What is the third load level in a dishwasher?

Before buying a new dishwasher, you need to carefully study the technical characteristics of the device in order to choose the best model specifically for yourself. But what if all the characteristics are not fully understood? For example, in retail and online stores you can find the line “third load level in the dishwasher.” And how do we understand this if machines usually have only two baskets for dishes: one small, for plates and mugs, and one large, for frying pans, pots and other things. What is this third level that has suddenly appeared recently?

What is the third box and what is it for?

Engineers from major technology manufacturing companies were indeed able to perform a “small miracle” and fit a third basket into the washing chamber of some dishwashers. The third level is considered to be a retractable tray, which is located in the upper section of the PMM. It is installed in such a way that utensils fit horizontally in the box and take up much less space than in standard two-tray dishwashers. At the same time, you can put not only forks and spoons in this level, but also small tea pairs, ladles, whisks and saucers, which can be conveniently mounted on the side grates.

The third load level in the dishwasher opens up new possibilities for washing dishes in your “home assistant”, because even the smallest kitchen appliances can be comfortably secured in this tray. Most often, this new product can be seen in the brands Bosch, Electrolux and a number of others. What are the advantages of the third basket?

• The top tray is very easy to remove.
• It does not take up much space in the PMM.
• If it is not needed, then the third box, which in Bosch technology is called VarioDrawer and is only 5 centimeters deep, can be pulled out and stored away.

There is also a special version called VarioDrawerPro, equipped with movable elements with which you can adjust the space as you need and also attach cutlery to the box.

• Finally, the RackMatic system, which provides third loading levels using Bosch technology, allows the tray to be adjusted in height.

This flexible system therefore allows dirty dishes to be conveniently distributed throughout the entire dishwasher, intelligently using all available space in the dishwasher. By removing small items into the third loading level, you free up the first two for large items.

Fork/spoon basket opposite top tray

Despite the obvious advantages of using the top tray, housewives often find that the fork basket in the main tray is better suited for cutlery than the third tier. At the same time, experts recommend using the top tray for cutlery, and use the following points as arguments:

• the third level allows you to load the PMM to the maximum. If you need it, you can load small utensils into it, and leave the main two trays for large ones. If it is not needed, or you simply need to wash large dishes, then the tray can be completely removed, freeing up space for tall pots;
• cutlery in the third tray is placed in a horizontal position, which allows the machine to wash them more efficiently. In addition, the items lie there separately from each other, so the equipment washes them better, and then they dry faster;
• The pull-out tray is ideal for storing ladles, spatulas, whisks and other cutlery that previously had to be placed in main baskets.

So it turns out that the third loading level helps to more efficiently use the space of not only the first and second baskets, but also the space of the entire dishwasher. Small appliances are placed on top, which the machine washes more thoroughly and dries faster, and large frying pans, pots, etc., which require a lot of free space, are placed below. Devices with a third tray may be more expensive than standard PMMs, but they allow you to wash dishes more efficiently and in larger portions, which you will definitely appreciate after a magnificent feast during a family holiday.

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