Buying a dishwasher: tips for the best dishwasher
Just like a washing machine, for example, a dishwasher is white goods. This type of household equipment is usually not very cheap. You should also think carefully about the features of your future dishwasher. Are you looking for a built-in dishwasher or a free-standing model, an extra narrow dishwasher, or an extra small one? It is smart to orientate yourself well before buying a dishwasher. Buying a dishwasher
How does a dishwasher work?
In our opinion, a dishwasher is a great invention: you put the dirty dishes in it and it comes out clean. No more messing around with soapy water, never again a counter full of dirty dishes. A dishwasher works slightly differently than washing dishes by hand, in which you remove food residues and grease with a dish brush in combination with a mild detergent. Buying a dishwasher
In a dishwasher, a layer of water is first pumped onto the bottom of the machine. The water is heated by the heating element, which is often located just below the spray arms. The detergent (nowadays often a dishwasher tablet) is automatically added at the right time by the timer of the dishwasher. The heated water with the dissolved detergent is pumped up through the spray arms. The pressure causes the spray arms to rotate and the water is sprayed out of the holes with great force. That power is needed to properly rinse the dirt away.
When the dishes are clean, the dirty washing-up water is drained and new water is heated again to rinse the detergent off the dishes. Finally, the rinse water is pumped off and the dishes can dry. Are your plastic items not drying properly? Then use extra rinse aid, even if you use all-in-one dishwasher tablets.
Does dishwasher or hand wash?
A dishwasher uses on average twice more energy per wash than a hand wash. As a result, a dishwasher is less environmentally conscious than washing dishes with a tub. Nevertheless, under certain circumstances, hand washing is actually worse for the environment, for example, if you wash dishes under a running tap or use a lot of warm water to pre-rinse the dishes. If you use a dishwasher, pre-rinsing by hand is not necessary at all, as long as you remove the food residues. In fact: if the dishes are nice and dirty, your dishwasher detergent works better!
The latest generation of dishwashers is extremely efficient with water and is also quite energy efficient. If you would like to take the environment into account when purchasing a new dishwasher, pay attention to the energy label. It shows the energy efficiency of the dishwasher. The greener the label, the more efficient the dishwasher. An A-labelled dishwasher uses less water and saves up to 27% energy compared to a C-labelled dishwasher.
The energy label also shows the consumption in kWh per year. Please note, this is based on an average number of dishwasher cycles and can therefore differ from your use! A cheap dishwasher is often less efficient than a more expensive one. We also advise you to buy a tailor-made machine, because a small dishwasher uses about twice as little energy as a large one. Even more, tips to save the environment: always run a full machine and choose an eco-program. This often takes a little longer but washes at lower temperatures. Buying a dishwasher
Types of dishwashers
Before you buy a dishwasher, you must first determine whether you are looking for a freestanding dishwasher or a built-in model. Freestanding dishwashers are intended to be placed ‘loosely’ in the kitchen and are cheaper than built-in appliances. If you want to install the dishwasher under the countertop in the kitchen, you need a built-in dishwasher. This is by far the most sold type of dishwasher. Recessed models do not have a finished top or finished sidewalls.
Most built-in dishwashers do not have the control panel on the front but on top of the edge of the door. You can therefore have a cabinet front (door panel) attached to the front of the dishwasher so that it is completely out of sight. This is called: fully integrated. A built-in model without its own door panel is called substructure or semi-integrated. With this model, the control panel can be on the outside of the door. Sometimes you can also remove the top of a freestanding dishwasher and then install the dishwasher under the worktop. Buying a dishwasher
If your countertop is higher than 85 centimeters, you can order an extra high model. Because a high dishwasher has a higher interior space, you can put larger dishes in it. It doesn’t necessarily fit more place settings than a standard dishwasher. Always pay attention to the specifications (front finish, control panel, adjustable height, the top can be removed) when you buy a dishwasher. Manufacturers do not always make a clear distinction between fully integrated and semi-integrated dishwashers. If you are a real (hobby) cook, you can consider buying a catering dishwasher. Such a machine is specially made for intensive and frequent use.
