Help! Buying new dishwasher: where to start?

[CloneAViralMess]

I have absolutely no idea what to look for in a dishwasher apart from vague price range.
I assume they will all wash my dishes so what else do I need to keep in mind when looking round?

(Integrated)

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MNHQ

[Twizbe]

Don't get an integrated one. They are a pain if they break and can warp the cupboard door.

[PickAChew]

We love our newish bosch serie 6, cutlery rack, weird drying stone and everything. It's easy to start and things do come out of it mostly dry, apart from deep dimples in the bottom of cups etc.

We wash glasses by hand, anyhow, so don't need the space for tall ones.

[PickAChew]

And we did replace an integrated machine with a freestanding one. Not entirely out of choice. Our integrated one died a year ago and there was naff all in stock, anywhere, of any specification, cheap or expensive.

[user1498572889]

Look for one that doesn’t use a lot of water. You use less water using a dishwasher than you do washing up in the sink. Make sure you put everything you use in there and put it on once a day. The eco program will be the cheapest one to use regarding electric although it takes the longest time.. make sure u have plenty of plates cups etc then you won’t end up washing things by hand because you have run out. Buy the best one you can afford and avoid programs you won’t use. Avoid Miele dishwashers they are not as good as they were.

[user1498572889]

If you go for a German appliance you will have a wait as there is a problem with supply at the moment.

[Roselilly36]

We have a Bosch one, very quiet and great cleaning performance, would recommend.

[minipie]

We got a Bosch mainly as it was the quietest I could find (I think they call it SuperSilent or something ) and we are fairly open plan.

I didn’t want a cutlery tray but all the quietest models had cutlery trays. I’m now a complete convert, it’s brilliant. Can also use it for small plastic lids, eggcups and other small bits that don’t work well in the main baskets.

[FirstAconite]

Miele. It has a sensible cutlery tray and you can raise or lower the upper basket on one side only which we've used lots. Also got an ikea, not sure who makes theirs. It's very good but the bottom cutlery basket takes up too much useful space.

[Spookytooth]

I don't like the cutlery tray as imv it's slower to pack machine - I like chucking mine in the bottom in the basket, then lift the basket out above the cutlery drawer and empty - better, see?
Mine's a bosch

[MintyIguana]

Is the upper cutlery tray thing a safety thing? So you don't trip over and impale yourself on the sharp knives you've put pointed upwards in the cutlery basket (I have heard of it happening)?

[Tinkletwat]

I like being able to adjust the height of the middle shelf in mine. Also beams a light on the floor when it's running, couldn't justify the extra £100 to project the timer onto the floor (integrated machine).

[Champagneforeveryone]

Some years ago I saw a woman walking round Curry's with a dinner plate in her hand. Young me scoffed at the ridiculousness of it all.

Fast forward a few years and I managed to buy a dishwasher that didn't fit my dinner plates. That was an expensive lesson learnt

[CasperGutman]

We've always bought the cheapest dishwasher in stock for next day delivery when we needed one. We've had a Zanussi, an Indesit and a Beko, so nothing flashy. They've all worked well and cleaned (and dried) effectively.

We left the Zanussi when we moved house, the other two are both in the kitchen now. In fifteen years the only repair anything's needed is a new door catch on the Indesit.

I'd just buy the cheapest going, personally. It's worked out so far.

[FirstAconite]

@MintyIguana

Is the upper cutlery tray thing a safety thing? So you don't trip over and impale yourself on the sharp knives you've put pointed upwards in the cutlery basket (I have heard of it happening)?

Its mainly to free up space in the bottom so you can fit more in each wash, although they are safer too (iirc several people have died this way, including a child in the UK). Also, because cutlery isn't crowded into a basket, it's a really effective clean. You can lift the tray out to put cutlery away. It's just individual choice, some like them, some don't. They'll definitely save electricity though as you can fit much more in.

[RainbowMum11]

Noise, energy efficiency and water usage would be the first filters (after the size of course)

[Spookytooth]

You can lift the tray out to put cutlery away.

AAaaa, you learn something new everyday.......

[September29th]

@CloneAViralMess

Wow thank you all so much!

Food for thought.

Yes my feeling is to get something simple that will... hopefully... last!

Ps. *@September29th* I really think you should get a different dishwasher!

I hope you get the right one. Do check it dries won't you?

I am trying to get it taken back/exchanged. It doesn't even have an extra dry option. I will say very clearly for anyone who is looking for a dishwasher - DO NOT BUY A SIEMENS SE23HW64CG DISHWASHER UNLESS YOU LIKE DRYING UP BY HAND.

My neighbour just got the one I wanted, a basic Beko, which makes it even worse, although she made the mistake of using AO who have a record for not plumbing in and telling you to get a plumber, did it to me, and to her and a few other neighbours. They are also off my list.

[September29th]

@CurtainTroubles

Subscribe to Which? and just buy the best rated one.

I did that with a washing machine. Not many were even reviewed on there out of the ones available to buy and I ended up with a duff one of those too. I knew I should have taken the washing to the stream...

[YoungA98]

I have a pull-out drawer dishwasher from Fisher & Paykell which I love. It was a bit pricey but for me, with a bad back and knees, the fact its a drawer and higher up means i don't have to bend over or kneel down to get to it or use it.

[Zinnia]

The Which? best rated dishwasher at the moment is this one https://www.johnlewis.com/bosch-serie-6-smv6zcx01g-fully-integrated-dishwasher/p5558591#product

It's OOS at John Lewis but if you can get hold of one, buy it. We've only had ours for 2 months but I love it like I never thought I could possibly love a houseful appliance, cutlery tray and all. It just works brilliantly.

[ponkydonkey]

Love my Bosch too

[CloneAViralMess]

Thank you all so much for your help.

I've now subscribed to 'Which?' and had high hopes .. and yes it has helped me to narrow down to budget of £4K max.

However their product reviews seem quite limited/out of date though, so the one that looked the best in my price range was manufactured 2017 and now isn't widely available. Curry's have it but normally I'd shop round for other stockists/amazon/eBay ex-displays etc to find it cheaper. And other dishwashers I've found on websites don't seem to be on Which 🤷‍♀️ It was worth a look but not sure why you'd get out a full annual subscription with them.

[GiantKitten]

@CloneAViralMess

Thank you all so much for your help.

I've now subscribed to 'Which?' and had high hopes .. and yes it has helped me to narrow down to budget of £4K max.

However their product reviews seem quite limited/out of date though, so the one that looked the best in my price range was manufactured 2017 and now isn't widely available. Curry's have it but normally I'd shop round for other stockists/amazon/eBay ex-displays etc to find it cheaper. And other dishwashers I've found on websites don't seem to be on Which 🤷‍♀️ It was worth a look but not sure why you'd get out a full annual subscription with them.

It’s true that there isn’t a lot to go at in Which any more. Years ago they would test dozens of models & only publish results once a year; now they test more frequently, but only a few at a time, and also devote much more energy to things like their own campaigns, and service suppliers.

The AO website is quite good for user reviews iirc. That might be more helpful.

[Shmithecat2]

@CloneAViralMess

Thank you all so much for your help.

I've now subscribed to 'Which?' and had high hopes .. and yes it has helped me to narrow down to budget of £4K max.

However their product reviews seem quite limited/out of date though, so the one that looked the best in my price range was manufactured 2017 and now isn't widely available. Curry's have it but normally I'd shop round for other stockists/amazon/eBay ex-displays etc to find it cheaper. And other dishwashers I've found on websites don't seem to be on Which 🤷‍♀️ It was worth a look but not sure why you'd get out a full annual subscription with them.

£4k???? Bloody hell. I'm neither poor nor tight, but I'd want a £4k dishwasher to also cook and put away the dishes for me after cleaning them.

Go for a Bosch series. You can't go wrong.