Have you ever thought about how many times a day you touch the dishwasher handle? If you think about it, the dishwasher is one of the most commonly touched areas in the kitchen. Therefore, bacteria can quickly grow in these areas.

On top of that, dishwashers have long had the problem of getting incredibly dirty and smelly on the inside as well. This happens when you have to wait to fill the dishwasher between cycles, and GE Appliances' latest dishwasher design claims to reduce bacterial growth and solve the smelly dishwasher conundrum once and for all.

The new dishwasher is called the GE Profile Ultrafresh System and features Microban Antimicrobial Technology, which the brand claims helps reduce bacterial growth. This antimicrobial treatment is applied to the dishwasher's main contact points, including the handle, control panel, rack handle, silverware cell cover, and filtration system. This treatment also does not wear off and is designed to last for the life of the dishwasher. [Cynthia Fanning, Vice President of Dishwasher Product Management at GE Appliances, said, "Our engineers have spent the past year and a half developing the first and only dishwasher designed to stay fresher and cleaner at a time when consumers are more concerned than ever about germs in their homes. Our engineers have spent the past year and a half working on it."

UltraFresh System Technology stops the dishwasher from smelling. It is not the cycle itself, but an additional setting that can be run in parallel with the cycle. It basically senses that dirty water is building up in the filter and flushes it with fresh water between cycles to clean it. It also uses a fan to bring in fresh air to maintain ventilation, reducing moisture and preventing musty odors. Together with the antimicrobial treatment, this entire process is called: drain, dry, and defend

The UltraFresh system can also tell the difference between plain water and dirty water. Therefore, if plain water enters the drain, it does not bother to flush it out with fresh water. The only drawback to this technology is that it can only detect liquids that have entered the filter. In other words, if an annoyingly thick sauce drips down, the dishwasher will not detect it.

This additional technology means additional energy and water use, but if you really struggle with smelly dishwashers, it may be worth the extra cost. The antimicrobial properties of this new dishwasher are definitely a welcome development.

The GE Profile UltraFresh System Dishwasher will be available at major retailers starting this month for an MSRP of $1,149.