The dishwasher: clean & efficient.
What do you have to consider when buying a dishwasher?
reading time: approx. 3 minutes
An invention that saves us a lot of work and rough hands: the dishwasher. It does the washing up for you and also saves your water consumption. Modern appliances offer flexible dish baskets and cutlery drawers that provide enough space for bulky items. There are now dishwashers for every household size. Whether it's a one-person household or a large family. The ideal dishwasher size is available for everyone. You can read more about this here in the Mykitchens magazine.
👉 Also read our article "Dishwasher comparison". In it we compare the dishwashers from the two manufacturers Miele and Siemens in terms of price, technology and product size.
Dishwasher types
We have taken a closer look at the different dishwasher types and highlighted the differences.
Freestanding dishwasher
A freestanding dishwasher is a freestanding dishwasher that stands freely in the room. Provided there is a power or water connection nearby. The cover can be used as an additional storage or work surface.
Undercounter dishwasher
An undercounter dishwasher is delivered without a cover plate. It can therefore simply be pushed under the work surface. The front of the dishwasher remains completely visible. However, the front is not completely flush with the other kitchen cabinets. The dishwasher often protrudes by up to one centimeter. Most undercounter dishwashers are available in white, brown or stainless steel.
Built-in dishwasher
A built-in dishwasher is also pushed under the worktop and installed. However, you can attach a front that matches your kitchen. This way, your dishwasher will be optimally integrated into the overall picture. You can choose whether you want the appliance to be partially integrated or fully integrated.
Partially integrated dishwasher
With a partially integrated dishwasher, the front of the appliance is covered with a matching kitchen front. This is attached below the control element so that it is still visible. With the help of a so-called compensation panel, you can conceal the transition between the control element and the mounted front.
Fully integrated dishwasher
The front of a fully integrated dishwasher is covered in a matching kitchen front. From the outside, the machine no longer looks any different from the other kitchen cabinets. The control element is located on the upper edge of fully integrated appliances. As soon as the dishwasher is closed, the elements are not visible. A small light or a remaining indicator is often projected onto the floor and shows whether and for how long the dishwasher is still in operation.
What to look for when buying a dishwasher
No matter what type of dishwasher, there are a few criteria you should look for when buying a new dishwasher. For example, the dimensions, the place settings and the water consumption.
This is a dishwasher-safe place setting
- 1 plate
- 1 soup plate plus 1 dessert plate
- 1 saucer
- 1 cup
- 1 drinking glass
- 1 knife
- 1 fork
- 1 soup spoon
- 1 tea spoon plus 1 dessert spoon
The most important dishwasher washing programs
Depending on the dishwasher manufacturer, there are different washing programs. Some have more than others. However, we don't want to list all the programs of the appliance brands, just those that are essential.
The dishwasher should have these washing programs:
- ECO: environmentally friendly program with economical energy & water consumption
- Intensive: particularly intensive cleaning for heavily soiled dishes
- Short: quick program for moderately soiled dishes
- Hygiene: particularly hygienic washing program at high temperatures
- Glass: gentle glass cleaning
- Automatic: automatic settings for standard washing cycles
Dishwasher accessories
Discover the best dishwasher accessories in our shop!
Dishwasher cleaner
Clearly, you need cleaner to clean dishes. The first choice here is dishwasher tablets. But you can also use dishwasher powder.
For the best cleaning and drying results, the dishwasher also needs special salt and rinse aid.
But the household appliance doesn't just need suitable cleaning agents for cleaning dishes. The electrical appliance itself also needs care from time to time. For example, descaling so that limescale in the water doesn't settle on important components and damage them.
You should clean the dishwasher about every six months (depending on use). So clean all seals and baskets, remove and clean the sieve, clean the spray arms, ...
Dishwasher baskets
Normally, a dishwasher is supplied with matching baskets: upper basket, lower basket and cutlery basket.
However, there are different solutions for cutlery in particular. Classic cutlery baskets are a small basket that can be easily removed. Modern cutlery baskets are installed at the very top of the dishwasher above the upper basket and offer space for small items in addition to cutlery.
Top sellers: These are the best dishwashers
Before buying a kitchen appliance, you can sometimes be overwhelmed. The selection of products, models, colors and functions is large. That's why we have simply listed our three product highlights from the dishwasher category.
Miele AutoDos dishwashers
Among the most popular and best dishwashers are Miele dishwashers with AutoDos, which were launched as part of the redesign of the built-in appliances in the Miele Generation 7000. They have an automatic dosing unit that allows the appliance to dose its detergent independently. The PowerDisk, the environmentally friendly container, is enough for around 20 wash cycles and can be reordered at any time. The models also impress with the best energy efficiency.
Bosch PerfectDry dishwasher
The next best-selling dishwasher comes from the Bosch Series 8 and is equipped with PerfectDry technology. This special technology ensures the best drying results during intensive cleaning. The Bosch dishwasher also has the Home Connect function, a particularly quiet washing program (Silence Plus) and Flex-Pro baskets.
Smeg Retro Dishwasher
When it comes to stylish freestanding appliances, one manufacturer definitely cannot be missed: SMEG. With its retro-look kitchen appliances, the Italian design brand creates distinctive highlights in every kitchen! SMEG freestanding dishwashers are available in various colors: black, cream or stainless steel.
