The washing machine and tumble dryer are superb task-saving inventions, but the humble dishwasher surely trumps them both. After all, the alternative is what amounts to a wrestling match with an endless succession of plates, knives, forks, pots and pans, hands full of hot greasy, splashy water and a 15-minute tea towel drying session afterwards. So, a belated hats off to inventor Josephine Cochrane for making our domestic lives so much easier. Thanks, Josephine.
As is the case with any domestic appliance, making the right choice can be downright confusing. After all, all dishwashers perform the same function, don’t they? That’s true to some degree but, in reality, some models perform the task better than others. Which is why we’re bringing you this lovingly-curated shortlist of contenders with everything from sub-£300 budget models to the very best that money can buy.
Below, you'll find the dishwashers you can rely on from brands such as Miele, Siemens, Bosch and Zanussi, with all the key specifications and information you need to make your choice. Dip in, the dishes are smelling rosy.
How to choose the best dishwasher for you
What’s the first thing I should look for?
Good question. Obviously the design of the control panel will be the first thing you notice on the shop floor or website page (is it metal, plastic, cheap, classy?) but ultimately it’s what’s inside that matters most. It goes without saying that the more you spend, the better equipped the interior and the better the quality of the machine’s hidden components.
What does A++ mean?
The dishwasher’s energy rating is a great way to determine the machine’s annual running costs. Energy ratings are denoted by the letters A to D followed by up to three plus signs. Machines with an A+++ rating are best but even those with an A++ and A+ rating are worth a look. Most buyers tend to plump for a machine with an A++ rating or higher. Expect an A+++ machine to cost around £40 per year in electricity use. Water, tablets, salt and rinse aid are all extras.
Freestanding or Integrated?
Freestanding machines are the most popular since they can be installed pretty much anywhere. All full-size freestanding dishwashers measure around 85cm in height, 60cm in width and 60cm in depth. Hence, any freestanding model will fit a 60cm gap between the kitchen cupboards. Just be sure there’s a water outlet and drainage nearby.
Integrated models are designed to fit flush with your existing kitchen units and some model’s front panels can even be removed and replaced to match your cupboards’ existing colour scheme. However, integrated models do have their drawbacks. For one, because the machine is installed in among the kitchen units, chances are you’ll need to leave it behind if you move. Also bear in mind that the control panels on integrated models are invariably placed out of sight at the top of the door and that means you can’t see the timer or even tell if it’s on without opening the door to check.
Cutlery basket or cutlery tray?
Most budget dishwashers use a basket for cutlery storage. The more expensive models allow the user to slide the basket to different positions on the lower level while the cheaper ones tend to have a fixed basket position. Cutlery baskets take up more room on the lower level meaning less space for big stuff like pots and pans. However, they’re quick and easy to load.
Most high-end machines these days have a top-mounted slide-out cutlery tray instead of a basket. Trays take longer to load because every knife, fork and spoon needs to be positioned in a certain way while baskets can be loaded with little care. However, a slide out tray is more space efficient and, because the cutlery is placed in an ordered fashion, everything gets a more thorough washing.
Why do dishwashers need regular top-ups of salt and rinse aid?
Both components play an important role in producing sparkling dishes, glasses and cutlery. Specially formulated course-grain dishwasher salt is run through the machine’s water softener unit – not all over your dishes. According to lead supplier Finish, the salt ‘provides sodium for the dishwasher’s “ion exchange resins”. When regenerated by the sodium, these porous microbeads work to attract and trap the magnesium and calcium ions that cause hard water’. The used salt is pumped out with the waste water. Hence, monthly top ups are the order of the day.
The term rinse aid is a bit of an anomaly since it has more to do with drying than rinsing. Rinse aid basically lowers the surface tension of water, making it spread out instead of forming droplets. That’s why your glasses come out of the machine sans streaks and watermarks. So now you know.
What about a slimline model?
Slimline dishwashers of about 45cm in width are handy for those with small spaces. However, do be sure to choose a model that’s in the mid-priced range as we’ve heard bad things about some budget models. Most slimline models have a capacity for around 10 place settings.
The best dishwashers to buy from £250
1. Miele G6620 SC: The best dishwasher under £1,000
Price: Around £780
Miele is a family-owned and run German company that specialises in the manufacture of high-quality appliances. As most Miele owners will proclaim, their stuff just works and invariably keeps on working for years on end; small wonder the brand regularly tops Which? customer surveys. Yes, you will pay more for a Miele but what price peace of mind?
This feature-filled freestanding dish cleanser is A+++ rated for efficiency (on average its Sensor Wash cycle uses just 6.5 litres of water per wash) and comes equipped with a height-adjustable upper basket and a top-mounted 3D cutlery tray that can be altered to allow room for the stalks of tall wine glasses below. In fact you can configure the baskets in this machine any way you please.
Wash programs include a 58-minute QuickPowerWash sequence, a half load option with auto load recognition and a scorching 75˚ cycle for cleaning pots and removing rebellious substances like dried egg and Weetabix.
The AutoOpen drying system is another handy innovation: at the end of the wash program the door clicks open a smidge to allow fresh air to complete the drying process and remove any remaining condensation.
The Miele is an exemplary performer; it’s extraordinarily efficient, easy to use, quiet and, above all, reliable.
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Place settings: 14; Rated efficiency: A+++; Wine glass support: Yes; Quick wash: Yes; Cutlery tray; Adjustable basket: Yes
Buy the Miele G6620 SC now from John Lewis
2. Bosch Serie 6 (SMS53M02GB): The best dishwasher under £500
Price: Around £450
This mid-priced Teutonic option performs exceedingly well in all disciplines and is especially good at drying crockery and plastics with very little evidence of streaking. Its five program settings encompass a range of washing cycles: a intensive 70˚C blast, a 45˚-65˚ auto mode, 45˚ quick wash, pre-rinse and a 50˚ eco wash that is genuinely energy efficient. Expect annual running costs of around £45 when using auto mode.
Bosch’s customisable VarioFlex basket system is a genuine blessing that not only allows the user to adjust the height of the top basket but also the loading configuration of each basket. This means awkward items like wine and champagne glasses can be stacked on either level. The cutlery basket, too, can be moved around at will and even split into two parts.
If German expertise, energy efficiency and price are your main considerations then give this machine a whirl. You won’t be disappointed.
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Place settings: 13; Rated efficiency: A++; Wine glass support: Yes; Quick wash: Yes; Cutlery basket (moveable); Adjustable basket: Yes
3. Zanussi ZDF26011WA: The best dishwasher under £300
Price: Around £290
Zanussi’s budget-priced ‘appliance of science’ doesn’t have the solid feel of a Miele, Siemens or Bosch and its interior isn’t anything to write home about – despite the addition of soft, grippy spikes, the adjustable basket system itself is pretty basic and doesn’t support long-stemmed glasses and dish-shaped plates all that well. However, this machine truly excels at both cleaning and drying and is relatively quiet in operation, too.
It comes with the usual gamut of wash programs – five in all – including an eco program that uses roughly 22% less energy and an automatic half load feature that uses sensors to determine the level of water and energy consumption required for a given load. For the price, this Zanussi performs outstandingly well and without using too much water and energy in the process. Top budget choice.
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Place settings: 13; Rated efficiency: A++; Wine glass support: No; Quick wash: Yes; Cutlery basket; Adjustable basket: Yes
Buy the Zanussi ZDF26011WA now from John Lewis
4. AEG F66609M0P: The perfect accessory for stainless steel kitchens
Price: Around £620
This elegant, 13-place Germanic model not only offers five different spray strengths, it also comes with an extra Satellite Spray Arm that’s fitted to the end of the main arm. This extra arm rotates separately, spritzing water into places a regular sprinkler might not reach. True, some watermarks are occasionally evident on cutlery but, in the main, this machine performs exceptionally well.
For quick mid-meal wash-ups, the AEG features a TimeSaver function that increases the water pressure for a more efficient and faster clean; perfect for all those dirty pots and pans you used during the food prep sequence. An intensive 70˚ wash is also available for removal of obstreperous foodstuffs.
The auto half-load feature, meanwhile, detects how much crockery, pots and pans are in the machine and moderates the water consumption accordingly, saving water and electricity in the process. And because this dishwasher features soft glass grips, you can be sure your priceless champagne flutes will remain intact during the deluge.
Key specs – Type: Freestanding; Place settings: 13; Rated efficiency: A++; Wine glass support: Yes; Quick wash: Yes; Cutlery tray; Adjustable basket: Yes