Dishwasher - Help!

Gleek

pinkteapot wrote: »

OP - do you already have plumbing available for a dishwasher (a place for it with suitable pipes, as you'd need for a washing machine)? If not, don't forget to factor this cost in....

Unfortunately not, but I do know an awesome plumber who should hopefully be able to do it for me and I'm waiting for him to call back with a quote

Thanks a lot everyone, I'll take it all into consideration and report back

loracan1

sillygoose wrote: »

My Bosch is 12 years old and going strong, gave up putting rinse aid or salt in it (the tablets contain sufficient salt and a rinse aid layer these days) Use cheap Lidl tablets (rated by the consumer mags as good as any) Everything comes out clean and streak free every time.

I'd forgotten you were meant to add salt and rinseaid - I don't bother with either.


Main thing is not to put anything that has contained weetabix in the dishwasher, everything else is fair game.

McKneff

Weetabix sets like concrete lol

sillygoose

McKneff wrote: »

Weetabix sets like concrete lol

Very true, I suspect it would have lasted longer as grout on my new patio than that rubbish Geofix stuff I regrettably used.

fuzzgun19

What are the running costs like v hand dish washing?

tlh858

Running costs - modern machines will use a lot less water than hand washing, so usually cheaper.
They also clean things far better than any hand wash can, due to the high temperatures used.
The biggest saving is the time you are not wasting every day standing at the sink washing everything by hand.

As for supplies - buy a 25kg bag of salt which will last all year and the cheapest powder detergent (not tablets).
Supermarkets generally promote the grossly expensive tablets, so instead find a janitorial or catering supplier in your area, from which you can buy a 10kg tub of powder for under £20.

Rinse aid is only used in tiny quantities, so price isn't so critical. A 1 litre bottle should last for months.

tesuhoha

Another thing to point out which you may think really daft but never place knives in a dishwasher where if someone tripped over they could possibly fall on them. There have been a few people killed doing this.

Jonesya

Homebargains sell 'Clean & Fresh' dishwasher tablets for less than 6p/tablet (roughly £1.70 for 30), clean perfectly well and much cheaper than the branded ones. They look similar to some of the supermarket own brand tablets, probably roll out of the same factory.

Most dishwasher I've seen require salt, which I understand is for their integral water-softener so I don't see why you'd need additional water softening tablets/Calgon. I've got a middle of the range Bosch and you can set the water hardness/softening required.