Guide on how to choose a dishwasher: expert advice, types of dishwashers, their pros and cons

The pace of life is accelerating, and people have less and less time for household chores.

Therefore, domestic work naturally becomes automated.

One of the types of equipment designed to facilitate the performance of routine duties is a dishwasher.

We will tell you how to decide on the choice of this technique, what to look for. Consider the advantages and disadvantages, we will tell you how not to get confused in complex characteristics.

We will also present an overview of the 5 best dishwashers by price / quality for 2024-2025.

Pros and cons of dishwashers

Before making an informed decision about purchasing a dishwasher (or dishwasher), it is important to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of these kitchen gadgets.

Advantages of dishwashers

Consider the main criteria in favor of the acquisition of PMM:

1. Saving time and effort. Perhaps this is the main reason why people decide to buy an automatic assistant.
2. Water saving. Numerous experiments and expert studies have found that machine washing consumes significantly less water than manual dishwashing.
3. There is no need for hot water supply. The PMM provides water heating, so there is no dependence on the supply of hot water.
4. disinfectant function. Washing dishes in a machine is carried out at much higher temperatures than with a manual method. This allows you to get the effect of disinfectant treatment.
5. Quality and care of washing. Hot water and special products provide high-quality dishwashing. And the absence of mechanical action of coarse brushes and abrasives makes the processing of dishes delicate.
6. No need for contact with detergents. This parameter is especially relevant in the presence of allergies or individual intolerance to the chemicals that make up dishwashing detergents. In addition, PMM will take care of the health and beauty of the skin of the hands, preserve the manicure.
7. Possibility of alternative use. In the dishwasher, you can also wash grates and removable elements of the stove, baking sheets, chandelier shades, vases, children's toys and much more.

Disadvantages of PMM

And now we will tell you what disadvantages of dishwashers should be taken into account before buying:

1. Requires free space. This is a great reason to think for the owners of a small kitchen. You will have to think about the installation site in advance. If there is a need to purchase a PMM, but there is no free space for placement in the kitchen, you should take a closer look at desktop dishwashers. But keep in mind that the compact version is able to wash fewer dishes at a time than the full-size model.
2. The need to use special tools. For PMM, hand washing products are not suitable - you need to buy specialized ones. In addition, it is necessary to buy additional products to soften hard water.
3. Not all dishes are suitable for washing in a machine. It is undesirable to wash items made of copper, thin glass, wood, valuable and antique dishes there. This can quickly ruin such items.
4. The need to accumulate dishes for a full load. For the rational use of resources and electricity, it is often necessary to save up dirty dishes, so that later you can load a full machine and wash everything at once. It's not hygienic and not to everyone's liking.
   It is better to purchase machines that provide the possibility of partial loading.
5. Requires human intervention, care and maintenance. Before loading, you need to clean off the remnants of food, and sometimes rinse the dishes. In addition, any equipment needs maintenance, and there may be a need for service.
6. The quality of washing and rinsing. In the reviews, some users note that complex dirt and soot are poorly washed, and the dishes are not rinsed completely from the remnants of the product. But this item depends more on the model and quality of the equipment.

How to choose a dishwasher by type of installation

There are several types of dishwashers according to the installation method:

• freestanding;
• embedded;
• desktop.

Let's talk about each type in more detail.

Freestanding PMM

This technique can be placed anywhere in the kitchen.

Such machines have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:	Minuses:
there is no binding to a specific place; the cost is lower than that of embedded devices; easy access for repair and maintenance.	appearance violates the overall style of the kitchen; a lot of space is required.

Embedded Models

Such machines can be fully integrated under the countertop and hidden behind the front door of the headset. At the same time, the control panel is also hidden, and is visible only when the PMM is opened.

Partial embedding is also possible, when only the control panel remains visible.

Pros:	Minuses:
does not spoil the interior design of the kitchen; greater compactness than stand-alone machines.	binding to a place; the cost is higher than that of freestanding; difficult access for repair and maintenance.

Tabletop dishwashers

These options are convenient for those who do not have a lot of free space, and are suitable for even the smallest kitchen.

You can place them on a table or any other surface.

Pros:	Minuses:
compactness; affordable price; maneuverability; the possibility of embedding.	small capacity of dishes (maximum 4 sets); not suitable for washing overall dishes and baking sheets; inefficiency.

PMM dimensions

According to the overall dimensions, PMMs are: full-size, narrow and compact (desktop).

Full size dishwashers

Standard PMM have the following dimensions: 60 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 85 cm high.

This technique simultaneously accommodates a lot of dishes: up to 16 sets. A good option for a large family.

Also, these machines are suitable for medium or small families, but subject to frequent receptions.

Narrow PMM

Their dimensions differ from the standard in width.

Their width is 45 cm, while the depth is 60 cm, and the height is still the same 85 cm.

Such kitchen helpers are suitable for small and medium-sized families, accommodating about 9-10 sets of dishes when loaded.

Compact (desktop) options

The dimensions of these compact devices are as follows: the height is about 45 cm, the width is from 50 to 55 cm, and the depth is usually 45-50 cm.

The parameters of this type of device may vary slightly for different models.

They are suitable for single people or very small families, and usually contain a maximum of 4-5 sets of dishes.

How to decide on the size

When choosing the size of the PMM, it is important to take into account its capacity, the internal arrangement of the compartments, as well as the size of the family, the volume of dishes for daily washing and household habits regarding washing dishes.

Capacity

This parameter is characterized by the number of place settings that can be loaded into the machine at a time.

One set is considered to be a set of dishes per person of 4 plates (salad, soup, for the second course and bread), a mug or glass, a cup or saucer for dessert, 2 forks and 2 spoons, a knife.

At the same time, it is important to remember that you have to wash not only, and not even so much, plates, but also pans, and pots with lids, ducklings, additional ladles, etc. So, loading a frying pan and a pair of pots, along with their lids, “steals” at least 3-4 sets from the declared number of sets.

Capacity directly depends on the dimensions. The most compact desktop "dishwashers" allow you to load a maximum of 4 sets, narrow - up to 10 sets, and full-size - up to 16.

Branches

The most uncomplicated internal arrangement of compartments for compact dishwashers. Usually they are equipped with one pull-out basket, inside of which there is another small basket for cutlery.

And narrow and full-sized "dishwashers" are arranged inside the same way. They can have 2 options for layout and location of compartments: classic and modern.

With the first type, there can be 2 baskets inside, the lower of which is designed for overall dishes, and the upper one for smaller dishes. In addition, a small basket for vertical washing of cutlery is additionally inserted into the lower basket.

With a modern type of execution of the internal layout of the PMM, it has 2 baskets and 1 upper tray for horizontal washing of appliances. As for the baskets, large dishes are also folded into the lower compartment, and smaller ones are placed in the middle one.

What is important when choosing the size of the PMM

It is necessary to take into account the limit of free space that will be allocated for the installation of the "dishwasher" and its dimensions.

Capacity should be selected based on the calculation of the necessary dishes for the family. The larger the family, the more spacious PMM will be required.Singles and couples can pay attention to desktop devices.

The choice of equipment sizes is also determined by the habits of family members. To For example, if the average family is accustomed to washing dishes frequently, rather than accumulating them, buying the largest "dishwashers" is not worth it.

If the household calmly reacts to the need to save kitchen utensils until the machine is fully loaded, the overall option is suitable.

Important Features

Important parameters when choosing a dishwasher are: energy classes, washing and drying, as well as water consumption.

Usually all these criteria in the form of letters are placed on a sticker in the back of the vehicle.

Energy classes

The energy class (or energy efficiency) determines how economical the power consumption of the device will be.

There are only 7 of them: A-G. But they sell and buy mainly cars of classes A-C, they are more economical.

And the most economical technique is PMM with assigned classes A +, A ++, A +++. They are more expensive than others, but in operation they pay off quite well.

A-class appliances consume an average of 0.8 to 1.05 kW per wash cycle, B-class appliances from 1.06 to 1.09 kW, and C-class appliances from 1.1 to 1.49 kW.

You can use power more rationally if you purchase a machine with a partial load function. This will help reduce costs by 20-30%. Plus, with such a load, water is also saved.

Water consumption

Water consumption figures are also a concern for dishwasher buyers, for obvious reasons. However, fears are in vain: any “dishwasher” consumes much less water when washing than it would be spent with a manual method of washing the same amount of dishes.

Water consumption is also marked with classes A-G, but low classes may not be found on sale.

According to consumption categories, PMMs are economical (up to 14-15 liters per cycle), medium-economic (up to 17-20 liters) and uneconomical (more than 20-25 liters).

Economic consumption depends not only on the model and characteristics of the PMM, but also on its capacity. Compact desktop models spend only up to 9 liters of water, narrow - about 10, full-sized - about 14.

Wash class

This criterion determines the degree of cleanliness of the dishes at the exit of the PMM, as well as how successfully the machine copes with heavy soiling.

It is marked with English letters A-G. But only classes A and B can be found on sale, lower ones are almost never produced.

Class A machines perfectly wash dishes, while B-class appliances leave minor dirt with a total area of ​​​​approximately 4 mm.

There are also devices of classes A +, A++, A+++. But they are needed rather for professional needs, where the strictest requirements are imposed on the cleanliness of dishes. And for the house quite enough A-class.

Drying class

This item shows how successfully the dishes will dry in the PMM, whether there will be residual moisture, splashes and stains on it.

On sale you can find "dishwashers" with 3 varieties of drying classes, which are indicated by letter markings A, B and C.

Class A means that the dishes are perfectly dried without moisture residue. B indicates that a couple of drops of moisture is possible. And with class C, the dishes will leave the machine quite wet.

It is worth noting that the higher the drying class, the higher the cost of PMM.

How to choose the main programs

When choosing, it is important to pay attention to the fact that at least the most necessary basic washing programs are provided in the PMM.

Let's consider them in more detail.

Washing heavily soiled dishes (or intensive wash)

The mode is suitable for washing baking sheets, pots, pans and other heavily soiled dishes.

The program provides for strong heating up to 75 ?. Washing takes a long time, it can go up to 3 hours. Sometimes this mode provides for pre-soaking dirty dishes.

Such washing cannot be called economical in terms of water consumption and energy consumption. But without it you can not do with severe pollution.

standard wash

Such a sink is designed for everyday washing of dishes without chronic and strong pollution.

Water usually warms up to 55?. FROMThe standard cycle also takes a lot of time (1.5-3 hours).

The mode is quite practical in terms of energy consumption and water consumption due to less heating than with an intensive program.

Express car wash

This is a quick wash cycle that usually does not take more than half an hour.

Washing is done with not very hot water (about 45?). The program of such washing helps out in cases when you need to quickly refresh the dishes, wash the dishes with minimal contamination.

Due to the fact that the cycle is short, and the heating is small, water and electricity are spent little.

However, the mode is not suitable for heavily soiled dishes.

Half load sink

This option is not available on all PMMs. It allows you to wash dishes with a partial load, which is especially important for those who do not want and are not used to saving mountains of dishes.

Partial loading is also used to save water and electricity.

Additional functions

In addition to the main programs in the PMM, there may be additional functions. Their availability and set varies depending on the model and price segment.

Let's consider the most common.

Extra rinse

A useful option that allows you to repeat the rinsing phase after the end of the washing program.

With this, you can better process the dishes with rinse aids, as well as thoroughly wash all the remnants of detergents from them.

An additional rinse after the main cycle can be repeated even more than once.

Auto-opening of the door after the end of the cycle

Opens the door after washing is finished.

This helps to prevent the formation of mold and fungus in the PMM, contributes to the complete drying of dishes and the washing chamber from moisture residues, and prevents the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the machine.

Delicate mode

Created for washing items made of thin glass, porcelain, valuable fragile dishes.

The mode provides for washing with a slight heating of water. Ideal for washing glasses.

Beam on the floor

This expensive feature is designed for fully built-in PMM models.

It allows you to project a luminous dot onto the floor, which lights up or goes out at the end of the wash. In a more complex design, a timer is displayed on the floor, showing the time until the end of the cycle.

This option is needed so that users learn in time about the end of the PMM.

Display

The digital display allows you to fully control the washing process.

It displays all the details of the wash cycle, the time until the end, error codes and much more.

Button lock

This is protection against children and accidental clicks.

If you pre-set the lock before the washing cycle, then when you press the buttons during operation, they are blocked.

The option is not available in all PMMs. You need to find out in advance about its availability in a particular model.

Leak protection

An indispensable component for the safe operation of dishwashers.

This function detects the leakage of water from the dishwasher and starts a chain of operations to stop the water supply.

auto mode

Such a program allows you to minimize the participation of a person in the process of washing dishes.

The user simply needs to indicate the degree of contamination, and the machine will automatically select the washing parameters.

In more advanced options, you don’t even need to specify anything: with the touch of a button, automatic sensors recognize the level of dirt and regulate the washing process themselves.

Quiet mode

Helps to reduce the noise of dishwashers. Thanks to this, you can turn on the car even at night, and it will not disturb your sleep.

Other additional options

In addition to the above features, the PMM has a delayed start function, an audible alarm at the end of the cycle, soaking, a program for washing baby dishes, auto-detection of water hardness and other features.

As a rule, more expensive devices have more functionality.

What type of drying is best

Drying in dishwashers can be implemented in different ways. Each type of drying has its pros and cons, features.

Condensation

This technique is based on the phenomenon of condensation. The water on the dishes turns into condensate on the walls of the washing chamber, which sinks down.

This type of drying refers to budget options.And the disadvantages of "dishwashers" with condensation drying are: a long drying time for dishes, the possible presence of traces of residual moisture on the dishes dried in this way.

Apparatuses with condensation drying are suitable for those who are not embarrassed by the duration of the process, and also for those who do not make demands on the impeccable dryness of dishes.

ventilation

Another name is active condensation. Water from the dishes also condenses on the walls of the PMM, but plus the dishes are blown by a fan.

These are more advanced devices than just condenser models. Such drying is faster, and the result is more pleasing than the possibility of simple condensation.

Ventilated dishwashers are good for those who are looking for quality at an attractive price.

Turbo dryer

Other names - convective, convection. This drying technology is more expensive, complex and advanced than other types.

Drying of dishes is due to the hot blowing of a fan with a heating element.. Therefore, the process is accelerated, which is a big plus of this method. Dishes exit without residual moisture.

But not without drawbacks: PMM with such drying are more expensive, and the process itself is quite energy-intensive.

Turbo-drying dishwashers are suitable for those who value the efficiency and speed of drying dishes, and those who are not embarrassed by the higher price of such machines, as well as energy consumption.

Which company to choose: TOP 5 best dishwashers by price / quality for 2024-2025

To make it easier to make a choice, for example, we present an overview of the 5 best PMMs in terms of price / quality ratio for 2024-2025.

Electrolux EES 948300 L

The built-in dishwasher of the eminent Swedish brand definitely deserves attention. With standard dimensions, it is compactly hidden behind the facade panel, without violating the style of the interior. Adjustable legs allow it to comfortably adjust to the height of the tabletop.

With the existing set of characteristics, the price of the car is quite justified and reasonable. And intuitive one-touch controls with QuickSelect technology make dishwashing fantastically easy.

The washing chamber with convenient compartments is designed for 14 sets of dishes. In addition to the main 8 washing programs, there are modes of intensive washing and delicate glass washing. These options, combined with air drying technology, provide a perfectly clean and dry result.

And the projection of a two-color beam on the floor will tell you in time about the completion of the cycle.

Bosch SMV25EX03R

The German brand can rightfully be proud of this creation. The fully built-in model hides behind a headset, and the beam on the floor technology allows you to track the stages of washing.

The price of this model, taking into account all the options, is more than attractive.

There are 5 washing programs, including night, automatic, economical, intensive and hourly.

The maximum load is 13 sets, while the interior of the washing chamber is optimized according to the user's wishes. This is achieved by the Rackmatic system, which provides height adjustment of the upper compartment.

Additionally, there is the possibility of a half load. This will allow you not to accumulate dirty dishes, while saving water and electricity.

The safety parameters are also on top: this is glass protection technology, and a safety valve, and a closed leak protection system. This is safety and quality of washing in a successful tandem.

Weissgauff BDW 4543 D

This built-in narrow model differs in compactness and profitability. And the AquaStop technology, which protects against leaks, allows you to be sure of its safety.

Water consumption is only 9L per cycle with a capacity of 9 sets.

A fairly extensive list of programs is presented, among which, in addition to the main ones, there is a delicate mode, an auto program, and the possibility of incomplete loading is also provided. The middle basket can be adjusted in height even when the machine is loaded, which allows efficient use of the entire sink space.

There is a convenient display, the control is completely electronic. And the option of reloading will allow you not to forget anything and maintain perfect cleanliness in the kitchen without any hassle.

Candy CDCP 6/E

This compact desktop model is simply indispensable for a small family. You can load up to 6 sets of dishes into it, and the water consumption will be only 6.5 liters per cycle.

Thanks to its modest dimensions, there is a place for it even in the smallest kitchen.

At the same time, it has electronic control, economical energy consumption and high efficiency classes for washing and drying dishes.

And its price will make it easier to work in the kitchen for those who cannot yet afford a full-size PMM.

Beko DIS 25010

Narrow and compact version of embedded technology.

Despite this, it holds up to 10 place settings, and is characterized by economical energy consumption (A +). Drying type - condensing. Machine control is electronic.

The model is equipped with "Beam on the floor" technology. Full protection against leaks is provided. There are indicators for the presence of salt and rinse aid, and the basket for dishes is adjustable in height.

2 years warranty and service are given.

A short checklist for choosing a dishwasher

So, let's sum up.

Here are the parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing a PMM:

• It is important to consider the dimensions of the dishwasher and the limit of free space for it.
• The number of family members, as well as housekeeping habits, is of decisive importance when choosing. Roomy overall models are best purchased for large families, or for those who can safely save dishes until they are fully loaded. In a different situation, it is better to look at the PMM of a smaller capacity.
• It is important to pay attention to the main and additional programs and clearly understand what is useful and what is not, so as not to overpay for extra functionality.
• To save electricity, you need to look at the energy efficiency class: so that it is from A and above.
• The quality of washing and drying will determine the washing and drying classes, as well as the type of drying in the machine.
• Some functions, for example, partial loading, allow you to significantly save resources and at the same time have full-fledged capacious equipment in case of need.

Useful video

How to choose a dishwasher, see the video: