Dishwasher help?!

[4Minions2CallMyOwn]

Following on from another post I’ve decided that as a family of 6 we need (I want!) a dishwasher. I don’t know how we’ve managed so long without one tbh!

Is this the right place to ask for tips and things I need to keep in mind when purchasing/running one please? I’m completely clueless when it comes to dishwashers, didn’t grow up with one and have never used one. Please help

If it will be in a room you want to sit in (eg a kitchen diner) then get the quietest one you can.

Thanks! It will go in our kitchen (no room to sit in) so will be out of the way. We have to shut the door in the evenings anyhow as otherwise the cat jumps on the sides yuk! So noise won’t be an issue

It’s difficult for people to know ifs its ‘on’ ..... get the one where the light reflects on the floor 😆 and shows how many mins are left .... that way peeps won’t open it mid cycle which can be a pain.
If you live in a hard water area get dishwasher salt in it.

I have a Bosch slimline one, which works really well, but the design is not great for me. I use lots of plastic boxes for lunches, and there are not enough of the plastic prongs on the top shelf of the dishwasher to support them. So I would advise you to really think about the items you will regularly be using and check if there is a space for them in whichever model you are looking at.

That’s really helpful, thank you both!

If you go for fully intergrated there's less choice (though it looks nicer)
Also if you go for free standing it's easier to "tip" it ( if the water inlet valve gets blocked , it's a bit like the float in the toilet cistern , it will signal to the machine that the water level is fine when it isn't so won't let water in )
And I was told the main reason for this happening is opening the door mid way through the cycle so the timer /light is a good idea.

We live in a hardwater area , I top up the salt every month , I don't just rely on the salt in the tablet .
Lemon tablets can mark some metals .

I have Ecover tablets that the DW and WM have a monthly dose of (then salt afterwards in the DW)

I got a cutlery tray in my new one but before I had 2 cutlery baskets - one to fill, one in use .

I don't need a lot of height in our top basket , it is adjustable but I have more room in the lower one for bigger pots etc.

I actually re-cycled ( to Charity Shop) a load of stemmed wine glasses because we rarely used them and they took up a load of space in the DW .

A family of 6 might get through a lot of crockery in a day; if you only plan to run it once a day you might need more.

I use salt and rinse aid even if using all in one tablets. You can set the machine to your water hardness level.

I have short stubby wine glasses so they fit in better.

Mine also has a cutlery tray rather than a basket and I like it.

hmmm, mine has a basket, and i like it! it can go in various places though (slides along the plate holders on the bottom tray) so it's not as annoying as ones that are in a fixed position.

Neff owner here! Has a light shines down onto the floor so you know when it’s on. Cutlery tray, very adjustable baskets so can fold ares flat to accommodate pans, etc. Also has a huge range of programmes and dries. Also has a timer so we run an eco programme during cheap electric times - can lengthen or shorten programmes depending on how dirty the stuff is. Super quiet and fully integrated. Basically you get what you pay for - suggest you get a 30 day subscription to which which is free and look up their dishwasher tests. Remember to cancel subscription otherwise you will have to pay!

My bosch has a digital display so you can see its on

Wow some brilliant tips and advice, thanks so much! I had no idea about topping up salt, cutlery trays/baskets or lights to tell it’s on- that’s fab. And yes I think we may need more crockery, thank you! Will check out Which- brilliant!

As an aside we have been looking for a dishwasher and there’s apparently a shortage and they are all sold out!!! Have just been looking for a decent brand, black with good reviews to start with. Just to get an idea of what we need. I had no idea there are stock issues and am so upset as I’m the kind of person when I decide I want something I have no patience and want it NOW!!!

I’ve looked at Argos, AO and Curry’s. Brands such as Beko, Bush and Bosch. It’s difficult as we need a black one- so that obviously limits our options! Does anyone have any recommendations on where else we could look please? Or other brands? Now that I know I NEED a dishwasher I want one NOW!

You need a plastic/silicone spatula to scrape plats with, rinsing isn’t needed and introduces unsoftened water into the machine.

Basic tablets are as good as branded and branded are tested on animals.

A cup of soda crystals on the hottest empty cycle once a week keeps the interior grease free.

I bought mine off a builders merchant after googling the model I wanted.

I just use a fork or knife to scrape extra food off the plates

But the noise of metal on ceramic. It goes right through me.

We have had three slimline built in DW over the years.
Bosch - lasted 6 years before dying, sturdy but didn’t wash as well as the Kingswood (trade Hotpoint/Indesit) which lasted 8 years but had cheaper plastics.
Currently got a Samsung which washes very well, is super quiet but has taken us ages to work out how to use the baskets/tray in the most efficient way for us. Sturdy machine.

I would recommend Bosch/Siemens/Neff as good quality.
Miele is the best if your budget will stretch.

You can move the shelves up or down to give the right amount of space for your crockery.

Thank you all, so helpful! I think budget wise it all depends. I literally read a thread on Mumsnet a few days ago if it’s good to have a dishwasher or not. Overwhelmingly the majority answered yes and said they couldn’t live without theirs. Being a complete sheep this converted me completely! We haven’t budgeted for dishwasher at all though, so atm were looking at £200-£300. But I can’t seem to find one in stock, so I may have to wait a while. In that case our budget will be higher as can save a bit over the next month or two.

I’ve still be looking but really can’t find a good company to purchase from. It’s so frustrating!

Cutlery draw is invaluable. My previous ones had baskets but I am a complete convert for the tray.
We get Aldi tablets, they are just as good as any.

Which brands have cutlery draws? Or can they be bought separately? I’ve had a google and they look fab!

Usually Bosch have them but you can’t add them on.

My bosch has a cutlery drawER. Maybe miele does too

That’s brilliant, thanks! Bosch has been highly recommended so I’ve been looking at that brand. There’s lots in stock that are white but not black which is the colour we need. We also want a free standing one standard size- so it’s limiting our options when looking. I found one in AO and then within minutes of it being in my basket it was out of stock- minutes! So annoying

Now that I know I want (desperately need!) a dishwasher I’ve started to hate washing up even more than I did already. I’m really not a patient person

I had a hot point free standing one for years. Just swapped to integrated and bought a cheap Cooke and lewis which is b&q own brand I think.
It has the cutlery drawer and it's been fab. All the trays move to fit whatever in. Run it on a quick 1hr wash. Haven't been able to fault it really impressed for the price.