I'm a dishwasher engineer – the models to buy and cost £10 per year even if you use them EVERY day

The Sun

5 days ago

BOUGHT the wrong dishwasher? You'll soon know about it.
Instead of sparkling dishes, you might end up with streaky glassware, sky-high bills, and a heap of dirty cutlery.
Even worse, some models end up needing fixing every few months, leaving you out of pocket.
We spoke to the testing expert at Which? and two leading UK engineers to find out which dishwashers come out sparkling, and which ones will leave you with a sink full of regrets.
The Which? verdict
Andrew Laughlin is the Which? dishwasher expert, which means he's well-versed in how poor they can be.
He said: 'Buy a bad dishwasher and you'll end up having to fall back on washing up by hand, or you'll have to run the dishwasher again, wasting more time, energy and money.'
Which? tests dozens of dishwashers every year at its in-house lab, running thousands of dirty plates, glasses, cups and cutlery through each machine.
Its experts dirty a range of crockery and cutlery, then score how well the machine cleans, how dry everything is at the end, and whether it leaves watermarks behind.
It also checks how easy each machine is to load and use, tests how often the filter needs cleaning, and measures the energy and water used on both auto and eco programmes.
Energy and water use are then turned into running cost calculations.
Dishwashers that perform well in cleaning, ease of use and efficiency can earn both Best Buy and Eco Buy status.
An Eco Buy could save you more than £30 a year in energy.
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Best buys
Miele G 7191 SCVi AutoDos, £1,048, Which? Score: 82%
This top-of-the-line fully integrated dishwasher boasts automatic detergent dosing, ComfortClose door, Miele@Home connectivity, and whisper-quiet operation at just 43dB.
It's rated B for energy use, consuming just 0.64kWh and 8.4 litres per eco cycle, with annual energy and water costs of around £66.
This means it's not only efficient, but long-term affordable.
It's currently available for £1,048 at Appliance Centre – a discount of over £500 off the RRP.
Which? verdict
'Flawless cleaning. Although the price tag will put a dent in your wallet, this high-quality Miele will put a lean, mean, cleaning machine in your kitchen.
"If you want a premium integrated dishwasher, look no further.'
Pros - Flawless cleaning
Cons - Nothing of note
Bosch SMS4EMW06G, £549, Which? Score: 80%
This freestanding Bosch model balances performance and features at a mid-range price point.
It includes Home Connect smart features, SpeedPerfect Plus for faster washes, and Extra Dry for added hygiene.
Rated C for energy, it uses 0.79kWh and 9.5 litres per auto cycle – working out to annual running costs of around £69.23, according to Which?.
Available to buy at Ao.com.
Which? verdict
"Lean, mean, dishwashing machine. Although its price is rather high, overall this Bosch dishwasher is worth the investment.
"It combines Best Buy cleaning and drying, with simple usability and Eco Buy efficiency.'
Pros - Good cleaning
Cons - Noisy
Best to avoid
Hoover HDPH 2D1049W-80 – £249, test score 39%
This slimline Hoover model is one of the cheapest on the market – and unfortunately, one of the worst performing too.
Which? verdict
'Avoid. A bargain this is not. It fails to clean everything, leaving dried-on dirt on many dishes.
"If it was wonderfully energy efficient, we might be able to excuse this, but it's not.
"It actually uses more energy than most (doing what, we don't know).
"Add on that it's noisy and tricky to use, and we have no option but to make it a Don't Buy.'
Pros - It's cheap (and that's about it)
Cons - Really bad at washing, inefficient with energy
CDA CDI6242 – £455, test score 43%
This integrated, full-sized dishwasher may seem affordable, but its low Which? score and serious performance flaws make it one to avoid.
Which? verdict
'This dishwasher cleans and dries so poorly we've made it a Don't Buy. As such, it's one to avoid at all costs.'
Pros - good energy and water efficiency
Cons - poor cleaning, dismal drying, noisy
Which? expert tips for using your dishwasher properly
Don't rinse the plates – Most dishwasher programs pre-rinse your dishes, so you won't need to waste water (and money) by running them under the tap.
Don't bother with the detergent dispenser – Logic dictates that the detergent dispenser will release your dishwasher tablet at the optimum moment during the wash cycle.
But you can just chuck it straight into the body of your dishwasher and not sweat about it. It will still work.
Don't skip maintenance – That means topping up your rinse aid and salt, regularly cleaning the filter, and periodically maintaining other aspects of the machine, such as the spray arms and door seals.
You should also leave the door ajar after a cycle from time to time, as this will circulate air into your dishwasher, stopping the build up of mildew, mould and bacteria.
Stack like a pro – Stack plates and flat items facing inwards so they are well covered by the spray jets, while pots, pans, deep bowls and other such items should face down.
Make sure no large items are placed in a way that will block the spray arm.
Anything that needs harder cleaning, such as baking trays or pots and pans, goes on the lower rack where the water pressure is higher whereas more delicate items, including glasses, mugs and cups, go on the upper rack.
The same goes for plastic items and containers, as well as large utensils.
Leave enough space between items for the water and detergent to spread around – alternating larger and smaller plates in the rack will help with this.
Watch out for spoons 'nesting' in the cutlery basket – when this happens, there's no space for the water to circulate.
To avoid this, place some facing upwards and some downwards.
Make use of the adjustable racks – The upper racks on most modern dishwashers are usually adjustable, meaning you can lower the rack to accommodate taller items, such as a long-stemmed wine glass.
The engineer's verdict
Steve Neale, founder of repair business The London Spin Doctor, has seen the worst of and dishwashers and warns that buying cheap, usually means buying twice, and more quickly than you might think.
He said: 'If you buy a dishwasher for £200, it's going to last you less than five years.
"If you spend around 400, 500, you should have the machine for at least 10."
When it comes to picking a good machine, he said brand is important, as is ease of repair.
He said: "Every machine in the world is going to break, but you want one that's cheaply repairable. That's the key.
"So, I always recommend Bosch machines simply because they're quiet. They're really well-built and they're always repairable.'
Steve's brands to buy:
Bosch
Beko (best on a budget)
Neff
Siemens
Steve's brands to avoid:
Indesit
Hoover
Candy
Hotpoint
AEG
When it comes to upkeep, Steve said that many of the callouts he gets could have been avoided with better use.
He said: '90% of the dishwasher repairs that I do are down to user error rather than mechanical failure.
"Which means basically they've they haven't scraped their plates. So, for example, sweetcorn, eggshell, fish bones, chicken bones.
"You have to scrape them off your plates because the dishwasher can't break those things down.'
He added that another common is blocking one or both of the spray arms, for instance by having a long spatula poking through the top.
This stops the dishwasher from cleaning properly.
Key features to look for in a dishwasher
Rado Domev, CTO at appliance repair company Domex, said choosing the right dishwasher for your needs is not just about brand – it's about smart features and long-term usability.
For instance, he tends to recommend models with higher capacity.
He explained: 'Full size dishwashers could vary from 12 to 16 place setting. Higher capacity allows you to wash more dishes per cycle, saving water and electricity in the long run.'.
His other must-have features include:
Half Load Option: A half load setting offers great versatility. If you only have a few items, you can run a smaller, more efficient cycle, avoiding wasted water and energy.
Separate Cutlery Tray: Dishwashers with a separate cutlery tray at the top often provide superior wash results for your silverware.
Plus, it frees up valuable space in the bottom rack
for larger pots and pans.
Flood Protection: This is a crucial safety feature. Models with flood protection can prevent significant water damage to your property in case of a leak, offering peace of mind.
What not to overspend on
Rado warned not to obsess over efficiency ratings alone.
He said: 'Don't let energy efficiency ratings be your sole focus.
"While important, the real-world running cost difference between an A and B rated model might only be around £10 per year if used daily.
"The upfront cost difference for a slightly more efficient model often doesn't justify this minimal annual saving.'
He also recommended ditching models with limited wash programmes.
He said: 'Avoid models with only 3 or 4 basic programs.
"A poor choice of programs might force you to use longer, more intensive cycles for lightly soiled dishes, wasting time and resources.
"Look for dishwashers with a variety of settings to match different cleaning needs.'
Rado's top maintenance tips
To ensure your dishwasher performs at its best and lasts longer, follow these maintenance tips:
Always Use Dishwasher Salt: This is critical, regardless of the type of dishwasher tablet you use. Dishwashers require salt to regenerate their water softener resin, which prevents
limescale buildup and ensures effective cleaning.
Set Correct Water Hardness: Adjust your dishwasher's water hardness setting to match your local water supply. This optimises the performance of the detergent and softener.
Regular Cleaning: Make it a habit to regularly clean the filters and degrease the appliance. This prevents blockages, maintains wash performance, and extends the life of your
dishwasher.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [e-mail].