Throw the washing up gloves away and buy a dishwasher. Once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. The latest dishwashers are more energy efficient and water efficient than ever, using about 15 litres of water per load, compared to about 150 litres when you wash up by hand. Plus, dishwashers are also more hygienic, give great results and are cost effective to run.
At Currys, you’ll be able to pick from a wide choice of brands like Bosch, Electrolux, Hotpoint, Indesit, Zanussi and Smeg. Refine your search by the number of place settings you’re looking for as well as by the brand you’ve chosen. We’re certain you’ll find the perfect one to fit your lifestyle and still be within your budget.
If you need help choosing, this guide will help answer your questions and give you some handy tips to make your overall purchase smooth sailing.
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First of all, think about where you’re going to put the dishwasher and what look you’re trying to achieve. Are you looking for a dishwasher that can stand its’ own, or one that’s hidden behind a cabinet door? At Currys we have a great selection of both freestanding and integrated dishwashers. Bear in mind that dishwashers need to be plumbed in and near a water supply. |
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Freestanding dishwashers are designed to fit under a counter or stand on their own. They’re easily available and you can find them in white, to match any other existing kitchen appliances, in silver for a modern looking kitchen or even in black or red for something different.
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Integrated or built in dishwashers have a matching door that fits over the front of the machine. This panel matches the rest of the units or cupboards, giving your kitchen a seamless look. To avoid disappointment, make sure you can get a door that’ll match the existing kitchen units.
You can choose from fully integrated or semi-integrated. Fully integrated dishwashers look just like a cupboard, with hidden controls on the top of the door. Semi-integrated dishwashers’ controls are visible at drawer height but have a panel over the front that matches the rest of the kitchen cupboards.
To whittle down your choice even more, choose from one of our integrated full size or slimline dishwashers, available at Currys and ensure you get the maximum out of the space you have available.
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Now it’s time to think about how much washing up you do and how many people your dishwasher needs to cater for. Consider the size of your family, whether you cook or entertain a lot and how much washing up you generate as a result.
A dishwasher’s capacity is measured in place settings, i.e how much crockery and cutlery fits in it. The bigger your family is or the more dishes you use and need to wash, the bigger the dishwasher you’ll need.
One place setting is equal to
- a small plate/side plate
- a large plate
- a cup and saucer
- cutlery
This excludes serving dishes, saucepans, pots and other utensils. |
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There are 3 main types of dishwashers. They’re classed according to their size and they vary in the number of place settings they can hold. The two space savers, slimline and table top dishwashers, are perfect for single households and holiday homes. If you have a family or enjoy entertaining, a full size one is ideal. |
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Full-size dishwasher
These can hold up to 15 place settings, but the average ones hold 12-14 settings. To give you an idea, 12 place settings are equal to 75 pieces of crockery and 52 pieces of cutlery.
Most have adjustable racks or baskets so you can set up your dishwasher to match your needs. The average dimensions are H 85cm x W 60cm x D 60cm. If you have a large family or love entertaining, go for a full-size dishwasher. At Currys, you can get a full size dishwasher for around £170.
Slimline
Slimline dishwashers generally hold 8 to 10 place settings and are perfect for a small household. They’re about the same height and depth as a full size one, but about 25% narrower, so they can fit into thinner places. The average dimensions are H 85cm x W 45cm x D 60cm.
If space is at a premium but you still need those extra place settings, this is the ideal dishwasher for you. With the prices ranging from £160 up to about £330, Currys has the perfect one to suit any pocket.
Table top
It’s no wonder they’re also known as compact dishwashers. Table-top dishwashers hold 4 – 6 place settings and are designed to sit on top of a work surface or on a draining board. They’re about the same size as a microwave, with average dimensions of H 45cm x W 55cm x D 51 cm. These great space savers aren’t only a convenient size, but they’re ideal for a single person household or a holiday home. Plus, they start at just £100.
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Dishwashers are easy to understand and easy to use. They typically have 4-5 programmes with different heat settings. To ensure you make the right choice, consider your daily needs.
The normal wash programme caters for a general load of dishes. If you create lots of washing up when you cook or need a lot of elbow grease to get pots and pans clean, look out for the intensive wash. If you just need to freshen up plates and glasses regularly, then a dishwasher with a quick wash is a must for you.
Some dishwashers have other special programmes that aim at protecting your glasses or crockery, like a glassware programme.
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The most common programmes are:
- Normal wash – general, all-purpose wash at 65°
- Quick wash – shorter cycle for lightly soiled dishes or glasses
- Economy (Eco) wash – uses the minimum amount of water by washing for longer but at a lower temperature of around 50°
- Half load – for when you don’t have enough dirty dishes to fill the dishwasher (although our green recommendation is to only run your dishwasher when you’ve a full load)
- Intensive wash – a hotter wash for heavily soiled dishes, like pots and pans
Some dishwashers have other special programmes and technologies. Look out for these if you think you’ll need them:
- Glassware/delicate – a gentler, lower temperature wash for glasses and china
- Pre wash or soak – this helps loosen hard dried food on pots and pans
- Extra dry – this feature increases the drying temperature and sometimes shortens the length of the overall programme to completely dry crockery and cutlery
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There’s also a lot of technology in new machines to help you select the right wash each time. |
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Sensor technology
These have sensors that automatically adjust the programme to the one that best suits the load. If you’re looking for perfect results every time, a sensor dishwasher is the one for you. They do tend to be a bit more pricey to buy at the outset, but the idea is that it’ll save on costs further down the line.
Bosch Hydrosensor III
These dishwashers check how dirty the pre-rinse water is and then decides whether a main wash is needed. This may reduce your water consumption dramatically.
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Some dishwashers have other features that make dishwashing life easier and are helpful to know about. Below are a few of the more common ones:
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Child/safety lock
Dishwashers deal with very hot water and strong detergents. This handy feature locks the door, so it can’t be opened when it’s running - a must if you’ve got inquisitive kids.
Cutlery basket
These baskets are usually placed on the lower rack and are removable, so you can lift them out when unpacking. They usually have removable grid tops with holes in them so you can separate pieces of cutlery to ensure all the bits of food are removed and the cutlery is washed properly.
Delay timer
Set your dishwasher to run when it’s convenient for you or to take advantage of lower electricity rates at night.
Flexible racks & baskets
Most dishwashers have a height adjustable top rack. This helps when loading different sized or awkwardly shaped pots, pans or plates in the lower rack. Some have a tilting upper rack, so you can make the most of the available basket space.
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Contrary to popular belief, dishwashers actually use less water and energy than washing up by hand. A fully loaded, full size dishwasher is the most economical to run. If you can’t fill one, look out for appliances with water and energy saving half loads.
Dishwashers are graded from A to G for cleaning performance, energy efficiency and drying efficiency. At Currys, we only stock A to C-rated dishwashers.
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So what does this mean?
Cleaning performance: A-rated dishwashers have been tested on their efficiency at removing dried grease or food and how sparkling clean your dishes are at the end of the wash.
Energy efficiency: An A grade for energy efficiency means the dishwasher uses less electricity and hot water, which means they’re more economical to run.
Drying performance: Dishwashers with an A rating for drying performance leave the least amount of water on your dishes at the end of the cycle.
An AAA rated dishwasher is an all-round champ in terms of washing, energy and drying. They may cost more to buy but will mean cleaner, dryer dishes and lower running costs.
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Before you finally put in your order for your new dishwasher, you may want to take the water consumption and noise levels into consideration as well. |
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- Water consumption
The amount of water a dishwasher uses can be deceivingly less than you think. Water consumption is measured by the amount of water used in a normal 65° wash programme.
Using an AAA rated dishwasher instead of traditional washing up can decrease your annual water consumption by around 40 bathtubs.
- Noise levels
If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen or want to keep your costs down by running your dishwasher during the lower tariff times at night, then noise will be a factor to look at. Look at the type of floor the dishwasher’s sitting on, as the dishwasher vibrates
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At Currys, for your peace of mind, we offer delivery, connection and collection services.
Find out more about our delivery, connection & collection services
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To help you get the most out of your dishwasher, we’ve put together a list of helpful things to remember. |
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All dishwashers need rinse aid and salt, which need to be regularly topped up. Salt softens hard water
and rinse aid helps the drying process and ensures your glasses, crockery and cutlery are sparkling clean with no watermarks.
- Dishwashers need to be plumbed in, so they need to be within easy access of your water supply.
- Read the dishwasher’s manual for information on using all-in-one dishwasher tablets and how to load it properly.
- Check if your crockery, china and glassware are dishwasher friendly.
- Remember to remove and rinse through the filters to get rid of any trapped food debris.
- Use a dishwasher cleaner now and again, to de-scale, degrease and refresh your appliance.
- Consider a dishwasher freshener for a really fresh smell when you open the door.
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Aqua stop
If the hose which fills the dishwasher with water splits or leaks, this will help prevent any flooding.
Auto clean filter
A self cleaning filter system from Whirlpool
Detergent aware
This means you can use all available detergents, including 3-in-1 combination dishwasher tablets.
Float switches
These detect any water in the base of the dishwasher and stop it from filling up any further. This prevents flooding.
Foldable racks
These adjustable racks can be folded and, sometimes, moved. This is useful for accommodating loads of different shapes and sizes.
Item clips
These clips hold smaller items, like plastic lids, in place.
Rinse and hold
This function is designed to help clean heavily soiled crockery or cutlery.
Separates (detergent tablets)
These tablets only have detergent in them. You’ll have to buy rinse aid and dishwasher salt separately.
Vario flex Plus basket
The basket is placed in the dishwasher and is suitable for washing long stemmed glasses, so the stems don’t snap off. Designed by Bosch.
3-in-1 dishwasher tablets
These tablets contain detergent, rinse aid and salt.
4-in-1 dishwasher tablets
They contain the same as the 3-in-1 tablets, but also have a glass protector function.
5-in-1 dishwasher tablets
They contain the same as the 4-in-1 tablets, but also have a stainless steel shine function.
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