How to Choose the Right Dishwasher?

The dishwasher is becoming an essential part of every modern household. Gone are the times when we were washing and putting away the dishes after lunch long into the afternoon. The fast tempo of life propels us into other duties and challenges, so we can now simply let our dishwasher handle this chore. It not only washes and dries the dishes, it saves us effort, time and, last but not least, money. To fulfil all of the above, however, we should select our dishwasher carefully and correctly.Below we offer some tips on how to choose just the right dishwasher for you.

When buying a dishwasher, you should definitely take into account several factors that affect the final decision and contribute to making the best possible choice. The first decision is directly linked to the purpose of use, as well as to the location and installation of the appliance. How many dishes you usually wash and how often you will use the dishwasher definitely depend on the size of your family, individual habits and needs. If you want your dishwasher to complement the overall look of your kitchen, it is essential that you also consider where you want to put it and choose the right size and dimensions. If you want to integrate it among existing kitchen elements, you will have to measure the height and width carefully. If you do not want an in-built appliance or do not have this option, you can choose a free-standing dishwasher. In this case, the design appearance of your chosen dishwasher is even more important.

From a user’s viewpoint, a dishwasher’s interior is also essential: a flexible arrangement of baskets and shelves are necessary to organize dishes correctly and can really simplify everyday use. In recent years, we developed a truly rich assortment of high-quality dishwashers for the market. They come in various designs and dimensions, and their price ranges vary according to technological sophistication, performance and features.

When purchasing a dishwasher, you need to acquire all the available information and compare the dishwashers available on the market before you make the final decision. If you really want to be happy with your choice and have the selected dishwasher fulfil all your expectations, you need to consider as many factors in your final decision as possible: the main purpose of your purchase is crucial.

If you need a dishwasher for everyday use and your household has many members, it makes sense to choose one that can wash as many place settings as possible, at the least expense.

Clearly, you should bear in mind your budget and define the highest price you are willing to pay for a dishwasher.

Before making a decision, you should enquire about the likely costs of the dishwasher’s operation, as well as its water and energy consumption.

The next important piece of information is the space you have available because it will affect the type (integrated, free-standing) and the desired size or the dimensions of the selected dishwasher.

You should also pay attention to the quality, warranty period and options of servicing your chosen model.

For everyone who enjoys the peace of their home and is easily disturbed by the noise various appliances make, an important factor in deciding which dishwasher to buy will also be noise levels. An efficient motor and special sound insulation will take care of the noise level. Most of the modern dishwashers have noise level in range 44 -45 dB. The silent operation of a dishwasher is undoubtedly an important factor in choosing the right model, particularly in modern homes with a kitchen that opens into the living room or combines both in one space.

By using a dishwasher in a present-day household, we can certainly gain precious time. For the majority of people, washing the dishes is a tedious, pesky chore. Although we cannot entirely avoid dish washing, we can greatly simplify this daily task by using a modern dishwasher. The old saying “Time is money” is definitely not far off the mark. Apart from enjoying the comfort it offers, a high-quality appliance can also help us save money while doing the dishes.

And how much water would a dishwasher use for the same number of dishes? For doing one set of dishes, a dishwasher uses around 10 litres of water on average, whereas we use up to 75 litres of water for washing the same number of dishes by hand! Using the dishwasher is definitely a more economical – and a far more ecologically-friendly option. The most efficient dishwashers can even use as little as 7 litres of water and around 0.75 kWh of electricity per load.

The difference is unquestionably substantial, especially since we must also take into account that we generally wash dishes every day. It is true that dish washing by hand does not incur the cost of electricity, however, heating water does still consume energy. A dishwasher washes the dishes at a higher temperature (70 °C) than we handwash them, thus the dishes are more hygienic. All dishwashers also have a drying feature that eliminates the need for bothersome and time-consuming wiping off water marks before putting them back in the cupboards.

We distinguish between several types of dishwashers: integrated, semi-integrated and freestanding. All of these are available in various dimensions, thus every user can find the one that best suits his or her individual needs. The most widespread and most-liked dimensions of dishwashers range from 45–60 cm in width and 82–86 cm in height. In larger dishwashers you can wash 12 to 16 place settings, while smaller ones accommodate 9 up to 11 place settings.

Slim dishwashers are suitable for people who live in very small apartments and who have to make the most of every inch of space. They can be freestanding or integrated and can be a perfect solution for anyone who spends a lot of time away from home, rarely prepares meals and would thus never fill a full-size dishwasher to its full capacity.

The good news is that these models have all the advantages of their larger counterparts, just in smaller size.

A slim (45 cm width) dishwasher is an ideal solution for people living alone who do not use many dishes yet are thoroughly uninterested in washing them every day by hand. A mini dishwasher is also a suitable choice for those who do not want to overexpose their sensitive hands to water and chemicals, either for health or aesthetic reasons.

Freestanding dishwashers are independent household appliances. You can install them in a desired place alongside other kitchen elements. You can choose one that is visually appealing and fits nicely within your kitchen. Because every freestanding dishwasher has the option of having the top panel removed, it can also be installed under the countertop. However, you cannot place them behind other kitchen elements or façades. The selection of freestanding dishwashers is actually the widest, so you can easily find just the one you need and what you always wanted.

European consumer organisations regularly test the efficiency of dishwashers. They did this in recet years and again chose the most efficient dishwasher among the 155 selected, testing the dishwashers against their basic criteria: energy and water consumption, duration of programmes, noise level, convenience and build quality. The Integrated Gorenje Smart Flex dishwasher climbed all the way up to 8th place in this ranking, which is an outstanding achievement for a Slovenian manufacturer of dishwashers. Owing to its first-class results achieved in the consumer goods tests, as well as its quality, durability and incredible design, the Gorenje brand is recognizable around the world.

How does a dishwasher actually work?

In case you ever wondered how a dishwasher actually works, we would like to briefly describe its basic operation: at the moment you turn it on, the tub of the dishwasher starts to fill with water. The water then heats up to a desired temperature, ranging from 40 to 70 °C. The next step is the automatic opening of the compartment where you put your preferred detergent, which then starts to slowly dissolve in the water. A rotating pump at the bottom of the dishwasher makes sure that the soapy water is sprayed over and into all the dishes inside the dishwasher. The dishes are then washed in the soapy water for around half an hour. In the next step, the dishwasher pumps out the dirty water and pumps in new clean water for rinsing. The rotating pump, by spurting the water around, makes sure that the dishes are thoroughly rinsed. Then, the water is pumped out and hot air is circulated in the interior of the dishwasher to dry the dishes. Although it might sound unusual, dishes washed in the dishwasher are cleaner than if they would be washed by hand because the high operating temperatures efficiently remove all impurities and destroy the majority of bacteria.

To keep our dishwasher in optimum running order and to ensure that our dishes come out looking like new, as well as to prolong its lifespan, we should invest in its maintenance and suitable dishwasher products, such as dishwasher salt, high-quality detergents, rinsing solutions, etc.

Dishwasher salt is an active ingredient added to the dishwashing process in order to soften hard water. It contains natural ingredients, mostly sodium chloride and often also citrus oils. The water that comes out of water supply networks is usually hard, consequently causing limescale deposits on various parts of a dishwasher as well as the dishes. Dishwasher salt does not actually enter the dishwasher but instead flows through its softener unit, providing sodium for the dishwasher’s ion exchange resins that are in the softener unit. When regenerated by the sodium, these work to attract and trap the magnesium and calcium ions in the hard water. When dishes are washed with soft water, fewer chemical agents are needed. Dishwasher salt is therefore a necessary ingredient when washing dishes in a dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers have an in-built sensor that detects low levels of salt and warns users when they should top it up. You should know that the dishwasher salt is not the same as the kitchen salt we use when preparing food. Dishwasher salt granule size is larger and ensures that the salt dissolves slower, while it is also free of other admixtures contained in table salt (sodium iodide, magnesium chloride and other anti-caking agents) which can damage the ion exchange unit or inhibit its performance. It is therefore not recommended to use kitchen salt in the dishwasher.

In addition to dishwasher salt, rinse aids also ensure that after washing no water spots remain on the dishes, which we otherwise notice mainly on glasses and stainless steel pots. Modern dishwashers automatically notify users that they should add a rinsing solution.

It is not advised to wash wooden items in the dishwasher, such as wooden cutting boards, spoons, bowls and the like. Wood is a natural material that does not respond well to being soaked in hot water and chemicals. If you wash wood in the dishwasher, it will crack faster (even after first washing!) and become unusable.

To prevent scratches and damage, also avoid putting crystal glass in a dishwasher. Instead, it is much better to wash these items by hand.

It is also not recommended to wash cast iron pans and Teflon pans in the dishwasher, as sensitive Teflon coatings are prone to damage, and damaged Teflon pans are not suitable for use and are harmful to health.

You should also keep items made of copper out of the dishwasher, because the material will lose its original lustre which could possibly ruin your day. Always wash copper items by hand.

Thermo pots are another item that you should always wash by hand! High temperatures will damage the thermal protection and your pots will cease to provide thermal insulation.

Also take extra care with knives. High-quality knives are not cheap and you probably do not want high temperatures and chemicals to ruin their blades.

Never forget to remove labels from the dishes before you put them in a dishwasher! The remnants of paper and glue can get caught in filters and pose a real risk of damage to the dishwasher.

By choosing the right one and taking care of it, a dishwasher will serve you well for many years, regardless of how often you use it. By choosing a Gorenje dishwasher you will gain an indispensable assistant that will do all the heavy lifting in the kitchen for you while you can relax and spend the time as you wish.