Best Dishwashers Buying Guide

Confused about how to buy a Dishwasher? Well, dishwashers are simple to buy as there are dozens of options available in India. We are going to answer your most frequently asked questions like – Which is the best for you, how do they work or how to use them.

Do not worry, we have curated a list of best dishwashers available in the Indian market after thorough research, which is shared in a separate article.

Specially, we have kept in mind the budget and special needs of the Indian kitchen. Follow along the latest comprehensive Dishwasher Buying Guide to assist in finalizing your decision. Dishwashers were once thought to be luxury appliances however, now it is a must-have kitchen appliance which is a great way to save time and effort in the kitchen.

Irrespective of the size of your home or family, it can cater for your specific needs and they are unlike the automobiles. You do not require the latest make and model to meet your requirements.  

They have evolved into a must have appliance in the Indian kitchen, as we have recently seen during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. You might be wondering why the hell in any case do I require a Dishwasher?Gone are the days when it used to be a luxury kitchen appliance, it plays an important role today as most of the ladies are working and in the daily hustle bustle, nobody has so much of time to do the daily chores day in and day out.

After a tiring work routine, who intends to clean the dishes before going to the bed?

The unprecedented work load during the pandemic and absence of house help has necessitated the requirement of a dishwasher.

It gives you a freedom of mind to plan and do other activities, and invest your valuable time in more fruitful activities/hobbies like reading, sketching, music, watch TV and other recreational activities.

In the coming posts, I’ll review the Best Dishwashers you can buy in India.

Once you have finally made up your mind to buy it or are still confused, I am jotting down certain important aspects that you need to consider before investing in this must have kitchen appliance.

Dishwasher Buying Guide

Before we start the buying guide, it is good to know that there are predominantly two type of dishwashers – American and European and each has its own different features.

We have discussed both of them in the following article.     

Budget

First of all and most important is the budget and the good news is that there no correlation in the price and the cleaning power.

There are lesser priced dishwashers which perform better than the costlier models but the only issue is that you’ll not get all the fancy features which has all the bell and whistles.  

Type     

For your particular needs, the appliance manufacturing companies have manufactured different type of models – Portable, Built in, Drawer type, free-standing, slimline and Countertop models. For people on budget, the countertop models are most economical.

Every type has its own pros and cons like the double drawer option for an in-built dishwasher lets you keep the kitchen tidy as you can load one drawer while other drawer is already washing the dishes. 

Sound Rating

Important point to note here is that the expensive dishwashers have lower sound ratings which is measured in decibel level or dBA rating.

Different manufacturers use use different terms to explain how do they reduce noise. Most common usage is of the decibel (db) level.

Dishwashers with 40 to 50 dbA noise levels are fairly quiet. They come with as low as 37 decibels (dBA) rating.

Typically, anything under 44 dBAs is relatively quiet. The lower the db level or number, the quieter it is, while in use. 

European models are typically quieter than their American counterparts.

Pro Tip – Anything under 44 dBA is more than adequate. Do not buy a dishwasher under 42 dBA just for quietness alone as the price is likely to increase dramatically.

Size

While choosing your appliance, you should consider is the overall dimension/size. The standard dishwashers are 24 inches wide and 33 to 35 inches in height and are designed to be installed under the the kitchen counter-top.

 If you are finding difficulty in accommodating the built-in dishwasher, a portable or a counter-top models are a good option.

Most of the portable dishwashers have four wheels underneath to move it when dish washing is complete.

Racks

Racks and wash cycles are the only features that change between its different types. The better dishwashers will have an adjustable top rack and adjustable tines to accommodate bigger pots and pans.

Some of them will have a rack exclusively for silverware. Some of them have the capability where all the racks can flip up and be removed.

Capacity

The capacity is determined by how many complete place settings it can hold in each wash load.

Most standard ones have twelve place settings for different kind of dishes. Larger households might require large dishwasher that holds up to fourteen settings.

Appearance and Controls

Then comes the Appearance.

Its door may have a concealed control or an visualized exposed control or a recessed handle appearance.

Max dishwashers have controls on the front, some with pocket handles or towel bar handles.

Placing panels on a dishwasher is a great design idea as it blends seamlessly with the cabinet style of your kitchen. it makes it indistinguishable from the actual cabinets.

Some of them have a bottom light to indicate while the dishwashers is running and switches off when the complete wash cycle finishes.

Construction  

The inside tub construction material is of two types – Stainless Steel and Plastic. 

They both hold water, however, quality perception certainly favours stainless steel tubs. European models have stainless tubs and are typically quieter than their American counterparts.

Due to the Stainless steel material quality, the preference is given to them. Stainless steel material not only gives a beautiful, modern look to the appliance as well as to the kitchen.

Stainless steel material is non-porous, restricts bad odours and germs and is more hygienic.

It keeps the inside cavity and the dishes bacteria-free in comparison to the plastic material ones

The stainless steel also aids in drying process by pulling the hot moist air from the washed hot dishes. One more advantage of stainless steel material is that it keeps the tub hot during the cleaning process, thereby, making the dishes easier to clean and making it more energy efficient as well as they use less water and energy by keeping the water hotter.

Pro Tip – Clean plastic tubs with citric acid a few times every year as it  kills bacteria, germs and mildew. It is also great for general disinfection and cleaning. It is also effective in the removing soap and hard water stains, calcium deposits and rust.

Garburator or Hard Food Disposal Feature     

In certain class of dishwashers, some have Garburator or Hard Food Disposal Feature. 

This feature is a special one as it helps you if you do not like to pre-wash, scrape or rinse your dishes before loading them into the appliance.

This is installed inside the unit and it works to eliminate the food residue, mush and grime so that it does not soil your clean dishes throughout the cycle.American models have a grinder at the bottom and the European models have a removable filter. American models also tend to have more cycles and options and are typically less expensive. 

Some of the models have self-cleaning filters, whereas others have filters that must be removed and cleaned manually.

This filtration system is an important one from it’s maintenance perspective. 

Wash Cycle

The Wash cycles only change time and temperature of the washing, rinsing and drying functions.

It is unlike the clothes washing machines as the dishwashers do not alter the velocity of the water. Putting it in other words, there is no true gentle cycle. Most of them have a 60-minute express wash cycle. Certain dishwashers have a quick a 20-minute wash and dry cycle.

The china and crystal cycles are quite simply shorter washes and longer rinses at a lower temperature. Some of them have special nozzles to remove the residue left behind in the bottom of baby bottles.

Some of them have a bottom light to indicate while it is running and switches off when the complete wash cycle finishes.

Pots & Pans: Extended wash cycle with regular heat (120° – 140°).

Normal: Cycle without the preheat of the above.

China / Crystal: Shorter wash at a lower temperature.

Silverware Racks: Can be placed on the door or as a third rack on top of the glasses.

Autowash: Cycle uses a soil sensor to adjust the water use.

Half-Load: Cycle for washing the top rack onlySanitize: Heats up the rinse part of the wash to remove bacteria.

Temperature: 120° to 160° depending on the cycle and it’s brand.Speed60: Wash and dry a small load within 60 minutes.

Drying

Some of them use the Zeolite Drying. Zeolite is a volcanic element used in supplements among many other uses.

The Zeolite absorbs moisture and increases heat for better drying. Beside Zeolite drying, some of them use outside air to dissipate the humid and hotter air.

The bad thing is their inability to dry plastics. Some specific models have auto-opening doors, so they pop open after the cycle to speed up the drying process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concluding Remarks

Dishwashers are simple to buy.

You check your budget, then step up in features, cycles, racks, and noise levels and then pick your brand.

Do comment in case you liked the buying guide. In case you still have any questions, feel free to comment or contact us, we’ll try to assist you in finding the best product per your requirement.