Dishwashers can be an absolute godsend if you have a large family. Even if there are only the two of you, you will certainly celebrate the day you decided to buy one. They can save you from having to work up the courage to have a stab at all that washing up sitting there after a big meal!
It pays to have a look at the options before you buy though, so let’s do just that right now.
Dishwashers from our Featured Retailers
How do you want your dishwasher to look?
Dishwashers come in a variety of sizes and looks, so you will need to think about how yours will fit into your kitchen. You can get a freestanding one which will be permanently on show, an integrated one which hides behind a standard kitchen door, or a semi-integrated one. The latter choice should have a shorter kitchen door fitted to it, so the top panel which has all the buttons and programmes on it will still be visible.
What size would you prefer?
Unlike many other kitchen appliances, a dishwasher is available in slimline models as well as full width ones. The full width is generally meant to go in a 60cm space, whereas the slimline is usually around 45cm wide.
Smaller dishwashers are ideal if you are pushed for space in your kitchen, but it is really only ideal for smaller households. Bear in mind that you can get tabletop dishwashers as well, which are even smaller and can fit on a section of worktop.
What items – and how many – do you want to be able to wash in it?
You will find that most dishwashers will tell you how many place settings they will hold. This gives you an idea of whether they will be suitable for your needs or not. Bear in mind that you may wish to put other items in the dishwasher as well as actual place settings, such as oven dishes.
Another thing to bear in mind is how versatile the interior of the dishwasher is. For example, does it have a removable holder for the cutlery? Does it have shelves that can be moved or collapsed as and when needed, so you can put other larger items in the dishwasher?
The more versatile it is in this respect, the easier you will find it to use.
Watch out for the energy rating
Energy ratings are plastered all over every kitchen appliance you look at today. And they are very important because they will help you to find the ideal dishwasher for you that is also very efficient at doing its job.
The rating of the dishwasher you are considering buying will be given as a letter. The lower the letter is, the better it is at conserving energy and using fewer resources every time it is operated. So a B rating is much better than an E rating, for example.
Should I be looking for specific programmes?
Yes, the more programmes your dishwasher has, the better it will be at getting your plates and pans clean.
For example it might have a basic quick wash that is ideal for everyday washing up. But if you have just cooked a full roast dinner and you have greasy dirty pans and trays that need cleaning, you will want a dishwasher that has a more advanced programme to help get the grime off.
Another good programme to watch out for is a special one for cleaning glass. This is ideal when you have a lot of glasses that need washing, as it takes into account their fragility whilst still getting them nice and clean.
Are they all very loud?
Not all of them! As technology has advanced, dishwashers have become quieter and more efficient at getting the job done. Look at the decibel level on various dishwashers and choose one that has a low level of noise whilst in operation. This will ensure you can turn on the dishwasher last thing at night and not be disturbed by its cleaning cycle.
In conclusion
Dishwashers save us a lot of time when it comes to washing up. Just load it up during the day and then switch it on last thing at night. By the time you come down to the kitchen the next morning, all your kitchen ware will be clean and dry, and ready to be put away.
Are you tempted to buy one now you know how good they are? Why not browse our Shop Now section to get started?