How to choose the right dishwasher for home or apartment
Whether this is due to a chronic lack of space in small-sized domestic kitchens or the fact that most of our compatriots continue to think that it is easier and faster to wash dishes, but dishwashers in Russia still remain the most “exotic” household appliances. And at the same time, a dishwasher - it saves about 7000-8000 liters of water per year (in comparison with a hand wash), it is the health and beauty of the skin of your hands, it is the perfect cleanliness of dishes, which you will never achieve with a hand wash, this is the release of a huge amount time that you can spend on something more necessary and interesting, and, finally, this is an improvement in the psychological climate in the family due to the lack of debate about who to wash the dishes today.
These simple truths are slowly but nevertheless becoming clear to our citizens, and the attitude of the latter towards this type of technology is gradually changing for the better. More and more consumers are wondering how to choose the dishwasher so that for many years it becomes a reliable assistant in the kitchen, so that you no longer have to remember such an unpleasant and rather tedious job as washing dishes. So you have a look at our review. We hope not in vain.
Content:
Dimensions and capacity
The main criteria for choosing a dishwasher are its size and capacity, which means you need to consider two factors - the size of the kitchen and the amount of dishes that are supposed to be washed daily.
According to their dimensions, dishwashers are divided into:
Full sized.
Narrow.
Compact.
The capacity of the dishwashers available on the market today varies from 4 to 14-15 sets of dishes (a set of dishes usually means a set of three different-sized plates, a glass (glass), a cup and saucer, a fork, a knife and three spoons).
Full-size models of dishwashers
Standard (full-sized) models of dishwashers are designed primarily for large families. Having a size of 60x60x85 cm (width x depth x height), they allow you to simultaneously wash 12-14 sets of dishes. (Is this too much in your opinion? But do not forget that you have to load in the dishwasher not only plates, glasses and spoons, but also pots, pans and other kitchen utensils used in the cooking process.) In addition to larger capacity, full-size machines have Another advantage - they, as a rule, have a more complete set of functions and many additional options.
Narrow Dishwasher Models
For owners of small kitchens, where the struggle is for every centimeter of free space, finding a place for a full-sized dishwasher can be difficult. Manufacturers of household appliances offer their solution to this problem - narrow models of dishwashers. At standard heights and depths (85 cm and 60 cm, respectively), they have a smaller width - about 45 cm.
The capacity of narrow cars in comparison with full-size ones, of course, is also less - 8-10 sets. This corresponds to the needs of two or three people, so such cars are ideal, for example, for senior citizens or newlyweds, in extreme cases - for families with one child. It is the narrow models of dishwashers that are most popular in Russia, because it is still easier to find a place in a small kitchen, which, alas, is still the main disaster for most apartments in our country.
Compact Dishwasher Models
Compact models of dishwashers are miniature champions. They have more than modest dimensions - about 45x55x45 cm, so they can even be placed on a working kitchen table. The capacity of compact models, of course, is also very modest - only 4-6 sets of dishes.Such dishwashers are suitable for bachelors and newlyweds, provided that they often dine outside the house and even more so do not arrange too frequent feasts for a large number of guests.
Types of dishwashers by installation method
According to the installation method, all dishwashers available on the market today can be divided into:
- Fully recessed.
- Partially recessed.
- Freestanding.
- Compact desktop.
Functionally, all of them are no different from each other. To give preference to a particular variety, you just need to analyze which model is easier to integrate into an existing or just designed kitchen interior.
Fully recessed
Fully built-in dishwashers fit easily into almost any kitchen interior: the appliances are hidden behind a decorative furniture panel, which means that only the owners will know about its existence. The control panel for such models is located on the upper end of the door.
Since the display is hidden from the user's eyes, some manufacturers (Bosch, AEG, Siemens) offer an interesting solution - projecting the display image on the floor. However, such a function can hardly be called very necessary, rather it is a fun and expensive toy.
Partially recessed
Partially built-in models of dishwashers differ from fully built-in models only in that their control panel is placed on the front panel (door facade).
Freestanding
The main advantage of a free-standing dishwasher is that it can be placed in any corner of the kitchen - wherever it suits you. However, in this case, you already have to think about how the new appliances fit well into the interior of the kitchen. The colors of the dishwasher cases do not differ in a wide variety - white, silver, black ... (however, these colors are so universal that you can probably find a solution suitable for your kitchen).
Tabletop
Desktop dishwashers are usually purchased only in extreme cases, when full-size equipment cannot be placed in a small kitchen. Their only advantage - compactness (45x55x45 cm) - is not able to compensate for a bunch of existing shortcomings.
Firstly, such machines are designed for only 4 sets of dishes. Secondly, the quality of washing in them often desires the best. And thirdly, and this, perhaps, the most important thing, they will not be able to wash large baking sheets and pans. And if you still have to manually scrub the dirtiest dishes, a reasonable question arises: why then a dishwasher?
Dish baskets and trays
Most dishwashers have two pull-out baskets (pallets) for dishes, occasionally a third is added to them. The exception is compact models, the owners of which have to be content with one basket.
The design and specialization of these pallets for different models of dishwashers is generally similar, although almost every manufacturer has its own nuances. The lower basket is designed for plates and large kitchen utensils (pots, pans, baking sheets, etc.); top - for cups, glasses, glasses. In the third, highest, pallet, which is not available on all models of dishwashers, knives, ladles, cutlery are loaded.
Each basket is equipped with all kinds of holders and racks, the purpose of which is the convenience of placing dishes and ensuring the quality of their washing. Correctly placed and evenly distributed dishes allow water to penetrate into each click and, therefore, quickly wash away all contaminants.
Folding or removable holders will be a useful option, as well as the ability to adjust the height of the basket. This allows you to load the largest items into the dishwasher.
Quality of washing and drying dishes
A characteristic of the quality of washing dishes is the class assigned to a specific model of the dishwasher - from A to C.Class A models show the best result: dishes are removed from them impeccably clean and dry. On dishes that are issued at the finish of a model with a lower class (B or C), there may be minor residues of dirt and / or moisture. You can find out which washing class is assigned to your model from the documentation that comes with it.
If you want to remove dishes from your dishwasher whose cleanliness matches your idea of ideal, then you should take into account several important aspects:
1. To make the dishes shine clean, but your dishwasher does not use up too much water and electricity, you should correctly select the mode that is most suitable for solving the problem facing your equipment at the moment. Most dishwashers have 4 washing modes (there may be more, but you will most likely use these in fact): fast mode - for less soiled dishes, economical (55 ° C) - for medium soiled dishes, intensive (65 -75 ° C) - for very dirty dishes. If the dishes are so dirty that you doubt their effective cleaning even in intensive mode, it is recommended to turn on the pre-soak mode.
2. To facilitate the operation of the dishwasher and to prevent clogging of the filters, before placing the dishes in the machine, large food debris should be removed from the plates, for example, washed under a tap.
3. The quality of the washing (as well as the durability of the dishwasher!) Depends on the hardness of the water associated with the presence of calcium and magnesium salts in it. To soften the tap water in many models of dishwashers, it is passed through a special filter filled with ion-exchange resin.
If an ion exchanger is not provided in your machine, a special regenerating salt will help soften the water, which must be regularly poured into the designated compartment. The amount of regenerating salt that needs to be added before starting the cycle depends on the degree of hardness of the water.
Some companies engaged in the manufacture of household appliances, complete with a dishwasher, offer indicator strips to control this parameter. But the most optimal option is the presence of an automatic indicator of water hardness in the dishwasher itself.
4. In order to minimize the residual amount of detergents on the dishes, to preserve their shine and to prevent the appearance of cloudy streaks, it is necessary to regularly pour in a special container located on the door of the machine a liquid rinse aid that will automatically be added to the water during the rinsing stage. If you try to save on rinse aid, your glassware will quickly fade. However, it is unlikely that you will do this: the savings in this case will be ghostly, because the rinse aid consumption is only 3 ml per cycle (i.e., about 1 liter per year).
Drying efficiency is sometimes evaluated separately, on the basis of which the machine is assigned a class from A to G.
The speed and quality of drying dishes in the dishwasher is determined primarily by the way this process is implemented:
Turbo dryer. The highest drying class - A - is ensured if the dishes are dried with hot air forced by a fan. This so-called turbo-drying is the most energy-consuming, but provides the best result.
Condensation drying. When condensation drying is used in many inexpensive models of dishwashers, the moisture evaporated from plates and glasses condenses on the colder walls of the machine and simply flows down into a special compartment. This process is long, but more energy efficient, since drying is carried out without the consumption of electricity.
Drying with heat exchanger - a type of condensation drying. Moisture condensation in this case is carried out not on the walls of the machine, but on the cold circuit of the heat exchanger.In terms of speed, quality and energy consumption, this type occupies an intermediate position between condensation and turbo-drying. Drying occurs faster than conventional condensation, and in this case there are no traces of dried drops. Excessively much electricity, as with turbo-drying, is not consumed, since air circulation is carried out without the use of a fan. But dishwashers with a heat exchanger are more expensive.
Sensory drying - This is a turbo dryer, but carried out under the strict control of sensors. Thanks to the sensors, the amount of energy consumed is reduced to a truly necessary level, and the process time is also significantly reduced. Of course, cars with the SensorDry system are expensive.
Zeolite drying. The most economical and effective way to dry dishes today is zeolite drying, the principle of which is based on the ability of the natural zeolite mineral to absorb moisture. This technology is implemented in the NEFF, Siemens and Bosch models.
Connection to cold or hot water supply
Already at the stage of choosing a dishwasher, it's time to think about its subsequent connection. Future users should be aware that some models can only be connected to the cold water main, while others can be connected to hot and cold water at the same time.
The first option, according to experts, is preferable, since cold tap water contains less impurities, rust, etc. than hot. Of course, fat from dirty plates and pans will not be washed off with cold water, but the dishwasher itself can heat cold water to the desired temperature. However, this also leads to the main drawback of this type of connection: a dishwasher in its work will consume much more electricity.
The “hot-cold" type of connection is more energy efficient: you can significantly save on heating water. It remains only for a moment to think about what is contained in hot water besides water itself. If the quality of hot tap water in your city / town does not scare you, we recommend that you purchase a dishwasher that matches this particular type of connection.
How to choose the appropriate functionality and options
The first thing all buyers who choose a dishwasher pay attention to, without exception, are its dimensions and capacity. The next object of their attention is the set of programs that this technique is able to execute.
All models of dishwashers have several washing modes, first of all we are talking about standard, quick and intensive washing. Each dishwasher model has its own capabilities, so when choosing, focus on your preferences. Ask, for example, how long the quick wash cycle lasts, or how much energy the machine consumes when operating in economy mode.
But the above washing modes are the minimum set of functions that even the simplest machines have. More "advanced" (and therefore more expensive) models may have a number of additional functions.
Type of control - electromechanical or electronic
The functions and settings available in the machine are selected using the control system, which can be electromechanical (with conventional buttons and rotary switches) or electronic (with touch buttons and a convenient display).
Dishwashers with an electromechanical control system are more suitable for older people. For the latter, traditional buttons and ordinary light indicators are more familiar, which means it will be easier to master the new technique. Another undoubted advantage of machines with an electromechanical type of control is the relatively low price.
Electronically controlled dishwashers, as a rule, have a display, more and more often not just informational, but touch or touch buttons.The menu on the display will help you choose the most suitable program and temperature mode. The display also shows information on the time remaining until the end of the wash, on the presence of detergents and rinse aid in the tanks, on the hardness of the water used, as well as information on malfunctions, if any. Electronic “brains” are equipped with dishwashers with a large number of functions, so the high price of such models is a consequence of not only the presence of beautiful and informative screens.
Useful programs
When choosing a dishwasher, we recommend that you first focus on the availability of those programs that you really will use daily. In this case, we are talking primarily about the basic washing modes, which we have already mentioned above: economy mode, fast or intensive washing modes.
In addition to the standard, there are a number of special programs designed for washing this or that type of dishes.
Here are just a few of them, the most useful and most interesting:
1. Function “Delay start” allows you to delay the time the machine is turned on. The dishwasher will start to work automatically at the designated, most convenient time for you (for example, at night). A similar feature is available in almost all modern dishwashers. You can choose a car with a delayed start for 3, 6 or 9 hours or a model with a 24-hour timer.
2. Mode Half load Useful when dirty dishes have accumulated too little, at least not enough to fully load. This feature is especially useful in large, roomy models. Washing in this mode is faster, water and energy consumption are reduced, the load on the machine components is reduced and, therefore, their wear is reduced.
3. The program may seem very useful "Automatic washing". When activated, the dishwasher itself will assess the degree of contamination of the dishes and, on this basis, will calculate the time, temperature (from 40 to 75 degrees) and the intensity of the washing.
4. Mode "Delicate Wash" designed for gentle washing of crystal or fragile glass products. Water in this mode does not heat above 30-45 degrees.
5. Babycare - A special program that provides a very high-quality washing and disinfection of milk bottles and other children's dishes, as well as all kinds of children's accessories and toys.
6. Function "Sterilization" allows you to kill all the germs that can remain on the dishes even after washing in hot water without the use of aggressive chemicals. In different models, sterilization can be implemented in various ways, for example, by steaming or using ultraviolet radiation.
7. Bio programs will be relevant for you if you plan to use special detergents that contain enzymes that effectively break down fats. Special programs in this case are required, since most enzymes work at a moderate (40-50 degrees) temperature, but they die in hot water.
Technical solutions
Engineers not only initially create, but then periodically improve many components of any complex equipment, including dishwashers. Thanks to this, new models become more convenient, more efficient, more economical, quieter than their predecessors. That is why when choosing a dishwasher, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to the individual elements of its design.
Height adjustment box
Have a dishwasher in your home and at the same time manually scrub trays, pans, stewpan and pots, i.e. the dirtiest dishes - somewhat stupid, agree. But such large-sized items, as a rule, are hardly placed in the dishwasher basket or do not even fit at all. So that you do not encounter such a dilemma, we recommend that you take a closer look at models with height-adjustable baskets.Raising the upper box, you thereby increase the usable volume of the lower, and therefore your chance to stuff a large pan there.
Some manufacturers equip their equipment with a Rackmatic system to easily move boxes. With it, you can easily raise the upper basket to the desired height, even if it is full of dishes.
And another nice innovation for users who put comfort at the forefront is the unique ComfortLift hoist. On models with the ComfortLift system, the extension mechanism of the lower box is supplemented by a lifting mechanism. This will allow you to raise the lower basket to the level of the upper one with a single movement of your hand, which means that you do not have to bend down when loading and unloading dishes.
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is a special element that provides significant energy savings. It is a block consisting of two separate circuits along which water circulates. One of these circuits is filled with cold water coming from the water supply system, the second with hot water remaining after the previous stage of the cycle. The hot circuit gives off its heat to the cold. Thus, the waste water does not immediately drain into the sewer, but helps to slightly warm the cold water entering the tank. In other words, the heat exchanger allows you to accumulate the remaining heat and use it in the subsequent washing cycle. Due to this, the amount of electricity spent on heating the water to the desired temperature is reduced, which increases the energy efficiency class of the machine.
The heat exchanger is used not only for preheating a fresh portion of water, but also for drying dishes, as we mentioned above. This option for drying dishes is considered one of the most economical and quiet.
Water spray systems
Tightly loaded baskets can cause deterioration in dishwashing quality. And here all kinds of nozzles for spraying water come to the rescue. They will ensure the penetration of water into the most inaccessible slots and thereby help to better wash all dishes.
Sprayers of a wide variety of forms, guaranteeing high quality dishwashing, orbital washing system, providing uniform distribution of water throughout the chamber, alternating water supply, creating an optimal balance between washing quality and water flow and providing an excellent result for washing dishes at all levels of its placement - which just did not come up with engineers from leading companies to improve their products (and, sadly, increase its value).
The most common water distribution system consists of rockers located at the top and bottom of the sink. During rotation, they create an abundant water stream, which, falling on the dishes, washes away all its dirt. The system is simple and quite efficient.
Lower rocker:
Upper Rocker:
The orbital water spray system ensures even distribution of water jets throughout the chamber. The system consists of two rockers, large and small, which is fixed at the end of the large. According to manufacturers, the advantages of such a system lies in the fact that it is able to more carefully deliver water to inaccessible areas. This is its main difference from a single beam system.
In the off state, the system looks like this:
The trajectory of the rocker arm has the following form:
Self-cleaning filter
Water is our most valuable resource, and you need to treat it carefully, regardless of the cost of a cubic meter from your supplier. When using the dishwasher to save water (as well as the energy spent on its heating) will help its reuse. Of course, in order to reuse water that has already been in the cycle, it must be cleaned by passing through a special filter. Since only a clean filter can guarantee good washing quality, it must be cleaned periodically.
Even if your dishwasher does not provide for the reuse of waste water, there is an early filter in it. Otherwise, the leftover food falling into the dishwasher along with the dirty dishes would immediately clog the drain hose, and in the worst case, the sewer pipe.
So, there is a drain filter, regularly clogged with food debris. It must be regularly cleaned mechanically and washed with a stainless steel mesh using hot running water. What will happen if you do not do this? The answer seems to be obvious:
- water slowly drains out of the dishwasher, the duration of the cycle increases;
- the load on the various components of the unit will increase, which leads to their premature wear;
- the washing quality is reduced, the dishes at the exit are in dirty spots and stains;
- an unpleasant odor appears in the dishwasher, which is a consequence of the rapid multiplication of numerous pathogenic microorganisms.
It sounds scary, but regularly manually cleaning the desire filter still does not appear ... Many medium and high price dishwashers have long been able to cope with this task without human intervention! And all thanks to self-cleaning filters installed on them. The principle of operation of such a filter is quite simple: food residues deposited in a special collector are rubbed and simply washed off into the drain.
Heavy wash area
Do you want to “bathe” delicate items from thin glass and at the same time clean the most dirty dishes - baking sheets, pans, pans? The intensive washing zone, usually located at the lower level, will make this task a solvable wave. In this zone, water is simply supplied under a higher pressure, and this is exactly what is needed to wash a thick layer of fat from a saucepan or a baking sheet.
With the AquaVario function, which is implemented in some Bosch models, the dishwasher can automatically adjust the water pressure depending on the degree of contamination of the dishes and the program selected by the user.
Inverter motors
Inverter motors are gaining more and more popularity among owners of dishwashers and other household appliances. And this is not surprising, because such an engine helps to increase the reliability and efficiency of the dishwasher on which it is installed.
But the main advantage of the inverter motor from the point of view of the ordinary consumer is not even this, but the low noise level created during its operation. In most machines equipped with inverter motors, the noise level does not exceed 35-40 dB. This is especially true for owners of apartments and houses with an open plan, because many people put off washing dishes at night.
Lighting
Lighting the working chamber is a very useful option, but it is provided, alas, by no means in all models. Lighting makes working with the dishwasher more convenient, facilitating the loading and sorting of dirty dishes and the unloading of freshly washed. Why many manufacturers refuse such a useful function for the consumer is not clear, because it is easy to implement, and its presence does not practically affect the cost of the final product.
Some aspects of safe operation
What can and cannot be loaded into the dishwasher
Every future owner of the dishwasher should take into account that you can wash a lot in it, but not all. For example, wood products — wooden bowls, spoons, cutting boards — are not automatically washed: after such a test, the wood becomes rough and therefore very unsightly.
You should not load silver cutlery, aluminum, brass and tin products into the dishwasher: under the influence of detergents, their surfaces become dull and it will be very difficult to achieve the initial shine.
If you decide to send glasses and wine glasses made of crystal or thin-walled glass to the dishwasher, select a delicate program and fix the dishes using special holders.This will protect the glass from tarnishing due to contact with hot water and from cracking due to contact with other objects. Caution should also be taken with faience, porcelain, and objects with a fragile pattern. At low temperatures, plastic dishes will also have to be washed - with strong heating, they can become deformed.
Leakage protection systems
The main nuisance that can lie in wait for every owner of a dishwasher (as well as a washing machine) is water leakage. To protect you and your neighbors from the "flood" and related problems, the leakage protection system, which almost all manufacturers equip their products with today, will help.
Each model has its own level of protection, which is determined, inter alia, by its price category. The multi-stage leakage protection system includes additional body protection, multi-layer hoses, water quantity sensors, special valves that stop the flow of water in case of detection of problems, pumping out pumps.
How much will all this help to be saved from the "flood"? Bosch and Siemens, for example, are so confident in the quality of their products that they promise to compensate for all costs if a “flood” does occur. Russian fans of "maybe" should remember, however, that any warranty applies only to qualified equipment.
Door lock
If your family has a small child, choosing a dishwasher, take care of the presence of her “child protection” function. This function provides the ability to lock the control panel so that playful handles do not knock down all the settings, as well as the presence of a special lock that blocks the door so that the baby cannot peep into the car during its operation.
Some manufacturers decided not to equip their equipment with a special lock, but implemented the child protection function in a different way: when the door is opened, the washing process automatically stops, and it will be resumed only after it is closed. Such a decision could only occur to people who have never had children. It is not a solution to the problem, because, regardless of whether the process is stopped or not, access to the inside of the chamber in the middle of the cycle can cause burns with steam and / or hot water.
Energy efficiency
In accordance with the current European standard, each model of a dishwasher (as well as any other household appliance) for a comparative assessment by the consumer of its energy efficiency is assigned a class, indicated by Latin letters from A to G. The higher the class, the lower the energy consumption. A class A dishwasher should use less than 1.06 kW • h for washing 12 sets of dishes.
To date, the highest energy efficiency class A +++ has been assigned to some Bosch, Siemens, Candy, Hotpoint, ASKO dishwasher models. But the record holders are not they, but individual Miele models with a class A +++ of 20% and consuming about half as much energy as ordinary dishwashers with class A.
To achieve a high level of profitability with the dishwasher, a number of technologies are involved, and at all stages of the washing. So, for example, simultaneous connection to cold and hot water supply can save up to 50% of electricity. Installation of a heat exchanger in the dishwasher makes it possible to heat the cold water entering the tank and dry the dishes without additional heating.
The intellectual washing program, which consists in optimizing the use of resources depending on load and a differentiated approach to dishes with different degrees of pollution, helped to achieve high energy efficiency indicators for many models of dishwashers. And these are just a few of the tricks of the manufacturers with which they manage to achieve such amazing results.
Modern dishwashers can save not only electricity, but also water. The consumption rate of dishwasher water today is considered to be 17-20 liters per cycle, for highly economical models this figure is reduced to 10-12 liters, and sometimes even lower.Agree, it’s unlikely that you can wash 10-15 sets of dishes by hand with such an amount of water.
