Buyer's guide - Dishwashers

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Alexandra Aussenac

By Alexandra Aussenac Your guide to dishwashers

Dishwashers for cleaner crockery!

Whether your dishwasher is compact, freestanding or built-in, it needs to adapt to your lifestyle.
Dishwashers come with loads of different programs. Not only do they make life simpler for you; they're also eco-friendly because they don't use as much power and water as when you do your washing up by hand. Thanks to Pixmania's Buyer's Guide, you can find the right dishwasher to suit your needs.

A dishwasher to suit your household's needs

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Dishwashers are becoming increasingly popular in today's kitchens. They cater for all needs and have between 4-14 place settings.

More freedom with free-standing dishwashers!

Freestanding dishwashers are the most common and the most practical to set up. They fit snugly underneath countertops or can be placed on work surfaces. They're available in a variety of eye-catching colours, from polished steel and vibrant red through to shiny black, so you can choose one that matches your interior. Freestanding dishwashers are great for small flats. Unlike standard dishwashers that have a width of 60 cm, they're just 45 cm wide and include 9 place settings.
Contrary to popular belief, dishwashers are ecological and economical. Not only do they use 5 times less water than washing up by hand; they also allow you to make savings on your bills. Use them during the night when the rates for electricity and water are generally lower, run a half load program, or keep them in stand-by mode, and you'll see the difference on your wallet - and your time!
The amount of detergent needed depends upon water hardness and how soiled your dishes are. Water hardness controls let you cut back on the amount you spend on detergents and rinsing products. So it's good to know that the water harness levels in dishwashers can be set!

Built-in/integrated dishwashers: discreet and efficient

If kitchen design is one of your priorities, you're probably better off with a built-in or integrated dishwasher. Unlike freestanding dishwashers, built-in and integrated dishwashers allow you to customise your appliance to suit your kitchen, not the other way around.
If you'd like your dishwasher to blend in with the rest of your kitchen, choose a fully integrated dishwasher. The control panel can only be seen when you open the dishwasher. Sold without the exterior casing, these types of dishwasher require a designated space under the counter to be tucked away neatly.
More visible than fully integrated models, built-in dishwashers come with an interchangeable front panel. You can make them match your existing kitchen appliances and even use them to add a touch of style to the heart of your home! Your dishwasher should also be silent when in use. Run your dishwasher during the night to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates. If you're afraid that the dishwasher will disrupt your beauty sleep, don't worry! Some dishwashers only make 45 dB of noise in operation.

Ultra-compact: ultra-practical!

With space for 4-6 place settings, compact dishwashers can be tucked underneath your worktop, saving on kitchen floor space. They're generally only 45 cm tall and 45 cm deep and can be integrated into a space next to your oven or under your hob.
All-in-one packages including a dishwasher, a hob and sometimes an oven are also available. These can save you even more space and are great for small kitchens! Compact dishwashers have all the same features as larger models. Just like larger dishwashers, they're equipped with a retractable cutlery basket and adjustable crockery trays to hold any type of dish.
Compact dishwashers are perfect for singles, couples and small families who may not need to do a full load of dishes every day. In general, compact dishwashers consume less water and power than standard dishwashers; but you may have to run wash programs more frequently when you're entertaining guests.

See all dishwashers

Bestsellers

KENWOOD KDW45X10 Slimline Dishwasher - Stainless Steel
£ 329
£ 299 Inc. VAT - 9%
IN STOCK
KENWOOD KDW60X10 Full-size Dishwasher - Stainless Steel
£ 399.99 Inc. VAT
IN STOCK
SMEG DF613SDX Full-size Dishwasher - Silver
£ 399.99
£ 369 Inc. VAT - 7%
IN STOCK
SANDSTROM SDW60B10 Full-size Dishwasher - Black
£ 249.99
£ 219.99 Inc. VAT -12%
IN STOCK
BEKO OneTouch DFN1000X Full-size Dishwasher - Stainless Steel
£ 349
£ 299.99 Inc. VAT -14%
IN STOCK
LOGIK LDW45S11 Slimline Dishwasher - Silver
£ 249.99
£ 189.99 Inc. VAT -24%
IN STOCK
See more

Focus on…

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Smart dishwashers

Some latest-generation dishwashers have electronic sensors that detect how heavy and how dirty your dishes are. These types of washing machines automatically select the most appropriate program, calculate how much water is needed, and even work out the duration of the cycle. You can change the duration of the cycle at any time, and you'll only use the water and power required - perfect if you want to do your bit for the environment and your wallet!

Choosing a dishwasher

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Having a dishwasher is practical, but it isn't the only step you can take to being more environmentally friendly.

Energy savings

Featuring at least 3 wash programs (normal, economical and intensive), dishwashers have the ability to adapt to your load – no matter how dirty or fragile it is. To get the best results, opt for an economical or fast wash program, and make sure the temperature setting doesn't exceed 50°C. You can make more savings thanks to the half-load program - but beware, because in most cases, only crockery in the bottom tray gets washed.
Dishwashers do a fantastic job on heavily soiled saucepans, utensils and plates, too. This is because temperature settings can be increased to 75 degrees. Some dishwashers may even have a special program for dirty pans, so you needn't waste time scrubbing stains! Energy rating labels for electrical appliances became compulsory in 1995. They're designed to help you choose your electrical appliances in relation to their efficiency and power consumption.
Energy ratings are measured on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient. Energy ratings help to highlight energy-efficient dishwashers by letting you compare different models based on their washing and drying performances. An A-rated dishwasher consumes up to 25% less power than a class-C model. An AAA-rated appliance provides brilliant washing and drying performances and is also economical.
An AAC dishwasher is energy-efficient and provides unrivalled wash results. However, it does have trouble drying loads correctly.

User comfort

The usability of your dishwasher is just as important as performance and size. Trays should slide in and out easily on their rails, be adjustable and have several height settings. Meanwhile, you should be able to store cutlery facing down to avoid injuries.
Some dishwashers come with child safety features, such as door locks, to keep little hands away from cleaning products, hot water and sharp knives. Others automatically switch themselves off should a curious child open the door; some stay locked while a program is running. With technology like this, you'll certainly have one thing less to worry about in the kitchen!
If you don't want to turn your kitchen into a swimming pool, check to see whether your dishwasher has advanced overspill and leak protection and automatic water supply cut-off.
Something buyers often forget about when purchasing a dishwasher is its drying capacity. A dishwasher's drying capacity is an important factor to take into consideration. Stains may still be found on crockery that's been washed but incorrectly dried.
There are a number of different drying programs available. These include drying through water condensation, air drying and drying using a separate, external heating element. The best of these three is condensation drying. At the end of the drying cycle when the door of the dishwasher is opened, there's no steam to evacuate and there are no stains to clean!
Drying programs often reach temperatures exceeding 70°C. Glasses and fragile crockery shouldn't be washed using such cycles because the hot temperatures make them more likely to crack or break when you handle them.
If your dishwasher doesn't have an air-dry setting, turn it off after its final rinse and open the door – the dishes will dry without using any extra electricity!

Conclusion

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When you have a dishwasher, you don't need to think about the chore of washing up ever again. Plus, you'll save water, time and energy!
Dishwashers are smart, versatile appliances that take the stress out of doing the dishes. In fact, if you follow our tips when choosing your dishwasher, you'll be able to throw in the tea towel on washing dishes by hand: your dishwasher will save you time, money, energy and elbow grease and will leave your dishes and glasses sparkling every time!
Because they're increasingly ecological and economical, dishwashers are becoming an essential part of every home. With loads of practical functions, they adapt to your needs and save time and effort.

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