Whether you are looking for an upgrade or are kitting out your kitchen from scratch, a dishwasher can be an essential kitchen appliance. But what should you look for when buying a dishwasher in South Africa? Here are some important tips to consider when making a decisions to buy a dishwasher in South Africa.

Having a dishwasher is no doubt an asset for any family. Having a dishwashers in your kitchen can be a gamechanger – not only do they save you time and effort by cleaning and drying the dishes for you, but they also ensure that dirty dishes are neatly stored out of sight and that they are more hygienically cleaned than washing them by hand.

However, with all the options available to you on the market, it is not always that easy to decide which dishwasher to purchase. Your dishwasher will be used to clean your dishes almost every day. So, you want to choose one that will not only complement the aesthetics of your kitchen, but that will also offer continued high performance, state-of-the-art technology, energy- and water-efficiency and durability. It is important to not only make your decision purely on price points, but you should also look at the following factors:

Brand reliability

It is important to know that your new dishwasher is going to last, and this largely depends on how well the dishwasher has been made. Look at well-known brands that focus on craftmanship, quality, and durability rather than just a low price point. This will ensure you pick an appliance that is reliable.

For example, Miele says it focuses on crafting every detail of its appliances with meticulous German engineering, and its appliances are designed, tested, and manufactured to last for 20 years, which is much longer than the average 7-year lifespan of most other appliance brands. Not only is a long appliance lifespan great for your pocket, but it’s good for the environment as well. Instead of using many appliances over the years, you can use one Miele dishwasher, as it will last for 20 years. This fact substantially decreases the overall carbon footprint of the dishwasher itself.

Is it insured against water damage?

Nobody wants their dishwasher to leak and damage their kitchen cabinetry or floors. For this reason, look for a dishwasher that comes with a waterproof system as well as a number of interdependent safety features to provide protection against water leakage. It’s also important to check with the manufacturer if you’re protected should these systems fail, resulting in damage to your home. Many manufactures offer protection to cover you for any consequential damages from waterproof failures.

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Low noise levels

Look for a dishwasher that offers low noise levels: Since most kitchens are open-plan these days, it is important that your dishwasher operates quietly. Look for a dishwasher that operates at quiet noise levels starting at just 41 dB(A). This will ensure that it is significantly quieter than older models that we’re used to.

Sustainability

With the ever-rising cost of electricity, and water being a valuable resource, choosing sustainable appliances has become increasingly important. It is imperative that you compare the energy- and water efficiency of different models. Search for a model that tells you how much water and electricity a cycle is likely to consume.

Energy-efficient models such as those from Miele for example, which need a mere 6,5-litres of water to wash an entire load, will ensure savings on your water bill because they use less water than you would need to wash the same number of dishes by hand.

Performance

Of course, the real power of any dishwasher’s worth is how well it performs. When considering a dishwasher’s performance take special note of the following:

Baskets: Dishwashers require a very specialised skillset – they need to be able to wash the most soiled items, such as pots and pans, all the way through to the most delicate, such as crystal and glassware. Look for a dishwasher that offers baskets for all types of dishes to be safely accommodated.

Multiple cleaning modes: It has never been more important to ensure that your dishes are hygienically washed. Look out for dishwashers with multiple hygiene programmes. Miele dishwashers offer both Hygiene and Intensive programmes that promise to remove over 99.9% of viruses and bacteria found on dishes. Any good dishwasher will offer multiple cleaning modes to help you deal with a wide range of cleaning jobs in your kitchen. Specialised programmes help best clean dishes and some key modes to look out for include: an enhanced or intensive cleaning mode for stubborn dirt (important for ensuring pots, pans, etc., are cleaned residue-free); gentle cleaning mode (to clean heat-sensitive crockery that is slightly dirty); and starch cleaning mode (residue from food like pasta or rice is removed thanks to the higher temperature).

Auto-dispensing systems

Look for a dishwasher with an automatic detergent dispensing system. It’s an exceptionally convenient feature to have, as it will ensure that there is no detergent wastage while offering perfect wash results. This type of system will automatically release the precise amount of detergent each time it rotates during a cleaning cycle. The load is monitored by a sensor with more detergent dispensed for heavy loads, whereas less is dispensed for lighter loads.

Smart features

It is also important to consider choosing a smart dishwasher. Networked appliances can help you to seamlessly manage and operate your appliances. Smart domestic appliances can be networked conveniently and securely via a home WiFi router and the cloud using an app. This allows users to start and stop their dishwasher from anywhere, activate wash cycles and options from their smartphones, and check levels. Smart dishwashers can also be programmed to start at the same time or different times throughout the week, as well as be programmed to run different wash cycles. The options are endless.

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