GE GDF630PGMWW Dishwasher Review

While we sometimes see performance or usability issues with dishwashers in the sub-$600 price range, we didn't find any serious problems with the GDF630PGMWW. Its performance was about average. The Normal and Quick cycles left some food stains behind, and while the Heavy cycle was able to get dishes over 92% clean, it took three-and-a-half hours to do so. The plastic racks slid smoothly, but felt a little flimsy. The Normal cycle tended to use a lot of water.

About the GE GDF630PGMWW

• Style: Available in black (GDF630PGMBB), white (GDF630PGMWW), stainless steel (GDF630PSMSS, costs $100 extra), Slate (GDF630PMMES, costs $100 extra), and Black Slate (GDF630PFMDS, costs $200 extra).
• Four cleaning cycles: Auto Sense, 1-Hour, Normal, Heavy
• High-end features: This dishwasher is equipped with a third rack, bottle jets, and silverware jets—features you don’t typically find on less expensive dishwashers.
• The embedded heating element dries dishes completely in the Normal and 1-Hour cycles.
• A built-in food disposal makes the dishwasher loud at times, but could be a boon for those who dislike cleaning filters.
• Sanitize mode, which the manufacturer claims kills bacteria and loosens up baked-on food soil.
• Capacity: GE's site claims the dishwasher can hold up to 16 place settings, but the manual only contains images for how to accommodate 12.

What we like

• Third rack: This thin shelf that sits just above the top rack is perfect for holding long knives and spatulas.
• Bottle jets: If you've ever tried to clean out a tall thermos or a reusable bottle with a tapered neck, you're really going to appreciate this feature.
• Price point: It offers decent performance and lot of features for under $600.

What we don’t like

• Inefficient water usage: The average dishwasher uses an estimated 980 gallons of water per year. In the same time frame, we calculate the GDF630PGMWW would manage to chug through a whopping 1,380 gallons.
• The Normal and 1-Hour cycle left dishes dirty: The majority of the spinach-stained dishes had some residue left after these cycles.
• The slow Heavy cycle: While it produces the cleanest dishes, this cycle also takes three hours and 32 minutes to complete.

Warranty

GE Appliances covers all parts and labor for the first year. That's pretty standard across brands.

What owners are saying

Owners are generally pleased with their GDF630PGMWW. Across five major appliance retailer sites, its average score is 4.4 out of 5 stars. Most users praise the dishwasher's ability to get the dishes clean and dry, and they like the extra space provided by the third rack. The most common complaint is that the dishes don’t come out fully dry. They also agree with us that the Heavy cycle takes far too long.

Should you buy this dishwasher?

Maybe. While the GDF630PGMWW has a ton of extras at an affordable price, its performance was less than stellar. If you're looking for best-of-the-best levels of performance or high-end aesthetics, you won't find them in this dishwasher. It might be for you if you're looking for an affordable model with a full feature set and don't necessarily need your dishwasher to be a workhorse. If performance is a premium and you don't mind forgoing some fo the GDF630PGMWW's features, there are a lot of great options out there, but we'd recommend the LG LDF5545ST. The LG is around the same price, has a more modern design, and its cleaning performance is comparable to our highest-rated dishwashers at a much lower price point.