How to choose a dishwasher?

And today, and ten years ago, the question of washing dirty dishes was and is quite relevant. Unfortunately, before this unpleasant work had to be done exclusively by hand, and nowadays you can save yourself from this routine with a dishwasher. This unit will help not only to wash the dishes with high quality, but also save your valuable time. The main thing is to understand how to choose a dishwasher so that it meets all your requirements and has good quality characteristics. And we will consider the detailed data on this in this article.

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Features of the dishwasher

If you have already decided how to choose a dishwasher for your home 45 cm wide, that is, a compact model, then you definitely need to understand how it works. Washing steps:

1. The process of washing dirty dishes in all units begins the same way - first, water from the water supply gets into the car.
2. Then its hardness changes to the level you have chosen, and the detergent is added to a special compartment.
3. In the container, water and dishwashing detergent are heated with the help of special heating elements.
4. The heated mixture is fed into the shower compartment located above the box and special rockers that help it to spray around the dishes. Thus, a certain cycle of foam arises, and the jets of water are so rigid and elastic that even the dirt hidden in the smallest details of the dishes will be removed.
5. After washing, the foam solution is drained into the sewer, the dishes are rinsed with clean water or a special tool that gives a pleasant aroma and shine.

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Myths and truth about dishwashers

Among the modern housewives, some myths about dishwashers are quite common, which we will now consider and try to confirm or refute before choosing a built-in dishwasher:

1. The first myth is that hand washing is more effective. But recent studies have shown that dishes washed in automatic devices are a thousand times cleaner. In addition, manually washing crystal objects with complex ornaments is simply unrealistic.
2. The second myth. Equipment of this kind spends too much electricity and water. This is not true unless you start a new cycle every time you need to wash two cups and three plates. If you use it once a day, then you will notice soon enough that you began to spend much less water and electricity. For exact calculations and reviews of different washing modes, see our separate article. “Water consumption in the dishwasher”.
3. The third myth. Dishwashers are quirks of wealthy people. Naturally, this is a fallacy. Yes, such equipment is more expensive than food processors and even refrigerators, but it is really useful and worth its price. Especially if you know how to choose a dishwasher and make a worthwhile purchase.

Important! So that you can more fully imagine all the possibilities of such a technique, we have prepared detailed reviews:

• What can be washed in the dishwasher?
• What can not be washed in the dishwasher?

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Choosing a quality dishwasher

Before you choose a dishwasher and make a purchase of such equipment for your home, you need to carefully study all of its parameters.

Important! According to experts, such parameters as the size of the device, its performance, level of efficiency, electronic equipment, design features, equipment, technical support and warranty period do not greatly affect the formation of its cost. Even the most modern and expensive cars often break down. Nevertheless, these parameters are important for a convenient and reasonably priced unit operation.

That is why it is important to understand how to choose a dishwasher for the home, which will last a long time and delight you with its smooth and high-quality work. Now consider each parameter that you need to pay attention to when buying.

Dishwasher size

In size, all modern devices designed for automatic dishwashing are divided into standard and narrow:

• All models of the standard sample are exactly the same, and have a width of sixty centimeters. Therefore, before choosing a dishwasher, you need to determine the place for installation, and carefully.
• Units made according to the second option are considered universal, since they occupy only forty-five centimeters in width, which means that you can install them anywhere.

Important! Compact models are especially popular today, especially for those who want practicality and minimalistic design. If you have the same priorities, follow the link where you will find rating narrow dishwashers under the sink.

Mounting type

Built-in dishwashers are divided into two types:

• those that are fully integrated into the kitchen;
• partially recessed.

Important! If you are looking for just such a variant of technology, be sure to check out the overview of the most popular models in our rating of built-in dishwashers.

Understanding how to choose a dishwasher by this criterion is easy:

• The first option is considered more advantageous, because the equipment is located inside one of the lockers and hides behind a beautiful door, the control panel is also hidden from prying eyes.
• The second option is considered more preferable in terms of control, because the panel, which reflects all processes and modes, is located outside.

If the criterion for the possibility of embedding equipment in furniture is not essential for you, you will find all the detailed information about another equipment group in the article “Freestanding dishwashers”.

Performance level

Considering this parameter, you must first take into account the number of people living in your house, as well as the food culture. There are families in which it is customary to change plates for different types of dishes, while others, on the contrary, can always use the same items. The same goes for forks, knives and spoons.

Important! Calculate approximately how many pieces of dishes you put in the sink after each meal, because:

• standard machines process fourteen sets of dishes at a time;
• but the models are narrow - only nine.

The second option is ideal for families of three to four people.

Profitability

Since counters are installed in almost every house today, it is imperative to consider the total energy and water consumption. These two indicators are very interrelated, and they must be taken into account in order to choose a suitable dishwasher:

• budget models consume about twenty-five liters of water in one wash cycle;
• more expensive at the initial price, but economical to operate units - no more than fifteen liters.

Important! It is better to focus on the energy class, for example:

1. Class A is considered the most economical;
2. the most expensive - class G.

Electronics Features

As for electronics - here the convenience of control will be important for you. Therefore, you need to choose a dishwasher so that there are all or one of these options:

• Some models have special integrated circuits that can reduce interference. They affect the operation of other devices, such as mobile phones, televisions, and computers.
• Since the water in our pipelines is not of good quality, it must be taken into account that the machine must have a special indicator that determines the level of its stiffness. The fact is that the quality of washing dishes and the durability of the unit depend on this parameter.
• The number of automatic modes is also important, since the dishes can have different levels of pollution and it is necessary to choose the optimal mode for its processing.

Options and design features

The choice of a dishwasher can not do without assessing the level of ease of use and the availability of special services. Here we pay attention to such points:

• Special door fastening - allows you to install it as you like.
• Special supports - thanks to them, the machine can be installed clearly horizontally, even on uneven floors.
• The number and location of baskets - here focus on your set of dishes and the sizes of plates, pans, as well as more frequent cooking methods.
• Filters for water purification and the presence of special nozzles.
• Interior lighting and heat exchanger.

Functional

Any dishwasher has four required programs:

• normal;
• intensive mode;
• pre-soaking;
• fast cycle.

It is enough to choose one of the standard functions depending on the type of dishes and the level of contamination.

Important! More expensive models are equipped with additional functions, this can be:

1. delicate washing;
2. bioprogramme;
3. equipping with special holders for glasses.

In any case, be guided by your needs and desires.

Emergency Leak Protection Function

It must be present in any model, even if partially. In this case, the water will cease to flow into the machine if the pan overflows.

Management option

The device may have mechanical or automatic control. More reliable and convenient - this is the first option. But today, nevertheless, electronically controlled models are more common.

Drying function

Almost all modern dishwashers have a drying mode, which can be:

• condensed when the dishes are simply rinsed and dried;
• operate in turbo mode, that is, dishes are blown with warm air through a fan.

Important! The issue of drying is not particularly important for some, but for others it is fundamental. If you want to understand all the intricacies of this characteristic, our review is already ready to help you. “What is the best dishwasher dryer?”.

Technical support

No matter how expensive and high-quality a car you buy, it still needs professional care. Of course, you can clean it from dirt on your own, but routine maintenance should be carried out by representatives of the technical department of the company in which you bought the unit.

Important! For example, electronics needs to be properly configured and controlled. There are such failures that it is simply impossible to eliminate without special accessories and tools.

Warranty service

More often, a warranty is provided for a period of one year, but this applies mainly to low-cost models. Serious manufacturers extend the warranty period to three to four years. Therefore, if you choose between devices with approximately the same parameters, then it is better to give preference to one whose warranty period is longer.

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How to choose detergents for dishwashers?

The choice of a dishwasher is, of course, not a quick and responsible matter, but it is equally important to learn how to choose the right detergents for it.At the moment, there are two options for their application:

1. Rinse aid, salt and powder. In such a combination:
   • Powder is needed to clean the dirt from dishes after soaking.
   • Rinse aid is needed in order to reduce the surface tension of water, so that the drying process becomes faster.
   • Salt - softens hard water, making dishwashing better and prolonging the life of the unit as a whole.
2. Tablets with the properties of all three essential components.

What to give preference to? - Decide for yourself:

1. Naturally, the second option is more economical and profitable, such tablets are inexpensive, and even a person who first encounters a dishwasher can cope with them. You just need to drop the pill into the tray - and that’s it.
2. In the first case, you must first fill the salt tray, and then fill in the rinse aid in the receiver. Nevertheless, some prefer this more laborious option because of their higher efficiency.

Important! If you are first loading salt into a container, be sure to fill in with another liter of water inside, and only then you will be guided by the salt level determined by the indicator. And it will be easy for you to understand the quality of the goods offered on the market if you look through our dishwasher detergent rating.

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Which brand of dishwashers do you prefer?

Now we have figured out how to choose a dishwasher, but there is another, no less important question, which model company is better. There are many manufacturers of dishwashers, but there are a few who are responsible and produce really good equipment. Let's get acquainted with the best suppliers of this equipment:

• AEG is a German company that for many years has been a leader in the production and sale of household appliances such as dishwashers. Its products are of the highest build quality and components. But their value goes off scale.
• ARDO is an equally well-known Italian company that produces budget-friendly dishwashers. They have a simple design and a minimum set of functions, but their quality is really good.
• BOSCH is a German company that produces the most powerful dishwashers, which, under the conditions of proper and careful operation, can last several decades.
• ELECTROLUX is a Swiss company with offices in many countries. By the way, when buying equipment of this particular brand, it is very important to consider where exactly it was assembled, it is desirable that it be Europe.
• INDESIT - this Italian brand is very popular in our country and consumers are always satisfied with the quality of its products.
• MIELE - basically, this company is engaged in the manufacture of high-end appliances, but it also produces models of dishwashers in other price categories. The quality of its products is very high, since the best materials are used, and their design simply exceeds all expectations.

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Rating of the best modern dishwashers

Many people wonder how to choose a dishwasher for the home. To help answer this common question will help the ranking of the best, according to experts and consumers of dishwashers. These include:

1. BOSCH SPV40E40RU - a compact built-in German-made car was able to take the leadership position in this rating. And this is not accidental, because according to the results of the research, it is really the best. She is able to wash the dirtiest pans and plates from burnt and old fat, tea plaque and the remains of confectionery.
2. HOTPOINT / ARISTON ELTF 11M121C EU - it has a very quiet operation. This is a full-size embedded technology that has passed many tests successfully. For example, dirty cups with a terrible bloom, plates with a greasy bloom, saucers with already dried traces of cream and even pans with traces of fat were loaded into it, and she washed all this perfectly.The only difficulty arose with the pan.
3. BOSCH SKS41E11RU is a compact dishwasher that has passed the same tests as previous models. She perfectly washed the saucers, cups and plates, but the pan simply did not fit into it. That is why she gets only third place.
4. Bosch SMS 53N12 Moreover, she was not quiet enough. But its great advantage was the possibility of delaying the start for a day.
5. MIELE G4960SC VI is a premium built-in dishwasher, it has firmly taken the last place in this rating thanks to consumer reviews. As a result of the test already known to us, she was able to wash only fat and custard, and tea plaque, unfortunately, remained in place.

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Stock footage

It is worth noting that the choice of a dishwasher is an exclusively individual choice. According to the rating, BOSCH's models turned out to be the best, having successfully passed all the tests, but perhaps you have your own requirements for the functionality and operation of this equipment.