NOW CLOSED AEG dishwasher test feedback thread

[NewGirlHelenMumsnet]

This thread is for the MNers who have been testing a new AEG dishwasher with Finish dishwasher tablets. They have already made a video for MN - look out for them soon on the site.

The final stage of feedback is to add your thoughts and comments to this thread. Every tester who adds feedback on this thread will receive a £40 voucher for Space NK.

Below are some questions to get you started. Please feel free to add your own comments as well.

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

Thanks very much for taking part,
MNHQ

I am still sulking that I was not picked and have just forked out £260 for a new dishwasher that I don't like!

I'm still sulking too! Really wanted a new one!

What?? A dishwasher test that I have entirely missed??

OK - I'll be the first to add my feedback (with apologies in advance to those who didn't receive one!)....

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

We've found the dishwasher relatively easy to use. Not having had one before, we had to come to grips with salt/rinse aid palaver and I we had to read the manual several times before it came naturally! Our dishwasher is the "extra large" capacity I think which we have found very useful. My favourite aspect of the dishwasher is that it's surprisingly quiet. I put it on at night after everyone's in bed and you would barely know it's on even when in the kitchen - other than the occasional "swish-swish" sound which I find quite soothing The only slight negative for me is that the trays are pretty prescriptive in terms of what you can fit - often I'm struggling to fit our various cups/mugs/bottles for our family of five in the top tray as the manufacturers seem to presume that you'll have many more plates/saucers so it's awkward - but I think maybe the proficiency with stacking will come with time.

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

The dishes are definitely cleaner than I thought they would be but then I'd never had a dishwasher so have no point of reference really!

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

Depends - can't fit all our pots and pans together with the plates/cups etc from the day even we've cooked. I'm tending to save all the dishes up during the day and then hand-wash the pots and pans if I can't fit them in - usually am able to stick the odd frying pan in without any trouble. Also difficult to fit the long kitchen utensils in, kebab skewers etc so tend to handwash those. Have found myself searching out the odd kids' bowl (plastic) to wash during the day - I'm thinking of buying a couple "spare"!

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

Haven't stopped washing up by hand completely (see above answer for Q3) but do significantly less. Pre-dishwasher, I was pretty tied to the sink during the day with three kids to slave for look after. My hands were appalling - dry and scaly on the fingertips and I was constantly slathering on cream to no avail. I wouldn't say my hands are beautiful now but they're noticeably less dry and that horrible sandpapery feeling on the fingertips has disappeared.

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

I didn't hate washing up prior to getting the dishwasher which is why it wasn't a particular priority for our family to have one. I convinced myself that washing up was trivial in itself and since my kitchen window overlooks the street I could often nosy at the neighbours watch life go by whilst doing it. However being at home full-time with a cling-on cuddly newborn, demented active toddler and wildly jealous talkative 6 year old, any time away from housework is great! I'm delighted that we get to keep the dishwasher, particularly as it's the first thing I've ever won!

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?*

Not having anything to compare it with, the make of dishwasher wouldn't immediately spring to mind so much as the difference in having the gadget itself. However, if asked I would certainly recommend it as being easy to use and quiet. It remains to be seen as to whether or not our water meter takes a hit - if our next water bill isn't too hideous then I might go the whole hog and recommend it.

Hope that's helpful to AEG/Mumsnet - sorry I couldn't think of any original questions myself but if anyone wants to know anything specific, I'd be happy to try to answer...

schoolgril - I don't mean to scare you - but you should NEVER put the dishwasher (or washing machine) on and a) leave the house of b) go to bed.

Happy to add my comments here and still really amazed that we get to keep the dishwasher (My friend is also pleased as we gave her our old one!)

To answer the questions:

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

We've had a dishwasher since 2004 and pretty much couldn't live without one (well, obviously we could but you know what I mean).
Overall, I would say the AEG was slightly better than our old Hotpoint one (and would cost alot more). I'm not sure what version we got as I couldn't find it on the website but I think it was a standard one. It was slightly smaller than the Hotpoint (although that could be perception) as we have found we probably put slightly more washes on per week than before. It was also not as easy to load as our Hotpoint, although I really liked the fact you can lower or raise the upper basket. However, overall the cleaning result was better than the old one, so overall it comes out better.

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

We are definately getting better results with the dishwasher. Plates clean better and only when we had a really full load and it was on the auto setting did we have dirty dishes at the end. We soon learnt that the 70 degree hot wash is needed for a really full or dirty load.
In my opinion though, the Finish tablets are not that better than our usual ones - we got more or less the same results so all I can put it down to is the dishwasher performance. To be honest, it is what I expected as I have heard good things about AEG.

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

We can definately fit everything in from one meal (with the caveat that anal careful DP won't allow us to put the pans into a dishwasher as they are apparently very good 'cheffy' ones and can only be washed by hand. Hey ho) and we normally put a wash on every other day. We normally fit everything in and if there some things we can't it depends on the mood I am in - either wash them up or leave them till the next load. Doesn't bother me, and we always fit at least a day and a bit in, unless we've had a wild party or something (I wish!)

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

We still wash up pans and our daughter's cups by hand (not sure why we do this as she's 2.5 and nothing else is washed by hand.....) but apart from that, everything else gets bunged in! I'm lucky that my hands never got bothered by washing up, so I don't notice a difference. I think time-wise i'd notice a difference if the dishwasher was rubbish or we didn;t have one!

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

It's not changed out routine as we always had one but I feel more confident in it's ability to wash properly - the old one was a bit hit and miss. the minor niggles about not being able to fit quite as much in and finding the layout not quite as well-planned are very minor and are overshadowed by the wash quality.
To be honest, I'm still pinching myself that we get to keep the dishwasher and am really grateful (Ha - DP can be a bit unkind about MNetters so he ate his words!). Our old Hotpoint was OK but it was getting a bit old/worn. In the week we found out we'd got the dishwasher, we also won tickets to Peppa Pig world and I got a bfp, so overall it was quite a week!!

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

I'm sure I would, depending on their budget. There are cheaper brands on the market but i think the build quality justifies the extra cost. It would also depend on whether they have a water meter. We don't so don't have to worry about the water bill but I think a dishwasher works out better value than hand washing anyway.

The only other comment is that their installation team might need some refresher training. They installed the dishwasher and we we tried to use it, it wouldn't work. DP then discovered they hadn't switched it on at the plug. Had I been on my own, I might not have been able to pull it out to take a look.

Oh, and I'm happy to leave my dishwasher on at night/when i got out. I leave my TV/sly box plugged in, so don't really worry.

OK, here's my 2p worth:

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

We've never had a dishwasher before so it was a bit of a learning experience about the best way to stack it, and so on. I thought it was a bit odd that we were supposed to try all the settings, but the tablets provided weren't suitable for the quick wash. I don't like the squeaky, metallic feeling the things come out with. In general, we got used to it very quickly and are very happy with it.

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

The cleaning results are very impressive, at least if things are relatively clean to start with. It doesn't seem so good with starchy things or fruit juice unless they're well rinsed first. Things like glasses are definitely better. I like the fact that fiddly things like the salad spinner basket and valves from the kids' cups come out really well too.

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

No, not all the saucepans, mixing bowls etc but yes to all plates, glasses etc. It was also tricky to fit in things like spatulas and big serving spoons. We had the XL model, but still couldn't fit everything in.

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

Definitely doing less hand-washing now, but still doing some - non-stick pans, things that won't fit, wooden chopping boards and good knives. DH does the washing up so it doesn't affect my hands - they're wrecked by all the nappy changes instead!

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

It's definitely changed our routine. I love being able to hide the dirty dishes until the end of the day instead of having them all over the work tops. Evenings feel a bit more relaxed, although we do sometimes resent the bits of hand-washing more! I'm thrilled to be keeping the dishwasher - it would definitley be hard to go back to life without one.

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

Probably, although they're pricey, so it would depend on budget.

Oh yes, and like MrsAR said, the installation team were hopeless. They didn't call us to let us know they were coming because they'd been given the wrong number! They also couldn't install it, but that was because the previous owners of our house had taken away some vital connection thing which we had to go to B&Q for.

I also can't believe we get to keep it - keep thinking it's all been a horrible mistake and someone's going to come and take it back not that they'd get near it

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

Another family here who'd never had a dishwasher. Found it pretty easy to start using and got the kids involved immediately, showing them how to stack. Too young to wash up but not too young to stack a dishwasher! The very best thing is that all the dishes are washed at once - and not by me! Kitchen always looked untidy before - there would invariably be dishes on the side as well as in the sink and if not there'd be a load drying. Now it's generally clear. Also amazed at how quiet it is. I was always under the impression that they were quite noisy with lots of loud 'whooshy' noises and clunking. Nothing I don't like - although we're metered so I may revise that when I get my next water bill (slightly worried about that after some of the comments!)

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

Cleaning results have been superb. I haven't actually rinsed thoroughly beforehand but have never had any food residue. I am still pleasantly surprised at just how clean everything comes out. Glasses do sparkle and roasting tins/casserole dishes have been particularly impressive. Definitely better than washing by hand.

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

We've got and XXL but not sure how much bigger than average this is? We've generally been able fit the washing from an average family meal in - plus breakfast stuff (tend to put dishwasher on the evening) If we've been entertaining some gets carried over to the next load but not a huge amount.

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

Much much less by hand, but not stopped completely. Will occasionally do a large item that isn't too dirty by hand, a few things that we have only one of (I think someone already mentioned something like that), wooden boards and spoons etc.. Enormous improvement in state of my hands and nails.

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

Like schoolgirl, I didn't hate washing up particularly, but did hate drying and we have a very small sink and limited counter space and I did hate the mess. The whole process would also take soooo long and usually have to be done in several stages. I'd very often come home to not only the kids' dinner dishes but their breakfast dishes as well... Now everything goes straight in the dishwasher, I press a button and LEAVE THE KITCHEN.
I just feel so incredibly lucky to be able to keep the dishwasher. It's one thing to win something when you've never won anything but quite something again to win the one thing that you thought could really improve your home life (and be right )

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would certainly recommend it on it's performance.
Oh and I didn't have any problems with installation - in fact I couldn't believe how quick it was, in and out in 20mins tops!

First of all I must say thank you! I can not tell you how excited I was when I found out we had won! I had to keep pinching myself to check I was awake and not dreaming. DH initially was sceptical (couldnt believe I'd won!) but has been won round very quickly!!
The only other thing i have ever won on MN was a bottle of washing up liquid (i can see a pattern emerging here!) I just hope the video feedback is ok - I am sure in RL I do not sound like I do on that film!!

Anyway the feedback...... we had the slimline dishwasher btw

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

Neither me or DH have had a dishwasher since we lived at home with parents so initally we were a bit rubbish at loading it tbh but once we worked out not to leave things so close together we got on fine with loading. We love love love the dishwasher, the best thing is no more dirty cups and crocks hanging around the kitchen and not coming into mountains of washing up all the time.

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

I was truly impressed with how clean the dishwasher gets things. Everything came out so shiny! Obviously our washing up left much to be desired!! But my pans were glistening and the cutlery looked like new. Everything feels really clean too which in comparision the washing up done by hand doesnt.

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

Despite having the slimline version we do manage to fit pretty much everything in, the only exceptions being the wok and the bigger saucepans (if we have used alot of plates during the day)and things like the grill pan which i wouldnt put in. We run it once a day and only wash up occasionally now, and thats only a couple of things.

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

Washing up??? whats that??? As I said we do very very little now compared to the 3-4 bowlfuls per day we did previously (and sometimes more at a weekend) We do occasionally do the bigger things by hand. Hand wise my skin isnt half as dry as before (we live in a hard water area and I have very dry skin anyway) DH has also noticed he gets less cracks on his fingers (not that I chain him to the kitchen sink or anything!)

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

Yes it has changed our daily life considerably for the better! We definately more time in the evenings and at the weekends. I hadnt realised how much time we spent washing up tbh. I cant describe the excitement of being able to keep it Ive never felt so lucky - its a good job otherwise i think we would have had to go and buy one as we would struggle to go back to washing everything up by hand. Its the whole `cook tea, eat tea, wash up, put away routine', by the time we are done it can be 9pm and nearly bedtime.

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would recommend our AEG dishwasher - we get an awful lot in it considering its slimline (although there are only 3 of us, you'd probably have to run it more often if you were a bigger family) and the cleaning quality is pretty good. We use the time deal as well as we are still on Economy 7.
I was also pretty impressed with how quiet it is - in comparision my washing machine sounds like Concorde taking off.

The only issue we had with installation was that the hole in the cupboard wasnt big enough for the new style dishwasher water connection (previous owners had a dishwasher but we never got round to getting one) Fortunately as they came at 7.30am DH was still around and was able to make it bigger.

Thank you so much MN HQ - its been fabulous!!!

Well thanks again for the new dishwasher. All in all it is a definite improvement on my old one which used to spout jets of steam from the top corners. As said by others though, the installation crew were terrible. They took my old one out, popped the new one in and were about to leave when I asked was it supposed to be leaning down by 2cm at one side. They said it was my floor, but the previous appliance was good as adjusted well. Eventually sorted but still at an angle from front to back which means the bottom tray rolls back in unless you pull it over the door lip, highly annoying, but apparently it doesn't have adjustable feet at the back at all.

1. Overall, how did you and your family find the dishwasher to use? What did you like best about having the dishwasher? What didn't you like, and why?

My family and I rely on a dishwasher as there are 7 of us to wash up for. Once we'd gotten used to the different layout it was great. we had the XL one to test. The Pro setting is fantastic for really grubby stuff and it is so much quieter than our old machine. Still don't really like the top shelf layout, needs to be more suitable for mugs, glasses etc.

1. What did you think of the cleaning results from the dishwasher and Finish tablets? Are the dishes cleaner than you thought they?d be? If you had a dishwasher before, are you getting better cleaning results than with your old dishwasher or not? If you didn't have a dishwasher before, do you find that it cleans the dishes better than you/your family did by hand or not?

It definitely cleans better than my old dishwasher. Not sure I liked the Finish tabs though, they seemed to leave a really strong smell in the dishwasher. My old fairy ones didn't.

1. Could you fit all of your family's pots, pans, plates, glasses etc from one meal in the dishwasher at once? Could you fit any more than that? If you couldn't fit everything from one meal in, how much did you have to wash up by hand/leave until the next load?

The top layer was really difficult to fill, it seems to be set up so that you can get more plates, bowls etc in it. We get through lots of glasses and cups, so not as easy to load and seemed a bit unstable in areas. we could get some of the pots and pans in but not all plus the whole days dishes.

1. If you did any washing up by hand before you had this new dishwasher, are you doing less washing up by hand now? Have you been able to stop washing up by hand completely? If you're doing less/no washing up by hand now, do you think your hands feel any different as a result?

We had a 2 week holiday in the middle of the test time and we certainly noticed that a dishwasher is kinder on your skin than washing by hand. we still do some washing by hand after the evening meal as not all the trays and pots fit in.

1. Overall, would you say that having your new dishwasher has changed your daily routine at all? If so, is it for the better or worse? As you know, you get to keep your dishwasher after the product test - how do you feel about that and why?

Not really changed our routine as we had one before, but overall I'm happy with the new machine, the Pro setting is fantastic for really grubby stuff and it is so much quieter than our old machine. Sometimes I have to check that it's actually working.

1. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend an AEG dishwasher to your friends/family? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, as it's so quiet and efficient, but would have to add the disclaimer about the top shelf layout being annoying.

Thanks again MN and AEG.

Thanks for all your feedback (video and written!) - we'll pass it on to AEG and Finish, who are very grateful for your time. Space NK vouchers will be in the post soon - I'll email you when they're on their way.

Thanks again!