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Over the past couple of decades the dishwasher has come a long way in both styling and efficiency, with today’s AAA-rated machines using less than half the amount of water used to wash a comparable load in the 1980s.
But, according to the Australian Consumers' Association (ACA) Choice Magazine, not all contemporary dishwashers are created equal. Here’s a rundown of what to look out for, starting with the major decision you’ll have to make: do you choose a cold, hot or dual connection machine?
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Cold water connection
Good points
- Heats up its own water – good if you have a limited hot water supply.
- Full use of programs at different temperatures.
- Better results when using enzyme-based detergents.
Bad points
- Longer programs than hot water connection (because of extra time to heat water).
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Hot water connection
Good points
- Faster programs because it doesn’t need to heat its own water.
Bad points
- Can’t effectively use,economy or glass/fast wash programs, which wash at lower temperatures.
- You may need a tempering valve to reduce your hot water temperature to manufacturers’ specifications. Tempering valves mix the hot and cold water before it reaches the tap and should be fitted by a licensed plumber.
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Dual (hot and cold) connection
Good points
- With electronic models, you can switch from cold to hot or vice versa with a touch of a few buttons. This allows you to use a hot water connection for normal cycles and take advantage of cheaper timeslots with Aurora Pay As You Go, or switch to cold-only or hot-plus-cold for glass or bio programs.
Bad points
- Few models give you this option.
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Energy efficiency – are you seeing stars?
Look for a good energy rating: the more stars (up to six) the better. Be warned that these ratings may not be directly comparable from model to model. This is because manufacturers can choose any program that meets the minimum cleaning requirements. Read the fine print to check which program the dishwasher was tested on.
A word from the Australian Consumers’ Association about energy rating label certification: “At the moment, manufacturers’ can test their own products for energy label certification, but as of 1 October 2004, tests for certification must be done in a laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA). It’s a step in the right direction, but still allows manufacturers to test their own products if their lab’s NATA-accredited. And although regulatory authorities do regular check-testing, we still think independent NATA-accredited lab testing is in the best interests of consumers”.
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The right fit?
- Check available space in your kitchen, and allow room at the back for ventilation. Space at the sides will help when installing the dishwasher.
- Take a few of your normal dinnerware items to the store and try them out to see if they fit.
- For confined spaces, consider a slimline or compact model that can be placed on a benchtop or built in to the bench.
- Some models have mobile versions or mobile conversion kits – so you can wheel the dishwasher up to the sink when you need to use it.
And don’t forget to…
- Check that the filters are easy to remove and clean.
- Check the dishwasher has all the programs you’ll want to use regularly.
- If you like to use enzyme-based detergents, look for a ‘bio’ or economy program that washes at around 50°C for best results.
- Look for a salt dispenser if you live in an area with hard water.
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Useful features and innovations
- Height adjustable baskets and removable plate racks for more versatility.
- Optional anti-nesting grids on the cutlery baskets or cutlery trays.
- Child-safe detergent dispensers and door locks.
- Anti-flood device: this activates the water supply valve and the drain pump if there is a water leak in the machine.
- Fault displays help you identify simple problems and avoid unnecessary service calls.
- Fan-assisted drying can improve drying by removing condensation.
- Half-load option and load sensing let you wash smaller loads more
economically.
- Half-load adjusts the water and program times for smaller loads. Load sensing adjusts them according to the number of items and soil.
- PC update: if new technology offers improved performance, a service engineer can upgrade your machine’s capabilities via a notebook computer.
- A hidden heating element prevents items from damage if they fall through the basket. This will stop the smell of food or plastic burning onto the element.
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Types of detergents
The type of detergent you prefer can affect the type of machine that you eventually decide to buy (see enzymes). Here’s a brief rundown of active ingredients.
Alkaline salts: Alkaline salts make up as much as 95% of a typical dishwasher detergent. They help the cleaning process by reacting with the fats on the dishes. Detergent containing alkaline is very dangerous if swallowed because of its highly corrosive quality. Its very high pH dissolves away dirt but also, over time, strips away glazes on crockery and wears away glassware. Alkalis include sodium carbonate and sodium metasilicate. The latter is particularly caustic and dangerous if swallowed.
Enzymes: The purpose of enzymes is to get good wash results at lower temperatures, which is better for your crockery. Enzymes break down protein and starch-based stains such as egg, pasta and cereal. Detergents containing enzymes work best at temperatures around 40-55°C. You need to use them with a program that washes around this temperature.
Surfactants: They lower the water’s surface tension, soaking the dishes to loosen dirt and keeping it suspended in the water while not letting it settle back on the crockery.
Chlorine or oxygen bleaches: Helps break down protein soils and aid in removing tea and coffee stains. Chlorine can make your plastic kitchenware deteriorate.
Corrosion inhibitors: Some detergents include these to minimise corrosion of metal crockery and the dishwasher.
Like to find out more?
So there you have it, a comprehensive rundown on what to look for when you’re purchasing a dishwasher. This article is largely based on information supplied by the Australian Consumers’ Association. A full version can be found at the ACA’s website CHOICE Online (www.choice.com.au) at a cost of $9.95. This price includes access to Choice’s pick of Top Performers and Best Buys. It also includes access to an interactive ‘Compare-a-dishwasher’ function which evaluates over one hundred different models based on your ‘wishlist’ of features.
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