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Home / Kitchen

Video: How I fixed my Kitchenaid KDS-21 — with help from Automaticwasher.org

Pam Kueber - Updated: October 28, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

The fixit for my vintage Kitchenaid KDS-21 dishwasher — “the last of the great Kitchenaids” — my “Hurricane in a Box” — was easy peasy — I had an answer in 10 minutes — yes: 10 minutes — once I asked the right people: the Imperial-forum experts at Automaticwasher.org.

My KItchenaid KDS21:

Watch my video — just  2 minutes long — to see the fix and hear a bit o’ the Hurricane! Thank you, Automaticwasherites, and especially, @toploader55!

CATEGORIES:
Appliances & Decor Kitchen

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40 comments

Comments

  1. Steve H says

    February 8, 2018 at 11:43 am

    I love a happy Retro ending!

  2. Erika T. says

    February 8, 2018 at 10:57 am

    Yay! That is great news! Thank goodness for the Internet!

  3. Cynthia says

    February 8, 2018 at 10:39 am

    That is amazing! Viva la Internet. My parents had a 1972 KA with rectangular pushbuttons (harvest gold door) in service until 2000, never needed repair, replaced during a kitchen remodel. In the early 60s they had a KA in another house, with a beautiful brushed stainless steel door to match the metal tiles behind the turquoise cooktop.

  4. Karin says

    February 8, 2018 at 9:56 am

    Congrats! It looks great!

  5. Carolyn says

    February 8, 2018 at 9:37 am

    Retro Renovation TV – coming to your area soon! Drama, intrigue, suspense, comedy, love story – will have you on the edge of your seat to see how it all unfolds!
    Yet another thing to toast in the Tiki Lounge!
    Yeah, NEVER throw unidentified “pocket screws” away – 2 wks later, you discover just what that doohickey was and now you have to jury-rig something to take its place.

    • GlenEllyn says

      February 11, 2018 at 11:23 pm

      I believe this 100%. Hang on to those little thing-a-ma-jigs. You just never know. Even if you don’t end up figuring out where they go, they may come in handy for something else. Besides, these kinds of things take up so little space, why not? Pick a spot, a small cup or tray in your junk drawer and always put them there.

  6. Carol says

    February 8, 2018 at 9:08 am

    Love it! So glad it was such a simple fix.

  7. Lynn says

    February 8, 2018 at 9:00 am

    Glad to get to get the happy update. Your dishwasher is in terrific vintage condition! If you’ve chosen to leave it white, I think it looks great with your turquoise cabinets.

    • KStacey says

      February 8, 2018 at 11:37 am

      The great thing about those is that the panels are easy to change out. So you can have white, then turquoise, maybe try red, and go back to white if you don’t like them!

  8. Barbara says

    February 8, 2018 at 8:38 am

    Pamela,
    I’ve been looking for the same dishwasher like yours? How did you find yours?
    Any info will be much appreciated.
    Thanks!

    • Pam Kueber says

      February 8, 2018 at 9:25 am

      I found it on craiglist. Searched all around me every few days (or daily, when I was able) — it took a while but they are around!

  9. Robin, WA says

    February 8, 2018 at 8:38 am

    So glad it was something simple. And thank goodness you saved the little pin!

  10. Bob Connor says

    February 8, 2018 at 4:40 am

    To help extend the life of your dishwasher, try using the china/crystal cycle and see if you can get away with it. I use it on the GE Artistry dishwasher I installed and so far, it has been enough.

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