The dishwasher in the kitchen of an ordinary family is no longer a wonder. So, what characteristics do you need to pay attention to when choosing it? What programs are really needed?
Advantages of dishwashers:
- Significantly saves water;
- Due to the high temperature of the water, it not only washes but also disinfects the dishes;
- Contrary to stereotypes, for modern devices, dishes do not need to be pre-washed.
Contents
Types of Dishwashers
The layout of city apartments is such that when choosing large-sized household appliances, you first have to think about where and how to place them.
Built-in
Provide a niche of a suitable size in the lower tier of the kitchen furniture set. When fully integrated, the dishwasher is installed in a niche and covered by a kitchen set facade. As a result, it looks just like the rest of the furniture. This is an aesthetic and compact option.
But you may prefer a partial embedding when the front panel of the machine is visible. The panel displays useful information about what process is currently taking place in the machine and how soon the washing will end. When fully embedded, this information is not available.
Freestanding
As you can see, the choice of a built-in dishwasher is beautiful, but not a perfect solution.
Free-standing models’ advantages:
- Access to the control panel;
- Lower price;
- Easier to inspect and fix in case of a breakdown.
Tabletop Dishwasher
This is a kind of free-standing machine. Due to their small size, they can be installed directly on the countertop or partially integrated under the sink.
Types and Loading
Compact
For example, the compact countertop dishwashers that we talked about above most often are around the size of a microwave. No more than 6 sets of dishes can be washed in them at a time. That is, such a baby is suitable only for a family of not more than two people.
Full size
Standard dishwashers have a height of 33.4 inches, a width of 23.6 inches, and a depth of 23.6 inches. Wash from 12 sets of dishes at once. This is the best dishwasher to buy for a home with a large kitchen, even if you have a small family.
Narrow
Narrow dishwashers are a compromise between compact and full-sized. They have standard height and depth (same as full-sized), but the width does not exceed 17.7 inches. This is a reasonable choice for a small kitchen. They are usually designed for 9 – 10 sets of dishes.
Principle and Modes of Operation
Let’s start with the principle of work. The dishwasher takes water from the water supply (often cold), softens it with salt, heats it, adds detergent, and sprays it on the dishes with powerful jets, washing off food residues and grease.
Depending on the selected mode, the device controls the temperature and pressure of the water and the duration of cycles.
Basic Mode
A gentle wash is used for fragile dishes. Intensive – on the contrary – is contraindicated for glass and plastic. It is suitable for washing pans, baking sheets, meat grinder knives, etc.
Pre-soak mode
If you plan to wash the dishes once a day, in the evening, for example, pay attention to the pre-soak mode when choosing a dishwasher. Rinsing the dishes for 10 to 15 minutes with cold water before the main cycle will soak up the remnants of dried food. In the absence of such a program, the dishes will need to be pre-soaked in the sink.
Standard Mode
Large, heavily soiled dishes and small, almost clean cups and saucers usually accumulate during the day. The “standard” mode (“daily washing”, “auto”) is designed for such a situation. In this mode, the machine washes dishes for a long time at a high temperature, rinses twice (with cold and hot water), and then dries the dishes (if drying is provided by the model).
When choosing a dishwasher according to its parameters, pay attention to the presence of an economical mode and half load.
- An economic model usually consists of a pre-wash with cold water, a long wash, and rinse in hot water (+ drying). Saves water and energy.
- Half load allows washing dishes in only one basket, also saving water and electricity.
What To Consider In Your Dishwasher?
So, you have decided where to put the dishwasher, decided on the dimensions, loading, and the minimum necessary programs. What else needs to be considered?
Cleaning Class
Shows how well the device copes with washing dishes. Of course, this is the first thing to consider when choosing a dishwasher. Class B means that minor impurities may remain on the dishes after washing, but this class is very rare. Usually, only class A machines which provide high-quality cleaning are now on the market.
Water and Electricity Consumption Class
The most economical machines consume 8 – 9 liters of water per cycle and have an energy efficiency class A +++. They are the most expensive but will provide maximum benefits in the future.
Noise Level and Safety
What dishwasher is best if there are children in the house? The answer is – quiet and safe. When curious kids run around the house, protection against accidental clicks (button lock) is a great option.
The concept of safety also includes leakage protection. A machine with full protection will cost more than a partial one, but, most likely, cheaper than paying the compensation to your flooded neighbors.
If you plan to turn on the dishwasher at night, or if you have babies who sleep during the day, it makes sense to choose a built-in dishwasher (it is less noisy because it is hidden in furniture). There are also models with reduced noise levels (less than 45 dB), but they are more expensive due to the use of vibration damping systems and sound-absorbing materials.
Type of Dryer
Be sure to consider the type of dryer to choose a dishwasher for the home, which will suit you one hundred percent.
The simplest and most common type of drying is condensation. The dishes are rinsed with hot water, which evaporates from the dishes and condenses on the colder inner walls of the dishwasher. After taking out the dishes, leave the door of the machine open so that its chamber dries out.
If there are openings at the top and bottom of the chamber that open during drying, or there is a heat exchanger with cold water, that is a dishwasher with convective drying. Air circulation occurs more intensively, and the dishes dry faster. But the most efficient and fastest one is turbo-drying (with a fan).
Bosch has its own development – zeolite-drying, with the help of a material that actively absorbs moisture and converts it into heat.
If you still have not decided what dishwasher to choose, contact the consultants or look at the reviews on models from different leading manufacturers. This will help you choose the model that meets all your requirements.
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