Dishwashers

The new essential kitchen appliance!

There are many types of dishwasher, from table-top models to those designed to fit under a standard kitchen worktop. The standard width is 60cm but an increasing number of slimline models are being sold that measure just 45cm wide.

Another dishwasher type is the integrated model, designed to become part of your fitted kitchen by the attachment of your own cabinet door made from wood or stainless steel. When closed, the dishwasher is completely hidden from view, giving your kitchen a clean, uncluttered sight line.

Built-in machines account for 23% of the dishwasher market and appear to be growing in popularity each year. The controls are to be found in the top edge of the door once opened, if fully-integrated, or on the visible front portion when closed, if semi-integrated. Once the drop-door is opened, it is designed to stay open at any angle, allowing the user to load or unload the machine with both hands.

Dishwashers have never been more effective and yet they use half of the water and approximately 40% less electricity than they did 10 years ago.

Some dishwashers can be used only part-full. Bosch and Miele, for example, have recently introduced a special 'upper basket only' wash programme that is designed for when you simply wish to clean up after breakfast, or to freshen up a few items which you need to reuse. The wash performance in this dishwasher is just as good as the normal top basket result, so now you don't have to wait until the machine is full.
Whatever your needs, surf our site to find the right dishwasher for your home.

Dishwashers conserve water

By now everyone is aware that we experience water shotages from time to time! It is difficult for some to take this problem seriously when we live on an island where rain seems to fall much of the time. This year however, we all need to do our bit, such as taking showers rather than a bath and turning off the tap whilst cleaning our teeth.........but the very interesting fact found by Bosch Domestic Appliances is that every household can save up to 23.000 litres a year by buying an energy efficient dishwasher which typically use just 12 litres of water per wash compared to 63 litres if you wash the dishes by hand!

Why use a dishwasher?

Dishwasher market penetration in the UK is very low; much lower than most people think, at around 25-30%. Austria is recorded at 67%, while Switzerland is 64%. So why are there not more dishwashers in the UK?

It is thought that the most common reasons are the lack of apparent space in kitchens, and the perception that dishwashers are energy hungry and uneconomic. Whilst a little planning is needed to accommodate a dishwasher whatever its size, the other argument is easier to respond to. The average family uses an estimated 88 litres of water per day to hand-wash dishes, whilst a dishwasher uses just 9 to 20 litres, and washes at a much higher temperature than your hands could bear, ensuring a better, more hygienic wash.

Just imagine how you could spend all that dish-washing time not being a slave to the kitchen sink ...and maybe have a meal for two with the savings! Washing dishes by hand is not only tiresome but is estimated that you will actually consume 40% more electricity than is used by a dishwasher. Energy consumption does of course vary, but with some models using less than 10p to provide a thorough clean, it is questionable why anyone would wish to waste time, effort and energy when they could just leave the hard work to the dishwasher!