Still think you can’t afford one? However basic or advanced your chosen model, using any dishwasher is always better than using none.
10-YEAR WARRANTY
LG TrueSteam D1454TF R11 500, www.lg.com
Three unique technological innovations make this the dishwasher for geeks. Its inverter motor uses less water and electricity and is so well engineered that LG offers you a 10-year warranty. Getting strange results from your machine? Use the smartphone app to diagnose the problem. Most important of all, this dishwasher blasts super-heated steam throughout the machine, which loosens all stubborn dirt and sterilises crockery at the same time.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Movable tines
- 14 settings
- 41dB
- A++
- Stainless Steel pan
- Stainless Steel door
HARD-WORKING
Miele G 4203 SC Active R12 499, www.miele.co.za
Probably our top performer overall, the water in this dishwasher reaches a phenomenal 75°C to blast dried egg yolk, oats and pasta sauce off dishes. The main spray arm is stainless steel, like the pan and door. Miele claims the machine is tested to last 20 years, and that is the overwhelming impression you get – from the sturdy baskets to the sensible display, with its push buttons (preferred to touch controls), for example.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Movable tines
- 14 settings
- 46dB
- A+
- Stainless Steel pan
- Stainless Steel door
- 6 programmes
- Auto wash sensor
INDIVIDUAL STYLE
Grundig GNF 41820 X R8 999, southafrica.grundig.com
The German-made appliance brand Grundig has strong, unique styling that might not be to everyone’s taste. But the underlying tech is sound, with an intelligent spray system that uses maximum pressure on your pots in the lower basket, and less on your delicate glassware and plastics above. There’s a 10-year warranty on the motor and an impressive five-year warranty on the rest of the machine. Grundig is serviced by Defy in SA.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Movable tines
- 13 settings
- 44dB
- A++
- Stainless Steel pan
- Stainless Steel door
- 8 programmes
- Auto wash sensor
Related: 5 home-cleaning mistakes
MASTER OF THE MID-RANGE
Bosch SMS58N88ZA R7 500, www.boschhome.com/za
Based on our research, many local experts now rate Bosch the top brand in dishwashers, especially in the mid-range. In this well-priced, all-metal, model there’s room for a dinner-party load of dishes. You also get a full house of the most important features, like the removable cutlery rack and a sensor that adjusts your wash and rinse times according to the volume of dishes and how dirty they are.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Movable tines
- 14 settings
- 44dB
- A++
- Stainless Steel pan and door
- 5 programmes
- Auto wash sensor
CONSCIENTIOUS
Defy DDW 176 R3 999, www.defy.co.za
A much-respected local brand, Defy doesn’t compete on high-end features, but remains the most affordable brand. Remember, even the most basic machine will deliver beautifully clean dishes when properly packed and programmed. This budget model will wash clean at a piping-hot 70°C, and you have both a removable cutlery basket and the more modern third rack for utensils on top.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Some movable tines
- 12 settings
- 54dB
- A+
- Plastic pan
- Plastic door
- 5 programmes
TRUSTED OVER TIME
Siemens iQ300 SN25D273EU R5 829, http://ift.tt/2kZw33h
Appliance brand Siemens is recognised by experts as delivering excellent, reliable performance over the long term and, together with Bosch (made by the same company), is the smart dishwasher choice in the mid-range. At this price, there are some compromises: it’s not the prettiest, it won’t do half loads and only some tines fold flat. Look past that and you’ll get more than a decade of trouble-free, pristine crockery.
FEATURES:
- 3 trays (1 height-adjustable)
- Partial movable tines
- 13 settings
- 46dB
- A+
- Stainless Steel pan
- Plastic door
- 5 programmes
- Auto wash sensor
BUYING TIPS
- Europe has very high standards for efficient use of water and electricity. All the washers listed here are rated A+ or better.
- The best washers can reach 70°C. This is much hotter than tap water, and far hotter than human hands can handle for washing up.
- Dishwasher noise has been reduced over time. Anything below 45dB is easily tolerated, but sounds above 50dB will be noticeable.
- All current models include a top removable third rack for cutlery and other small objects. The height of the middle rack can be adjusted quickly using simple levers to create space below for big pots or above for long-stemmed glasses.
- Since the 1970s, dishwasher soap is made with enzymes, not phosphates, as the active ingredient. This is biodegradable, but you still can’t run dishwasher water into your garden.
- Don’t rinse your dishes. Most machines have a sensor which adjusts the wash depending on how dirty the water is. It will cut the cycle short if it doesn’t find enough grime in the water. Plus the soap is formulated to activate fully only when it hits dirt.
- The most overlooked factor in effective crockery cleaning is the importance of following the dish-packing diagram supplied by the manufacturer. You can usually download the manual online.
PHOTO: iStock/skynesher
ALSO READ:
- 13 things you shouldn’t be putting in your dishwasher
- The Biggest Mistakes you’re Making with your Dishwasher
- What the Chores You Dislike the Most Say About Your Personality
The post Tested Products: Dishwashers appeared first on Good Housekeeping.
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