Dishwasher buying guide
Dishwashers can you save you time and effort plus a surprising amount of money on your electricity bills. That’s why we created this guide to help you with some of the more confusing aspects when it comes time to buy, such as installation queries, technical terms like place setting and how to find the machine with the best energy rating.
Look out for the ‘Our Experts Love’ range to find dishwashers that showcase the most standout features.
And of course, if you want to see what’s on offer for yourself, come down to one of our stores and we’ll be happy to help find the right appliance for you.
Dishwashers
Save time and money while keeping your dishes sparkling. Simply attach to your main water supply and you’re ready to go.
What place setting do I need?
Place setting refers to the number of items you can fit into your dishwasher. The higher the place setting, the more items you can fit in.
If you have a bigger family and you love cooking, then you’ll require a bigger place setting. If you have a small family or don’t cook as much then a smaller place setting will be more suitable. Bear in mind available space in your kitchen too, as the bigger the place setting, the more space you will need.
How can a dishwasher save you money?
How can a dishwasher save you time?
What flexible features should I look out for?
What do I need to know about installation and the waste pipes?
How do I maintain my dishwasher?
There are a variety of simple, economical ways to keep your dishwasher in top working order. A great starting point is to always follow the manufacturer’s advice about hard and soft water, as they can both affect dishwasher performance.
- Jets and heating elements can be blocked by limescale if you’re in a hard water area. You can soften your water by using dishwasher salt, which helps to keep your dishwasher limescale-free and in good working order for longer. You can also save money by regularly topping up the reservoir with granular salt, which helps you use less detergent and rinse-aid.
- Rinse aid helps reduce drying time and leaves your dishes shiny and streak-free. You add it to a special compartment and it’s released during the final hot rinse to reduce uneven drying and smearing. Indicators on many machines will also notify you when it's time to refill your salt or rinse aid reservoirs.
- Detergent comes in powder, tablet or liquid form. 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 tablets often include rinse aid and/or salt-based compounds, but hard water areas may affect how effective they are. That’s why it’s best to use separate detergent, rinse aid and salt, which can also help save money.
- Regularly applying dishwasher cleaner will help descale, degrease and freshen up your machine. You can also go one step further and use dishwasher fresheners, which provide a pleasant fragrance when you open the machine door.
Which dishwasher is best suited to me?
What is an integrated dishwasher?
How do I install an integrated dishwasher?
How do I install a freestanding dishwasher?
What is a semi-integrated dishwasher?
What types of dishes can be washed in a dishwasher?