Say goodbye to the sink pile-up and invest in an easy and effortless dishwasher. House and Home brings you the best buyers guide and top usage tips.
- There are three ratings that relate to performance; energy consumption, wash performance and drying efficiency. These are A, B and C, A being the highest. These ratings are standardised throughout the industry.
- Decibel rating is how much noise the machine will make at its loudest. For example a normal conversation would rate at 60 db, whispering at 42 db and breathing at 20 db. It is generally considered that a reasonable noise level is below 50 decibels.
- Some features that you should expect from your new machine include: height adjustable upper baskets; anti flood technology; low water consumption; delay start function.
- Anti-leak technology works where a sensitive valve is poised to shut down water supply immediately if it senses any wetness. Most new dishwashers will offer this function.
- If the water in your area is hard, limescale build up will affect the optimum wash performance of your dishwasher and damage your crockery. Dishwasher salt must be added separately to the machine at least twice a year. Look out for models which enhance performance for hard water areas.
- The size of dishwashers is generally standardised at 60 cm wide, which will usually fit 12 place settings in one wash. There are also 45cm wide options which are becoming more popular for smaller spaces.
- Make sure to clean the filter regularly, otherwise odours can build up.
- The rubber seal between the door and the machine can attract a lot of grime. To clean, brush it vigorously with a mix of bicarbonate of soda, salt and washing up liquid and finish with a rinse cycle.
- Always ensure for every wash that the spinning spray arms, found at the bottom and the top of the machine, are able to spin freely without getting caught on cutlery or other items. Otherwise you will damage your machine, and leave your crockery insufficiently washed.
- Also check the spray arms themselves as sometimes the water holes can become blocked with small food items.
- There are many dishwasher cleaners available, so make sure you use one at least every two months.
- Replacement basket rollers are readily available as rollers can sometimes age faster than the machine itself.
- When packing, place the plates and bowls as upright as possible, facing inward so as to have optimum access to water coming from the spray arms.
- It is important not to overload a dishwasher. You will only have to rewash a larger portion of the dishes. Consider installing your dishwasher at waist height to make it more accessible and save your back from strain.
Advertisement
