Getting a dishwasher to make life easier?

Jo_R_2

Hi all

Am thinking about getting a dishwasher as part of my 'strategy':D to make life that little bit easier with baby#4 coming along in a few months.

It would be one of the slimline ones as that's all we have room for in our kitchen.

I/we seem to spend a good chunk of time each day washing up and feel it would be worth seriously thinking about it to make life easier. Anyone got one for the same reasons and recommend it (or not), and any pointers re: brands and energy usage (this is the bit that potentially worries me, adding onto the electricity bill?)

Pee

I love dishwashers and I find I can happily load and unload them without considering it real work - not so washing up.

However almost everyone else I know ends up not using theirs as it is "easier to wash up". I don't know how old your eldest children are, but I think it's safer and easier to load a dishwasher - and then you maybe just check the contents are secure before putting it on - than standing on a chair at the sink, reaching up etc.

I think they are brilliant.

daska

Yep, I did this last year. I opted for a mid-range Miele after considering various options:
performance - one of the top performers at the time according to Which?
noise - we eat in the kitchen so I wanted one which was quiet
child-lock on door - I'm disabled so I wanted one which would be as safe as possible
cutlery try at the top - DS2 climbs and is extremely nosy and single-minded
economy - the eco-wash takes nearly 3 hours but it is quiet so that doesn't matter
longevity - Miele last for decades

Person_one

The slimline ones can be a bit crap. There's hardly any room so you have to loads of loads(!) which is expensive. Also it can be hard to fit things like big woks, casserole dishes etc in and end up doing a fair bit of washing up anyway.

Personally, I don't like having dishes being dirty for ages while you wait for there to be enough to fill the dishwasher, you end up running out of teaspoons or side plates randomly! That may be my weird thing though!

I didn't have one when I was in my own home, I'm with my parents now and they have one but when I move back out I won't get one.

peachyprice

I have had dishwashers for years and wouldn't be without one now. I've had a Bosch, Smeg and Kenwood, the worst of the 3 was the Smeg, always going wrong, the best was the Bosch, the Kenwood was an emergency quick buy when the Smeg finally gave up the ghost, it's OK but noisy but I've had it for 3 years now with no major faults.

Defo go for it, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it.

freebiequennie

we brought one about 6mths ago as we had debated having one or not for a long time and was going to buy a slimline one as only 2 of us and uses less water etc however on consideration and checking what we liked, eneregy efficiency, water usuage (husband did this not me!!) we brought a full size one and it was about £400 for a kenwood silver stainless steel fronted one. We stick on, on average every 5 days as we have lots plates and cutlery etc to do that.

Careful_with_that_Axe

I got a dishwasher about a year ago and I love it. I only had room for a slimline one and budget for a cheap one. I got a Proline Logic and am pretty pleased with it. It has a quick wash which I use often as I live on my own and an intensive wash for when tings hve piled up and are heavily soiled. My water consumption has gone down, although not solely because of this - I have been economising elsewhere too.
There was another one a little more expensive hat I considered that had the very good design idea of the cutlery rack to the side of the bottom basket rather than in the middle which meant you could fit more in, in terms of pans etc.
All in all I'm pleased with the one I purchased.
p.s. I got it when a special offer was on and only paid just over £100 for it! Bargain!

onlyroz

We inherited a dishwasher when we bought this house and I hardly ever use it. You don't seem to be able to get that many dishes in there, and it doesn't seem to clean them properly anyway - could just be that it's a rubbish dishwasher, like a lot of things that the previous owner installed in this house...

daska

The current top 3 Best Buys from Which! are:
1. Bosch SKT5102 Classixx - tabletop - approx £350
2. Miele G1202SC - slimline - approx £700
3. Whirlpool ADP5406 - std - approx £290

code-a-holic

I bought a slimline one when I was expecting our 4th baby. Its been great,would have liked to have a big one but the kitchen layout would not allow. Its on twice a day on average. I have a dodgy shoulder too so washing by hand can ruin me for the day. I bought the cheapest i could find and have no regretts,over a year old now.

Js_Other_Half

We had a slimline indesit which lasted only a year or two.We then got a Bosch slimline and it's still going strong several years on. You save water using a dishwasher as opposed to handwashing. With 3 of us we run it about once a day.