If you want to buy a dishwasher, but don't know where to start, read through this guide to help give you an idea of what dishwasher will be best for you. Or even if you're still a bit tentative about buying a dishwasher, guide should be able to let you know whether buying a dishwasher is really worth it. A dishwasher should last a long time and will cost a significant amount, so it's important to take time when choosing to make sure you get it right.
The first thing that will filter down your options is dishwasher size. Work out where in your kitchen you want your dishwasher to go. Bear in mind it will need a power source and water inlet close by. Once you have measured up the space, you will be able to decide which size of dishwasher best suits your needs:
Full size dishwashers are typically 850 x 600 x 600 mm (height x width x depth). Full size is much more common than slimline. Full size dishwashers fit under the kitchen worktop.
If you have enough room, and go through enough dishes, then a full size dishwasher is probably the best option.
Slimline dishwashers are typically 850 x 450 x 600 mm (height x width x depth). Slimline dishwashers are ideal if you're short on space or if you just don't produce enough washing up to fill a full size washer. It's also better from an environmental perspective to use a slimline dishwasher if you can - it helps ensure fuller loads, which is more efficient than doing a whole cycle for only a few items.
Compact dishwashers are typically 450 x 550 x 450 mm (height x width x depth). Unlike full size and slimline dishwashers, these are designed to go on top of you worktop. As the name suggests, compact dishwashers are very small, and are probably only suitable if you don't have enough space in your kitchen or you live on your own.
Both full size and slimline dishwashers can be fitted with fascias to match the rest of your kitchen furniture - with the front panel coming up to drawer-level, and the dishwasher controls above the panel.
You might think that the internal capacity for a dishwasher will be the same for the each size of dishwasher, but this is a common misconception. Capacity can vary quite a bit between dishwashers of the same dimensions. Dishwasher capacity is measured in 'place settings', and will be listed on each dishwasher's specification when you come to look at buying a dishwasher. One 'place setting' can be seen as one person's cutlery for a three course meal: 1 normal sized plate, 1 small plate, 1 bowl, 1 cup, 1 glass, 1 knife, 1 fork, 1 spoon.
Full size dishwashers hold twelve to fourteen place settings, whereas a slimline model can only hold eight or nine place settings, and compact models even less.
Dishwashers have various energy ratings ranging from A (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient) - see below.
Expect to pay more for an A rated dishwasher than its G rated counterpart. But in the long run, the A rated dishwasher offers better value - it will save you more money in bills than the initial price difference.
If you are environmentally minded, the energy efficiency rating may be more important to you than anything else, so it's definitely worth checking the rating before making your purchase.
Whatever you choose to buy, dishwashers are still more energy efficient than washing by hand. The amount of water and energy used in washing by hand can be surprising, and even the cheapest dishwashers are a better alternative from an energy saving point of view.
Dishwashers use temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celcius, making the washed dishes pretty much sterile. This is far removed from hand washing, where dishes are often washed in dirty water, then dried using a tea towel. Tea towels are notoriously bad at attracting germs, and while they may leave dishes dry, they will rarely leave them clean. Dishwashers are infinitely better for hygiene.
There's not exactly a massive range of colours available for dishwashers. Graphite, silver and white are the main options. Whilst this range may not be extensive, it's perfectly sufficient for most kitchens. Some manufacturers have been known to produce other colours - pink dishwashers are around if you look hard enough.
Once you've narrowed your selection down to a handful of models, it's a good idea to read as many reviews on the models as possible. From reading these reviews, you'll get a good indication of what's good and bad about the particular dishwasher model. There may be a particular fault that puts you off. Reading these reviews is the best way to get a sense of customer satisfaction.