Love it or hate it, washing dishes is simply a part of life. And for those with kids at home, running the dishwasher can almost become a daily routine. Not only is it important for your dishwasher to clean well, but it also needs to do it without sounding like a jet engine is in your kitchen and in a timely manner - all while using the water as efficiently as possible.
That's a lot of pressure for a dishwasher so it's important to make sure you have one that fits your family's needs, your kitchen, and your budget. Whirlpool is no stranger to making quality appliances, and its WDT750SAKZ AI-intelligent dishwasher proved up to the challenge during my time with it.
It's very quiet, easy to use, and most importantly, it leaves my dishes sparkling clean. I do wish it could fit a few more things and the lack of smart features is a bit of a bummer, but overall I'm impressed. Read on for more details about my time with it.
Side note: when we were looking at reviewing this dishwasher, I realized it's the same one my wife and I purchased several months ago when we moved into our new home so I am reviewing it after several months of personal use with my family.
For overall rating: 86% - Recommend
Jason has been writing about and reviewing products for more than 10 years. He covers everything from consumer tech to pizza ovens and is no stranger to washing dishes. His family of four certainly puts any dishwasher through its paces.
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Key specs
Noise | 47 dBA |
Capacity | 13 place settings |
Wash Cycles | Normal, Heavy, Quick Wash, Sensor Wash, Soak & Clean |
Drying Method | Heated |
Dimensions | 33 5/8 x 23 7/8 x 26 3/4 inches |
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Setup
Unboxing and Initial Setup: Our dishwasher was delivered on a pallet and was well-wrapped with styrofoam and cardboard. All the required documentation was included which was helpful.
Installation Instructions: Dishwashers are fairly complex to install, so it's always recommended to have a professional installer do it for you. Our installation technician was contracted by Lowe's (where we purchased the dishwasher) and he was on time, efficient, and nice. The installation took him no more than about two hours and we did not have any issues.
Space Considerations: For this dishwasher to fit comfortably, you'll need a space that's a minimum of 24" wide (62 cm) x 34 1/2" (87.63 cm) high x 24" (62 cm) deep. With the door open, it's 50-47/250" (1.27 m) total.
- Score: 10/10
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Design & Features
Aesthetic Appeal: This dishwasher has a very sleek, modern, minimalist look to it which I appreciate. You can get it in Stainless Steel, Black Stainless Steel, Black, and White so you can match it to pretty much any aesthetic. The handle is the only thing that stands out on the door, but it matches the color so it doesn't get in the way. I personally prefer the handle for hanging dish towels on, but if you don't, the WDP730HAMZ is very similar and has a pocket handle. I also appreciate that the controls are on top of the door to keep the front looking clean (the only other visible feature is a small vent on the top left and a small indicator light).
Build Quality: The Stainless Steel material not only helps keep fingerprints to a minimum (a huge plus with toddlers running around), but also contributes to the solid build quality. We've not had any issues at all with the tub, door, or seals feeling cheap or loose during our time with it. The only issue we've had is that one of the endcaps for the top rack popped off and broke after a few months, but that's it. The racks also feel very high quality and we've not had any problems with them, minus the end cap.
Control Layout: All the buttons are located on the top right of the door, meaning you'll need to actually open it to access them. I prefer this layout as it keeps the look sleek, and keeps curious kiddos from interrupting the cycle. There are seven buttons. On the far left is the Cycle button to switch between Sensor, Heavy, Normal, Quick Wash, and Soak & Clean cycles. Next to that is the Delay start button. On the right are the Hi Temp Wash, Sani Rinse, Dry (Heat and Extended), Start, and Cancel buttons.
Adjustable Racks: The middle rack is adjustable and both the top and middle racks can be removed if you have larger items you need to clean. The only annoyance I have is that the silverware slides around quite easily on the top rack. If you pull it out too quickly or hit it with the door as you're closing it, then the utensils will slide around. Probably not a big deal, to be honest, but it drives my OCD nuts.
Smart Features: Everything has AI in it these days, and while Whirlpool may try to convince you of the AI smarts here, don't get too excited. It does have a Sensor Wash which can adjust the cleaning options based on the size and dirtiness of the load. But this isn't anything ground-breaking that we haven't seen on other dishwashers, it's just buzz wordy.
Delay Start Option: Yes, you can delay the start anywhere from 1-24 hours.
Ergonomics: This dishwasher is quite easy to load and unload. The racks slide quite well and the door is easy to use. It's strong enough to prevent curious kiddos from opening it up but light enough to easily use. I personally appreciate the buttons being on top of the door, as they're easy to access but also away from toddler fingers.
- Score: 8/10
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Performance
Washing Efficiency: Overall, we are quite impressed with this dishwasher. It cleaned our dishes well every time, and only occasionally did we see some stubborn bits of food still attached after a normal cycle. We normally will at least rinse our dishes before loading them, but we tested a few loads without any rinsing, and the washer cleaned them just fine as well. It was impressive to see just how well it did.
We also tested some wineglasses and our reusable plastic dishware for our kids and both came out clean and unscathed.
Drying Performance: Drying was not as impressive, unfortunately. With the normal heated drying, the loads still came out wet nearly every time. We also noticed some soap stains after normal cycles if we didn't dry them right away, but that's not entirely the dishwasher's fault. That can also be partially attributed to our lack of water filtration in our home and the detergent we use.
However, that completely flipped when we did the extended dry. When we did that, the dishes all came out completely dry every time, with no soap scum. And it only added about 30 minutes to the cycle time, so we just ended up using that setting every time.
Noise Levels During Operation: I was quite happy with how quiet this dishwasher is during use. It was never annoying or distracting to my family while in use. We normally run it at night before going to bed, but we did test it during the day several times just to make sure. We could hear it during certain times of the cycle if we were working in or walking through the kitchen, but it was never a problem. I would have no problem putting this into a studio or open living space.
Cycle Times: The Normal cycle and drying for us always ran at 3 hours and 23 minutes, not too unusual for most dishwashers in this range. For lighter loads or quicker washes, the Quick Wash Cycle cleans in just about an hour. The Heavy Cycle clocks in at just over four hours.
- Score: 7/10
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Care & maintenance
Cleaning Routine: Cleaning the dishwasher is fairly simple. Depending on how often you use it, about once a month you should empty and clean the filter. Simply washing it under running water should suffice. To clean the rest, you can either use a dishwasher cleaning tablet or place a dishwasher-safe cup with two cups of vinegar on the bottom then run a normal cycle with heat dry off. Then, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the bottom of the washer and run a hot water cycle.
Descaling: To descale, follow the above steps for cleaning the washer, and that should remove any limescale buildup.
Regular Maintenance Practices: This dishwasher doesn't require a lot of regular maintenance. Between loads, check for any large bits of food or debris that might be at the bottom. It's a good idea to run a cycle with some vinegar or baking soda about once a month to clean out the nozzles and such, and also check and empty the filter if needed.
About twice a year, it's a good idea to check the sprayer arms and the door seals to ensure there's no excessive build-up or leaks anywhere. Other than that, you should be good to go. Truth be told though, after about a year of using it, we've never had to clean it. We've emptied the filter, but the inside has stayed clean for us.
Troubleshooting Common Issues: The most common issue you might run into is soap scale on the dishes after a cycle. This is most commonly due to either the detergent you're using or the water in your home. We do not have a water softener or whole home filtration system on our house, so we do notice some buildup from time to time. Typically if we dry and put away the dishes as soon as the cycle is done, it alleviates the problem.
If the dishwasher somehow doesn't drain properly, check the drain hose for clogs or an improper connection. For most other issues, particularly more complex issues, the best option is to call a service technician.
- Score: 10/10
WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher: Price & Value
For around $600, or likely even less if you wait for a sale season, this is a good value. The low noise level, solid feature set, and adjustable racks, all add up to a good value for your money. I do wish it came with a standard warranty longer than 1 year, but you can purchase additional warranty coverage and most reviews, including my own personal extended time with this dishwasher, don't seem to have any issues.
- Score: 8/10
Would I buy the WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher?
Ironically, I actually ended up purchasing this dishwasher when my family and I moved into our new home several months ago. We've never had any issues with it and have been quite happy with it. The quality is great, it cleans well and is quiet enough to not be distracting when running.
Attribute | Notes | Score |
---|---|---|
Setup | Documentation was included, professional installation was quick and easy. | 10/10 |
Design | Clean, minimalistic design, but top rack isn't perfect. | 8/10 |
Performance | Cleans quietly and efficiently, but need to use extended drying for dry dishes. | 7/10 |
Maintenance | Easy to clean and maintain. | 10/10 |
Value | Not the least expensive, but it works well and is a great option for any home. | 8/10 |
How does the WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher compare?
If you're looking for more premium, the Samsung BESPOKE Dishwasher is a solid choice. Aside from the more luxurious design, it includes Wi-Fi connectivity and an AutoRelease Door Dry feature to help dry the dishes better.
If you need a countertop unit, this Hava Countertop Dishwasher is pretty affordable and has a lot of solid reviews.
How I tested the WDT750SAKZ 24" AI Dishwasher
In the several months we've used this dishwasher, we've used it at least twice a week, with a variety of dishes including baking trays and pans, as well as plastic child dishes.
Find out more about how we test.