Kitchen Guides
7 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Dishwasher
Dishwashers are trending in urban Indian kitchens. Find out what should seal the deal when you decide to buy one
The COVID-19 lockdown saw a change in lifestyle, where a lot of families took on household chores themselves. Therefore, in order to save time and energy the dishwasher has emerged as a hot item in Indian kitchens. The choice of dishwashers in the market is vast. Use this guide to choose one most suitable for your home.
2. Size of the dishwasher
Note: Energy-efficient dishwashers use 10 to 12 litres of water per wash cycle. The time taken for each wash cycle ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the type of wash cycle that is selected for washing and drying the dishes. Note that a dishwasher is not sensitive to low water pressure.
- Dishwashers are available in 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-place settings respectively, where the size of the dishwasher is determined by the number of place settings. Note that a 12 place setting holds 12 sets of dishes, such as dinner plates, spoons, bowls, forks at the same time, while a 10 place setting holds 10 sets of dishes, and so on.
- Compact dishwashers with 6- or 8-place settings and are suitable for small families with two or three members. Standard-size dishwashers come with 12 place settings that are suitable for medium-sized and large families having more than four members.
- A standard dishwasher is 24 inches wide, 24 inches deep and 35 inches high, while the height of the kitchen countertop ranges between 33 and 36 inches. To install a built-in dishwasher, the height of the kitchen countertop will have to be adjusted accordingly to lie level with it.
Note: Energy-efficient dishwashers use 10 to 12 litres of water per wash cycle. The time taken for each wash cycle ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the type of wash cycle that is selected for washing and drying the dishes. Note that a dishwasher is not sensitive to low water pressure.
3. Material of dishwasher
Dishwashers are available with either plastic or steel interior tubs.
Tip: Before purchasing a dishwasher, it is essential to check its energy efficiency rating and water consumption level. Make sure that the dishwasher consumes very little electricity and water during use.
Dishwashers are available with either plastic or steel interior tubs.
- Steel dishwashers are highly durable, resistant to rust and stains, and can withstand high temperatures where the water can be heated to a high temperature during the wash cycle. The bonus with a steel dishwasher is that it imparts a high-end modern look, like in the image.
- Plastic dishwashers are comparatively cheaper than steel dishwashers and hide water stains better than steel.
Tip: Before purchasing a dishwasher, it is essential to check its energy efficiency rating and water consumption level. Make sure that the dishwasher consumes very little electricity and water during use.
4. Wash cycle options
Premium dishwashers come with six to eight wash cycles. Some of the popular wash cycle options include
Go for a dishwasher with a 12-place setting as it is comfortable for small families as well.
Note: In case of a power cut, an auto-restart option restarts the dishwasher from the stage where it stopped.
Premium dishwashers come with six to eight wash cycles. Some of the popular wash cycle options include
- Delayed wash: The homeowner can set a time ranging from 0 to 24 hours so that the wash cycle can automatically begin at the programmed time.
- Quick wash: One can quickly clean slightly soiled utensils, such as glasses in this wash cycle.
- Only rinse: In this option the dishes are simply washed with plain water to remove all the food particles.
- Rinse and hold wash: This wash cycle rinses utensils with plain water and waits for a full load.
- Sanitising rinse: The vessels go through a hot water rinse to kill all the germs and sanitise the dishes.
Go for a dishwasher with a 12-place setting as it is comfortable for small families as well.
Note: In case of a power cut, an auto-restart option restarts the dishwasher from the stage where it stopped.
5. Sensor Technology
Premium dishwashers come with advanced technology and sensors which is also known as sixth-sense technology.
Note: Dishwashers with sixth-sense technology are highly preferred as they prevent wastage by adjusting the level of water and amount of detergent required for washing the dishes.
Premium dishwashers come with advanced technology and sensors which is also known as sixth-sense technology.
- Soil-level sensors sense the amount of dirt, food particles and grime in each load of the dishwasher. It adjusts the soap level, water level and duration of the wash cycle accordingly.
- Temperature sensors maintain an appropriate temperature of water during the wash cycle.
- Detergent sensors release the correct quantity of detergent depending on the load of the dishwasher.
- The optimum level of water is determined with water sensors.
Note: Dishwashers with sixth-sense technology are highly preferred as they prevent wastage by adjusting the level of water and amount of detergent required for washing the dishes.
6. Miscellaneous features
- Some dishwashers come with adjustable racks and removable racks to accommodate bigger utensils, such as pressure cookers with handles and various shapes and sized of patilas (cooking pots).
- You can chose between dishwashers with self-cleaning filters that ensure hands-free maintenance or manual filters, which require cleaning at regular intervals. However, it is always better to remove all the solid food particles from the utensils before placing them in the dishwasher, to prevent any sort of clogging within the appliance.
- If your area has hard water, then it is advisable to purchase a dishwasher that is compatible with hard water. These dishwashers contain a water-softening chamber that prevents scaling as well as the use of too much detergent.
- High-end dishwashers have a noise level which is less than 40dB.
- Other additional features of a dishwasher may include washing at half-load capacity, child-lock facility so that one does not accidentally open the dishwasher when it is in use, and anti-flood valves to prevent any leakage of water from the dishwasher.
Purchase a dishwasher from a reputed brand that provides good after-sales service and a warranty period that ranges between two-five years.
Recommendation: It’s best to go for a steel-finish built-in dishwasher that can give the kitchen an organised look. Go for a dishwasher with a 12 place setting, as it is comfortable for small as well medium-sized families. The dishwasher should have at least six wash-cycle options, and as many additional features as possible. Opt for sixth-sense technology, if your budget permits.
Read more:
Should I Buy a Dishwasher?
How to Integrate Appliances Seamlessly Into Your Kitchen
Tell us:
Have you installed a dishwasher in your kitchen? Share your experience in the Comments section below.
Dishwashers are broadly classified as built-in and portable dishwashers which are available in fully automatic, semi-automatic and manual versions.
- The built-in under-the-counter dishwasher can be easily installed in a new kitchen. Alternately, one can partly renovate an existing kitchen by extending the plumbing lines of the sink, providing a power outlet, removing a few base cabinets or drawers to accommodate the dishwasher, according to its size.
These built-in kitchen appliances are also available as single-drawer-dishwashers (which are not so common in India).