How to choose a dishwasher for your home

Dishwashers, unlike washing machines, are not as widespread. But those who have experienced the joy of owning this technique are not ready to return to manual washing. This review will tell you how to choose a dishwasher and what parameters to rely on when buying. In the article you will find useful tips and reviews from real users. We will also touch on the most popular brands.

How to choose a dishwasher

Choosing a dishwasher for a beginner is extremely difficult. But you should not be afraid - having dealt with the main criteria, you can make the best choice and get at your disposal a unit that pleases with clean dishes. There are certain difficulties, but the advice of our expert will put everything in its place. First, we will make a list of basic criteria, and then we will give detailed information on each item.

To choose a dishwasher for your home, be guided by the following criteria:

• Dishwasher dimensions - we always start from the availability of free space in the kitchen.
• Loading is an important criterion on which usability depends.
• Placement - dishwashers are built-in and freestanding.
• Washing class - ideally, you should choose the highest class that provides the cleanest dishes.
• Water and electricity consumption - the higher the better, as the efficiency of the dishwasher depends on this.
• In terms of functionality - here we will be interested in such useful functions as half load and some others.
• By type of drying - condensation or turbo drying.
• Control - mechanical or electronic.
• Connection to the water supply - to cold or hot water.
• Protection systems - what should be on board a good dishwasher.
• Brand - there are brands that produce top-end dishwashers.

At the end, user reviews will be waiting for you.

By dimensions and loading

To choose a dishwasher for your home, study your kitchen. Think about where you put the device so that it does not interfere and successfully perform its functions. For a small kitchen, we recommend that you look at models with a body width of 45 cm. They can accommodate from 8 to 12 sets of dishes. Models with a width of 60 cm can accommodate from 7 to 17 place settings. We note the fact that with the same capacity, dishwashers are 60 cm more convenient to load. Users also note a higher quality of washing.

For a small kitchen, we recommend choosing a compact dishwasher. It has a small load and allows you to quickly wash all the dirty dishes. The width of the cases in such units varies from 40 to 55 cm, in appearance they resemble microwave ovens slightly swollen in size. They are sometimes referred to as desktops because they are mounted on tables, refrigerators, and other flat surfaces.

Let's see what the dishwasher set includes:

• Soup bowl.
• Plate for second courses (garnish + meat or fish).
• Salad bowl - for a serving of salad.
• Saucer - under the bones or to place a glass of drink.
• Drink cup (coffee cup, tea cup, glass, glass).
• Spoon with fork.

Please note that some plates and cups may vary in size. For example, many people prefer to eat first courses from deep tureens and drink tea from deep cups. In this case, a small margin is required.

To choose a dishwasher according to the number of family members, be guided by the following numbers:

• Capacity up to 6 sets - typical for compact and narrow dishwashers. This is a technique for bachelors or couples without children.
• Capacity up to 10 sets - a great choice for a standard family of 3-4 people. At the same time there will be a place in reserve.
• Capacity up to 17 sets - a solution for families of 5-6 people, as well as for those who often receive guests.

We have already said what is included in the concept of stock - you need to focus on the dimensions of the dishes used. We should not forget about pans with pots that can absorb any stock. If there is space in the kitchen, we recommend choosing at least a narrow dishwasher. For the convenience of washing pots, it will be correct to choose a device with a width of 60 cm.

Wash class

In this case, everything is simple - we recommend choosing a class A dishwasher if you want to get perfectly clean cups and spoons at the end. Class B may include some subtle contamination.Class C dishwashers can leave slight food stains that are immediately noticeable. Compliance with the classes is determined by a test wash with certain types of soiling, therefore, results may vary at home.

The quality of the wash also depends on other factors - this is the initial soiling of the dishes and the effectiveness of the detergent. For example, even a metal mesh can hardly cope with buckwheat porridge that has dried up in 3 days. And this is not to mention the dishwasher, which washes due to a jet of hot water with chemicals dissolved in it.

By type of accommodation

The most interesting criterion, which is in the same ranks with the dimensions of dishwashers. In addition to choosing a placement, you need to choose the appropriate form factor for a dishwasher - it can be built-in, freestanding or desktop. Let's consider them in more detail.

Freestanding dishwashers are not installed in furniture sets, but next to them.They are equipped with full-fledged metal cases. The main advantage of such units is the location of the control panel directly on the front of the loading doors. This is convenient, as users can always look at the indicators and check how much time is left until the end of the cycle.

Partially built-in dishwashers belong to the class described above. That is, dismantled cases are implemented here, after which the equipment moves into the niches prepared for them in a matter of minutes.

We recommend choosing an integrated dishwasher if you are just planning to order a kitchen set and there is free space in the kitchen.Built-in appliances are completely recessed into the furniture, merging with it into a single whole. The loading door is masked by a furniture panel, but can remain in its original form. Disadvantages - a higher price and not the most convenient location of the buttons in the upper end of the doors. But these disadvantages are more than offset by the complete disguise of the dishwasher.

By spending class

A very simple criterion - the higher the class, the lower the consumption of water and electricity. True, along with efficiency, the price also increases. Most dishwashers belong to energy consumption classes A and B (the latter is almost never found), the most expensive and economical units belong to class A +++ (they consume from 0.62 to 0.9 kW of electricity per wash cycle).

Water consumption is not classified, here you should look at specific numbers. All modern dishwashers are extremely economical. Many of them consume 12-15 liters per cycle (including the final rinse). The smallest units spend only 6-8 liters.A dishwasher is considered uneconomical if it uses more than 20 liters of water per cycle.

Here we are interested in certain functions and functionality:

Choice by functionality

• Delicate sink - for fine porcelain or crystal dishes.
• Half load - saves water and detergent with a small amount of dishes.
• Intensive wash - washes dishes at elevated temperatures, optimal for heavily soiled dishes.
• Water purity sensor - controls the quality of rinsing dishes until the detergent and contaminants are completely removed.
• The use of 3-in-1 means means the possibility of working on tablets.
• Automatic setting of water hardness is the functionality of the most expensive machines, which allows you to dose softening salt.
• Lighting the loading chamber - like a trifle, but convenient.
• Adjustable basket - will provide the convenience of loading dishes into the dishwasher.
• Existence of the display - for convenience of control and management.
• The sound signal at the end of the cycle is an extremely useful option.

As for the number of programs, we recommend choosing a dishwasher with up to 12 operating modes. This will eliminate confusion and make it easier to manage. As practice shows, consumers use a maximum of 2-3 programs. When their number is 24 pieces - this is a marketing ploy.

By type of drying

We will not take into account any combined types of dryers, we will consider only two of them:

• Condensing - most dishwashers are equipped with it. Drying here is carried out due to the internal temperature of the dishes. In fact, this is natural evaporation with the formation of condensate and its removal to the drain. A small amount of moisture is allowed on the surface of the kitchen utensils.
• Turbo dryer - works on the principle of a hair dryer, forcing hot air into the chamber with dishes.Differs in high speed of work, cups, spoons and plates at the exit will be ideally dry. The disadvantage is high power consumption.

Condensation drying is suitable for most consumers, albeit for a long time. In the end, nothing prevents you from wiping the kitchen utensils dry with a regular towel - this will take several minutes.

By type of management

For a few more years, it could be said with confidence that it is better to take an electronically controlled dishwasher - it is quiet. Today, this statement has died, as all modern dishwashers are electronically controlled. Mechanical control is a thing of the past, today it is not used (as in washing machines).

By type of connection to the water supply

There are dishwashers connected to cold and hot water supply. They are economical, as they practically do not consume electricity. But on sale they are almost never found. Their place was taken by units with a connection to a "cold" pipe. In general, washing dishes with hot water from the central water supply is not a good idea. Indeed, in such water there are a lot of pollutants and substances that reduce the deposition of salts in pipes.

Type of detergent used

There is a lot of controversy among users in this category. Some people like liquid and dry detergents, as they can be dispensed manually. Salt and rinse aid are usually poured/poured into special compartments and dispensed by the machines themselves. And someone likes dishwashers that can work on 3-in-1 multi-component tablets (salt, detergent and rinse aid).

We recommend choosing a dishwasher that can work with all types of detergents. Powders are cheap but can scratch delicate dishes. Gels are convenient, dissolve quickly, but spill easily.Tablets are focused on modern machines, where there is a compartment for their bookmarks.On long cycles, tableted products are more convenient - you won’t scatter, you won’t spill, you don’t need to dose. But on short cycles, they may not have time to dissolve.

Protection systems

It is necessary to choose such a dishwasher so that it does not flood the apartment and neighbors, and also does not harm users. Required protection systems:

• From leaks - we recommend not to save and choose a model with full protection. It will automatically shut off the water even if the hose breaks. Partial protection is activated only when water appears in the sump.
• From children - blocks the door and the control panel. Such protection is available in a limited number of models. Because when the doors are opened, the machines simply stop - the water inside will not spill onto the floor.
• Against a short circuit - another rare but useful module. It will automatically turn off the power when a short to ground or a small leak is detected.

There are no other protection systems in dishwashers.

Other selection criteria

When planning to choose and purchase a good dishwasher, pay attention to other criteria:

• Material of the inner surface - we recommend choosing a dishwasher made of stainless steel.
• The presence of trays for cutlery and holders for glasses.
• The presence of a BIO program is necessary when using detergents with enzymes.
• The exact dimensions in centimeters - when the dishwasher is selected for a specific niche.
• Case color - if you need to choose a technique and fit it into the design of the kitchen.
• The presence of pre-soaking - for washing especially dirty dishes.

Also be aware of the noise level. 55 dB are perceived quite loudly, night work is only possible behind closed doors. The quietest units are noisy at the level of 31-35 dB.

Five popular brands

The leader of the consumer rating is the Bosch brand.In recent years, judging by the reviews, the quality of technology has fallen slightly. And the assembly moved from Germany to other countries. Next comes dishwashers from Electrolux, a revered brand that makes really cool and durable appliances. The German brand Korting closes the top three. No less good reviews are left about dishwashers manufactured under the Hansa and Hotpoint-Ariston brands.

Reviews of real owners

Finding a good dishwasher is easy. Another thing is that in this way you can choose not the most successful unit in terms of reliability. In the segment of this technology, there are undeveloped devices that are characterized by poor build quality and disgusting efficiency. Let's look at reviews of the most advanced and top dishwashers.