Dishwasher Buying Guide
Once you buy and use a dishwasher it becomes indispensible - not just because a dishwasher saves you the time and drudgery of washing up but because you
can keep your kitchen tidy by hiding dirty dishes in the dishwasher! In terms of hygiene and cleanliness a dishwasher is far more effective than
hand washing in a sink. This dishwasher buying guide can take the confusion out of choosing the right dishwasher for your home and make it easier to
compare dishwasher prices
What size of dishwasher?
The external dimensions of dishwashers don't vary that much (roughly 85cm high x 60cm wide x 60cm deep) but the key to the dishwasher capacity is the
number of place settings it can hold. This is the maximum number of plates and eating utensils the machine can wash in one go but not counting the
saucepans, serving dishes, utensils etc.
A typical 12 place setting capacity might include:
12 x dinner plates
12 x dessert plates
12 x soup plates
12 glasses/tumblers
12 cups with saucers
12 sets of cutlery
If a full-sized dishwasher is too big for your kitchen then the other option is to buy a slimline dishwasher which would usually be about 45cm wide
and only take about 9 place settings. Slimline dishwashers are the same height and depth though so if this is still a problem try looking at the compact
dishwashers if you have very limited space.
Both full size dishwashers and slimline dishwashers are designed to fit under a standard worktop height but it makes sense that you measure the space
available before ordering to be sure your new dishwasher will fit!
Dishwasher programmes
Each dishwasher model will have slight variations in the programmes available but there will normally be three (or more) options plus possible a rinse
only option. The main wash programme is usually at 65°C which is particularly useful if there are saucepans included but there should be an economy
programme for day-to-day washes too. Top of the range dishwashers will occasionally offer a "glass" programme or a half load option where you
only need to use one of the two drawer levels in the machine.
Some dishwashers offer a pre-wash facility for extra cleaning requirements and a rinse only setting can prove useful if you don't have a full load and
don't want food debris to create odour or to congeal on the plates and utensils.
Fuzzy Logic is a fancy term used these days which applies to 'intelligent' dishwashers with special sensor features that are designed to modify the
selected programme to the load in the dishwasher. For example, by reducing or increasing the amount of water or rinses needed depending on the load.
Always bear aware that not everything can be placed in a dishwasher. Most china, cookware and utensils will feature a label saying whether it is
dishwasher safe. However it is probably best to avoid taking chances with things like:
Patterned/decorated fine china (may fade)
Gold or silver-trimmed china
Lead crystal glasses
Cast iron cookware (may rust)
Cutlery with wooden, plastic, bone or pearl handles (may crack or loosen)
Wooden items can be washed in a machine but remember that the colour will eventually bleach out over time. Also, due to chemical reactions, it is
possible that silver or chrome plated cutlery may become damaged if it comes into contact with stainless steel.
Care and maintenance
Your new dishwasher must be sited as close to your kitchen sink as possible for simplicity when plumbing it in. Also, remember that a dishwasher should
be plumbed in before a water softener in order to maintain the performance of the machine.
All modern dishwashers will require that you use dishwasher salt (helps with water softening), a rinse aid (reduces drying time and smears) and of course
a detergent in either powder, tablet or liquid form. You can now get special 'three in one' tablets on the market but the efficiency of these will vary
in hard water areas. Many dishwashers also have 'additive indicators' on the control panel which show you when to refill the salt or rinse aid reservoirs.
It's absolutely vital that you load your dishwasher properly to get the best performance out of it. In general the top basket/shelf is for smaller, less
soiled items because the spray arm is smaller. This leaves the bottom basket for larger and more heavily soiled items. However always be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions on loading and for information on items which are suitable or not for dishwashing.
Energy efficiency and the environment
Every new dishwasher is given an energy efficiency rating which ranges from A - G where A is the most efficient/economical and G is the least
efficient/economical. There are standardised tests used, which are monitored by Trading Standards, across the industry and manufacturers are responsible
for calculating the rating for their own machines, taking into account water consumption, washing and drying performance.
Dishwasher water consumption may be of particular interest if your home has a water meter fitted. All modern dishwashers will be cold water fill, and
some have a time delay option so that you can set the dishwasher to switch itself on during the night thus taking advantage of cheaper electricity.
In general the more expensive the dishwasher, then the better its energy efficiency because energy-saving features have been included. This may make
the dishwasher cheaper to run in the long term which can counter-act the higher initial cost. Top of the range dishwashers also tend to be much quieter
because they have a higher level of insulation and will probably use less water to wash effectively than hand washing the same size loads.
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