Dishwashers Buying Guide

What place setting should my dishwasher have?

 The dishwasher place setting or number of place settings refers to the number of items the dishwasher can hold and effectively wash. The higher the place setting, the more items you can fit in.

• 6 to 12 place settings - great for small households
• 13 to 14 place settings - great for medium-sized households
• 15 or more place settings - great for large households

Staall Tip: The bigger the setting usually also means that the larger the dishwasher appliance which means you will need to consider if it will fit in your kitchen or not.

Look for dishwashers that offer flexible racks, baskets, removable cutlery tray, height adjustable baskets to fit larger pots or roasting trays and wine glass holders and larger plates & dishes. Flexible racks and baskets dishwashers enable you to have more room and make it easier to clean casserole dishes, woks and pots.

Staall Tip: Basic dishwashers come with less flexibility, but the best appliances, have adjustable or removable lower baskets and a height-adjustable upper basket to help you make the most of mixed loads.

The best energy rated dishwashers will have a energy rating between A and A+++.  A+++ is the best rating available currently available for dishwashers.

Washing machines with an Eco wash programme use up to 60% less energy by running for longer.

Are dishwashers more efficient then cleaning by hand?

Yes they are on average more efficient  as they use less water than hand washing. The models with a higher energy rating. This means that will help you save money on both your water and electricity bill.  Meaning that  they are more environmentally friendly. 

Staall Tip: Usually the more expensive the dishwasher the better its energy efficiency and many now include sophisticated energy-saving features such as intelligent tech that perfectly measures out the right amount of water for every cycle.

Dishwashers usually have at least three programmes, with the main one being at 65°/149°F, an economy programme for normal washes and a light or delicates programme. But these are the most common wash programmes to most models:

• Standard programme washing at 65°/149°F;
• Economy wash is an energy efficient cycle which thoroughly clean your dishes while remaining environmentally friendly;
• Light or delicates programme;
• Half-load option wash cycle is ideal for fabrics such as fine wools or silk;
• Hold function for very heavy soiling;
• Glasses-only programme;
• Quick wash washes a small load in a shorter time, ideal for lightly soiled dishes and cutlery;
• Intensive cycle uses powerful water jets that work simultaneously to clean heavily soiled dishes, pots and pans without using additional water or energy;

 Other dishwasher freatures considerations should be:

• Delayed start control sets the dishwasher to start at a specific time;
• Childproof lock prevents doors from being opened during a cycle;
• Pre rinse is ideal for really soiled plates or dishes with tough stains this programme helps loosen the dirt prior to the main wash cycle;
• Noise level is measured in decibels. The higher the dB, the noisier the dishwasher will be. Below 50dB is considered quiet and is about as loud as a typical conversation. Some dishwashers also come with really quiet cycles that you can put on overnight;
• Indicator lights for salt and rinse aid;
• Water hardness level lets you set the water-hardness level on your machine if you have a water hardness level setting under the salt cap - to make sure the dishwasher operates to its full potential;