Are Criterion Dishwashers Any Good? (For Beginners)

There’s no doubt that having a dishwasher is an absolute game-changer.

Imagine making yourself a five-star meal and sitting down to enjoy it while knowing you don’t have a single dish to clean.

That being said, appliances aren’t cheap, and buying one that doesn’t do the job as we expect can be nothing short of heartbreaking.

So the question is, are criterion dishwashers easy enough to use for beginners while being good enough to satisfy the top dishwasher connoisseur?

Are Criterion Dishwashers Any Good?

Criterion is a Menards exclusive brand that manufactures dishwashers, freezers, washing machines, and various other home appliances.

Criterion is a popular brand as their products are manufactured within the U.S, making them affordable and high in quality.

Menards has more than 300 stores across the U.S and they keep expanding, thus showing constant support from the consumer community.

Criterion dishwashers meet the same standards, and although they might not be the top dishwasher brand on the market, they don’t fall short in quality, diversity in settings, and ease of use.

That being said, customer service at Menards, according to the insider, is less than satisfactory, which could make using a Criterion dishwasher difficult for a beginner that might run into a few problems.

That being said, let’s take a deeper look into Criterion dishwashers, what to look for when buying a dishwasher, and if Criterion meets the necessary standards that we all require.

Criterion 6-Cycle Stainless Steel Built-In Dishwasher

The 6-cycle front control dishwasher is the only available dishwasher from criterion, but this is the only dishwasher you will ever need.

The machine includes a 14-place setting capacity, an adjustable upper rack, and completes 6 wash cycles to ensure your dishes are sparkling and clean.

With a durable stainless steel tub, quiet running system, and a 1-year warranty, criterion dishwashers are convenient for every household.

Specs

Dimensions	25-5/8 x 33-7/8 x 23-7/8 inch
Weight	111.33 pound
Amperage	8.4
Voltage	120V
Sound Rating	51 decibel
Available colors	Stainless steel, black, white
Control type	Electronic
Max depth with door open	50 inch
Food debris dispenser type	Filtration
Interior light	None
Cycle number	6
Number of Racks	2
Number of adjustable racks	1
Rack material	Nylon
Tub material	Stainless steel

Highlights of Criterion Dishwashers

The Criterion Dishwasher has many highlights thanks to its affordable cost, high-quality stainless steel drum, and year-long warranty, however, the following features stand out above the rest:

1. Exceptional washing capacity

2. Noise friendly

3. Energy star compliant

4. Automatic soil detection

14 Place Setting Capacity

Dishwashers vary in size and generally have a capacity of 12 – 16 place settings, however, some compact dishwashers can be as small as 5 place settings.

With the Criterion dishwasher having 14 place settings it can hold up to 154 individual items.

According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a single place setting consists of the following:

Dishware

1 x Dinner plate
1 x Saucer
1 x Bread and butter plate
1 x Fruit bowl

Drinking Containers

1 x Cup
1 x Straight Glass

Flatware

1 x Dinner fork
1x Salad fork
1 x Knife
2 x Teaspoons

As the Criterion dishwasher has 14 place settings it is large enough for entertaining guests or for a family of four to conserve both energy and water by reducing the number of washes you need to do.

Quiet Running System

Dishwashers can be noisy appliances and are often as loud as 75 – 80 dB which is similar to a washing machine

The Criterion dishwasher, however, only produces 51 dB of sound which makes its running noise as quiet as a refrigerator (50 dB) and slightly louder than a whisper (20-30 dB).

Part of the reason that the criterion dishwasher is so quiet is that it makes use of a filtration system over a hard food disposer, which is quieter, however, needs to be cleaned manually each month.

Energy Star Compliant

According to Energy Star, a standard-sized energy star dishwasher should only cost approximately USD 35 per year and can save over 3,870 gallons of water throughout its lifetime.

This makes the criterion dishwasher gentler on the environment, as well as on your pocket.

Automatic Soil Detection

The purpose of a dishwasher is to rinse water over, under, and around dishes to loosen and remove soil (the leftover food on your plates and glasses), according to ACI (American Cleaning Institute).

With an automatic soil detection system, the Criterion dishwashers clean your dishes more efficiently as they adjust for optimum energy usage.

This makes these machines easy to use, and energy-efficient all while leaving your dishes sparkling clean every time.

What to Look For When Buying a Dishwasher?

Buying a new dishwasher can be tricky, especially when you don’t know what to look for.

The list below is a great start when it comes to what to consider before buying a new dishwasher and should be used before you decide to take out that credit card.

Price Range

Dishwashers can range from USD 250 to USD 2000 depending on the brand, quality, and available features.

Setting yourself a price range will help you screen out all the products that are not suited for you.

As Criterion dishwashers are locally produced they fall on the cheaper side of the price spectrum without sacrificing quality.

Cleaning Power

Living in a world of consumerism means there are tons of low-quality, budget products on the market.

Buying a dishwasher with poor cleaning power will mean you will either end up pre-rinsing your dishes or needing to run them through the dishwasher again.

It is important to take note of the cleaning power of your machine before you purchase it.

Thanks to Criterion’s 6 cycle system, a single run of the machine is all you will need.

Noise Level

Whether you have kids, a small living space, or are compactly situated in a city, the noise our appliances produce can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and an angry neighbor with a crying baby.

Although some of the best dishwashers on the market can be as quiet as 40 dB, the Criterion washer is much quieter than most and will likely not be heard from the next room.

It may not be the quietest, but for its price and quality, you will likely not even notice the small amount of extra noise.

Place Setting Capacity

If your dishwasher is too small you will find yourself doing load after load.

With a bigger capacity, you will need to load the dishwasher only every few meals which saves both time and money.

Other Factors to Consider

Energy consumption and environmental factors
Tub Material
Reliability and warranty
Color and finish

The Bottom Line

Criterion dishwashers from Menards are perfect washers for a small family.

The washer is budget-friendly, simple to use, and big enough for most small families.

Although the customer service at Menards has been known to be less than satisfactory, Criterion dishwashers remain a fantastic buy for both beginners, as well as seasoned appliance consumers.