Best Whirlpool Dishwasher Parts: Genuine Parts VS. Generic Parts

However, all that use and abuse takes its toll, and eventually, things will break. When that happens, you can spend your life savings and have a repairman come over. Or you can fix it yourself. Whirlpool dishwasher parts are fairly inexpensive. If you buy a generic part, you’ll save even more money.

But wait, aren’t generic parts bad for your dishwasher? The answer is not so clear-cut. Some are bad. You should stick with Whirlpool-only parts for important things such as the pump and the spray arm. Other things you can fix with an after-market part just as well as with Whirlpool dishwasher parts. 

Whirlpool Dishwasher Parts FAQ

Some of the most common parts to break that you can easily replace with a generic brand are the door gaskets, the upper spray arm mount, and the silverware basket. There are plenty of manufacturers making comparable Whirlpool dishwasher parts. Before you go and buy just any old part, get to know more about it. This will help you make an informed decision.

How We Reviewed

Because there are so many Whirlpool dishwasher parts to choose from, we narrowed our list down to the three parts that most commonly break, and which you can buy from an after-market manufacturer. These are the door gasket, the upper spray arm mount, and the silverware basket.

Although you’ll be perfectly safe with a certified Whirlpool dishwasher part, you can save money with a generic or after-market brand. We’ve reviewed three different makers of each part. One is the Whirlpool dishwasher part, and two are after-market dishwasher parts. We visited the website for each company to learn a little about them.

Next, we examined customer reviews on Amazon. Because we trust reviews written by real people, we read through lots of real-world experiences to get an idea of how well these parts perform. Are they worth it? Should you pay extra for a Whirlpool dishwasher part or will a generic part do the job for a lot less?

The Parts

Door gaskets, spray arm mounts, and silverware baskets are all key parts of any dishwasher. They also are some of the most common parts to break after lots of use. If you walk into your kitchen and see a small lake forming on the floor, chances are you’ve got a worn door gasket.

On the other hand, if you run your washer and when you open it up, you notice a deep puddle of water on the bottom, but none of your dishes have been cleaned, then you’ve got a spray arm mount problem. This happens when residue from food and soap builds up inside the mount. Intense heat will eventually cause this residue to expand and will crack the mount, which means it's time for a new one.

Silverware baskets get beaten and battered. They even get sliced. Everyone tends to toss their silverware into the basket, usually from a height, and with the high heat, pressurized water, and food residue punishing the plastic basket, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll need a new one.

Next up is Think Crucial. They have been in business since 2009. The company is based in the U.S., and their goal is to sell you “crucial home items” direct from manufacturers at a fraction of the cost of the big brand names. This door gasket is designed and engineered by Think Crucial. It was made to fit your Whirlpool dishwasher. The black rubber gasket is manufactured in the USA. This door gasket is a fraction of the cost of the Whirlpool door gasket. It does the job just as well and is made with the same materials.

Because it’s not a genuine Whirlpool dishwasher part, using this may violate your dishwasher’s warranty. 

Blue Stars LLC is an Egyptian after-market parts maker which sells mostly on Amazon. The majority of their manufacturing is done in China. This door gasket is made to fit Whirlpool, Kenmore, and Frigidaire dishwashers. It has been tested by the manufacturer. Customers seem to love this company's products and prices. However, buyers don't know exactly where, or how, this gasket is made. It could also violate your dishwasher's warranty.

This part is white and made of plastic. It is manufactured in China and works with most Whirlpool, Kenmore and Frigidaire dishwashers. Although it is Inexpensive and super-easy to install, it's also a lesser quality than the Whirlpool dishwasher part. It could violate your warranty.  It comes with Blue Stars 90-day limited warranty. 

This is a basic Whirlpool dishwasher part. It’s made of plastic and looks fairly unremarkable. As a Whirlpool silverware basket, it’s designed to fit your dishwasher perfectly. Unfortunately, considering it is just plastic, it is overpriced and doesn’t perform any better than a cheaper basket. These baskets come with Whirlpool’s 90-day warranty.

Lemon House is one of the most common manufacturers of after-market silverware baskets. You’re sure to find them in Walmart and on Amazon. They are a Chinese-based company.

One thing that's neat about this silverware basket is that you can divide it into two separate baskets if you need to rearrange space. This one has seven compartments including one with a closing lid to keep small items inside. It has a “dirty/clean” indicator so you can see if you need to run the dishwasher or not. It also has a folding handle for easy carrying. This basket a ton of great features. It can fit almost any dishwasher of any size thanks to its versatility. There aren’t any cons to this silverware basket!

Finally, we have Qualtex. This is a UK-based spare parts maker. You can find their products at Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, and more. This is a sturdy plastic basket that should fit most dishwasher models. It has eight compartments and looks like a standard silverware basket. This basket will fit your dishwasher without too many problems. It’s simple and doesn’t do anything more than hold your silverware. However, it may not fit your dishwasher if you have a smaller one.