has to ruin your special occasions. Instead, discover the best dishwasher for hard water in this complete buying guide with product reviews and say goodbye to annoying spots, specks, flecks, and film on dishes.
At a Glance:
Dishwashers for Hard Water & Their Benefits
Our Top Picks: Dishwashers for Hard Water
Top Dishwasher Brands for Hard Water
Hard Water Dishwashers & Their Benefits
While dishwashers are virtually identical from model to model, your home’s water source isn’t always so reliable. Depending on where you live, your water can be exposed to numerous traces of chemicals, minerals, and other contaminants throughout the drawing process, and when those byproducts run through a dishwasher, they can leave hard water deposits, spots, and a hazy film on dinnerware.
Enlist in the right dishwasher, however, and even the hardest water is treatable for dishes that are sparkling clean. That being said, it’s important to know that there is no such thing as a hard water dishwasher. Instead, you’ll want to pay close attention to the features in order to redeem the benefits of dishwashers suited for treating hard water.
Benefits of a hard water dishwasher include:
✓ Filtration: Dishwashers equipped for hard water use advanced filtration to strain particles from the wash water, leaving behind minimal to no specks or film.
✓ Rinse Aid Function: Sometimes, a little help goes a long way. Having a rinse aid function can make the difference between cloudy dishes and crystal-clear ones.
✓ Stainless-steel Tubs: Opt for stainless-steel tubs since they promote condensation better, dry faster, and resist higher water temperatures, which are superior at dissolving common minerals found in hard water.
Ultimately, households that continuously experience spotty dishes will want to do a test to register the grains per gallon (gpg) in their water supply to properly determine if hard water is the cause of the problem.
Our Top Dishwasher Picks for Hard Water
Best Overall: GE Profile™ 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (PDT715SYNFS)
Two powerful dishwasher features are what set this GE Profile dishwasher apart from the crowd when it comes to enjoying spot-free dishes. The first is the GE Piranha Hard Food Disposer that processes food particles at 3,600 revolutions per minute to filter out debris from the water supply. After a thorough wash, Dry Boost with Fan Assist evaporates surface condensation, eliminating spot and residue buildup. Additionally, this top-rated dishwasher for hard water also includes a durable stainless-steel tub, roomy third rack, dedicated silverware jets, and a Steam + Sani option for truly sparkling dishes.
Features:
- Piranha Hard Food Disposer
- Dry Boost with Fan Assist
- Rinse aid dispenser
- Bottle jets
- Third rack
- Steam + Sani
- Finishes: Black Slate, Black Stainless Steel, Slate, Stainless Steel
Best Value: LG 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (LDFN3432T)
Leave it to LG to design a powerful dishwasher capable of handling hard water deposits at an affordable price. This dishwasher under $700 offers a series of wash functions, including LG QuadWash with four spray arms that use multidirectional spinning to target every area inside the tub, plus speedy Dynamic Dry for dishes that are done faster. Load up inside the roomy NeverRust stainless-steel tub with 15 place settings, all a performance endorsed by the National Sanitization Foundation (NSF).
Features:
- QuadWash
- Dynamic Dry
- NeverRust stainless-steel tub
- Energy Star certified
Best Luxury: Bosch 800 Series DLX 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (SHP878ZD5N)
Don’t let your dreams of an aspirational kitchen become ruined by a bad dishwasher. This best Bosch dishwasher for hard water is the perfect blend of high-end style and top-rated performance designed to work strong for a decade or longer. Product testers gave top marks to this premium dishwasher’s PrecisionWash sensors that actively monitor water soil levels to deliver an optimized wash that breaks down food and water deposits more efficiently. Other standouts include the nine-level RackMatic upper rack for added loaded flexibility, a one-hour Speed60 wash setting, and the quietest dishwasher on the market at a silent 42 decibels. Meanwhile, our product experts enjoyed the built-in water softener with simple instructions on how to set water hardness on this Bosch dishwasher to suit your gpg rating.
Features:
- PrecisionWash sensors
- RackMatic upper rack
- Speed60 wash option
- Rinse aid dispenser
- 42 dBA
- Energy Star certified
- AquaStop leak detection
Best Samsung Dishwasher for Hard Water: Samsung 24" Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (DW80R5060US)
Unleash the technology of Samsung StormWash on your dishes for an innovative system of sprays and rotating wash arms that fully saturate dinnerware to successfully remove lingering hard water film on dishes. This mid-end dishwasher also features adaptable loading features like a third rack and an adjustable middle tray with 15 place settings to fit more into a single load.
Features:
- StormWash
- AutoRelease door
- Adjustable rack
- 3rd rack
- Stainless-steel tub
- Energy Star certified
- Finishes: Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel
Best Frigidaire Dishwasher for Hard Water: Frigidaire Gallery® 24" Stainless Steel Built In Dishwasher (FGID2476SF)
Here’s another affordable dishwasher we recommend for hard water, courtesy of Frigidaire. At under $850, this model includes everything you need for great dish care, from a generous 14 place setting to Energy Star-certified performance. Load up and let the intelligence of DishSense Technology determine the proper wash time and water temperature with smart sensors that detect soil levels in the water.
Features:
- DishSense Technology
- 30-minute Quick Clean
- SpaceWise adjustable rack
- Rinse aid dispenser
- LED floor beam
- Stay-In-Place door
- Stainless-steel tub
- Energy Star certified
Our Selection Process
No matter the occasion, presentable dishes are the start of a great meal. When it comes to dealing with hard water, we consider these three pillars the most important for treating the side effects of water issues.
Materials
While plastic interiors are great for budgeting, exposure to hard water will wear down the finish faster than stainless-steel counterparts. Additionally, plastic cannot be heated to the same temperatures as stainless steel, meaning deposits in water won’t break down efficiently, leading to spotty dishes—often no matter how much rinse aid is added.
Performance
A dishwasher boasting a rich variety of wash cycles is a good indicator of its performance. While high water temperature settings are ideal for dissolving hard water minerals and particles, specialty dishware like wine glasses or baby bottles require gentle cleaning. That’s one more reason we also highly recommend a dishwasher with a filter as an additional way to combat residue buildup when hot-water settings aren’t ideal. Additionally, a rinse aid reservoir is a handy perk and inexpensive way to ensure dishes are spot-free.
Other factors we looked at include:
- Racks: Even a dishwasher that’s great at removing hard water contaminants will render less-than-satisfactory results if the rack design hinders dishes from a full wash. Flexible loading functions and ample space that allow every dish to be showered in a wash are key.
- Jets: Having dedicated jet sprays is never a bad idea on a dishwasher. While these are often an upgrade, having the feature is a smart way to ensure items even in hard-to-reach areas are rinsed free of any strays left on the surface.
Durability
Above all, if your home’s water source is considered hard, you’ll need a machine that can endure its side effects. For instance, Bosch dishwashers have been built on German engineering that lasts a minimum of 10 years of regular use. Meanwhile, select Samsung dishwashers with the Auto Cycle use smart sensors to determine necessary wash times and temperatures for an efficient clean with less strain on the appliance.
Top Dishwasher Brands for Hardwater
We’ve evaluated our complete lineup of dishwashers and recommend these three brands to buyers dealing with hard water.
Bosch
Thanks to unmatched craftsmanship, Bosch dishwashers are continuously recognized by prestigious names as leaders in their category. The brand masters dish care with a series of premium dishwasher functions, including CrystalDry for dishes up to 60-percent dryer than the competition, plus PureDry technology that washes dishes in temperatures up to 162 degrees to effectively break down messes and mineral deposits. And with versatile loading layouts, intelligent soil sensors, and perks like a built-in water softener on select models, results are always up to your standards.
Price: $499–$2,149
Samsung
Samsung is no stranger to accolades, regularly making appearances at the top of the list of expert reviews like J.D. Power. The brand has ranked as the top dishwasher brand for at least six years consecutively, proving their reliability and the satisfaction of its users. Models with special zone washes, third racks, and jets are an extra boost of performance to remove hard water byproducts the first time.
Price: $629–$1,249
GE
In terms of buying flexibility, GE dishwashers offer one of the strongest lineups on the market. Four options, including built-in models in both top control and front control styles, under-the-sink dishwashers, and portable dishwashers, appeal to a range of buyers and lifestyles. Meanwhile, powerful features like the GE Piranha Hard Food Disposer pulverize deposits in the water and filter them for the cleanest wash water possible. Additional incentives include Dry Boost with Fan Assist drying on select models to rapidly dry surfaces to reduce spotting.
Price: $409–$1,549
Hardwater FAQ
Q: How do I check for hard water?
Often, signs your home suffers from hard water present themselves without having to do any sort of testing. Besides spots on dishes, hard water can also cause soap to inefficiently lather, leave fabrics feeling scratchy, and can even pose harm to your skin. To learn more, read about the 10 signs your home needs a water treatment solution.
Q: What can I add to my dishwasher to treat hard water?
Before switching to a new dishwasher, it might be worthwhile to try an at-home remedy with any one of these following ingredients:
- Vinegar
- Lemon
- Baking soda
For more details, take a look at our blog “How to Remove Hard Water Stains” for glass and other dinnerware.
Q: How can I remove hard water stains from glasses in the dishwasher?
If natural solutions aren’t enough to remove hard water deposits on your dishes, consider adding a rinse aid as part of your dishwashing routine. Along with the best dishwasher detergent for hard water, rinse aid works on a molecular level, breaking the surface tension and preventing particles from sticking onto dishes. Rinse aid is administered during a dishwasher’s last rinse cycle to ensure additional washes don’t reapply particles onto freshly rinsed dish surfaces.
You Should Know: 13 Tips for Dealing with Hard Water
Q: What else can I do to help with my hard water problem?
The problem of hard water can be altogether eliminated through the purchase of a water softener. Water softeners filter out many of the minerals that cause hard water buildup. The installation of a hard water softener, like this one from Envirotec, can be a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to address your hard water concerns.
Why Trust Us?
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we’re not only experts in appliances, mattresses, and electronics. Our team of professionals are also specialists when it comes to full home water treatments solutions. So, while evidence your home might have hard water is most apparent every time you run a cycle of dishes, you may be suffering from the side effects of hard water without even realizing it.
As part of our mission to improve the wellness of our customers, we continuously provide valuable information on how to deal with Arizona water conditions on top of our exclusive line of home water treatment products designed especially for our desert’s unique climate. It’s one more reason we’ve become Arizona’s trusted provider with the largest selection in the area at prices that are unbeatable.
Shop Dishwashers for Hard Water at Spencer’s
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we specialize in providing our shoppers with the best appliances, home electronics, mattresses, and home water treatment services available to Arizona.
Shop today to explore our entire catalog online or by visiting one of our appliance showrooms, including locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, and Scottsdale!