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The best dishwashers, recommended by experts
A dishwasher is an essential household purchase and a big investment, so it’s important to choose the right one. The best dishwashers offer powerful, energy-efficient cleaning and will last over a decade if treated right.
“When it comes to finding a good dishwasher, you should consider its performance as well as your personal priorities,” says Heather Andrews, large electricals buyer at John Lewis. “Personally, I would go for the newer trend of having a cutlery tray, rather than a traditional cutlery basket. This frees up space in the bottom of the dishwasher and spreads out the cutlery for a better clean.”
Buying from a reliable dishwasher manufacturer is the most vital element, says Stephen Neale – aka The London Spin Doctor – an appliance repair expert with 32 years of industry experience. “Among the biggest and best dishwasher suppliers are Bosch, Neff and Siemens – all hailing from Germany,” he says. “They are reliable, well made, simple and inexpensive to fix when things do go wrong.”
Our experts have recommended the best dishwashers at a range of prices. You can read their reviews below, followed by their answers to some frequently asked questions. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at their top five:
The best dishwashers: At a glance
How to choose a dishwasher
“Investing in a good dishwasher can save you time, energy and money in the long run,” says Gwilym Snook, heated laundry and dishwasher expert at AO. “So pick one with the best energy rating. These are scored from A to G, with A being the most efficient. If your dishwasher has a bad energy efficiency rating it will not only cost more to run, but may be inefficient at cleaning too.”
Another important decision to make is between freestanding and built-in dishwashers. “Freestanding dishwashers can be placed anywhere, so long as there’s a water pipe available,” says Snook, “whereas integrated dishwashers (also known as built-in dishwashers) are fitted into your kitchen cabinets for a seamless look. There are also slimline dishwashers, which are a good option for smaller kitchens or lighter loads.”
If you’re after more bang for your buck, look out for smart features. He adds: “Many of the best dishwashers now include Wi-Fi connectivity which can enable remote control through an app, automatic detergent reordering or even integration with your Smart home systems.”
Andrews, large electricals buyer at John Lewis, adds: “Features like an InfoLight, which projects data onto the floor and switches off when the cycle has finished, or a silence programme, are also features worth looking out for.”
If you are revamping your whole kitchen, you may want to check out our guides for the best washer dryers and the best coffee machines.
How we choose dishwashers
To help you find the best dishwasher for your needs, I spoke to three experts: Gwilym Snook, dishwasher expert at AO, Heather Andrews, large electricals buyer at John Lewis and Stephen Neale, The London Spin Doctor, a dishwasher repairer who is familiar with the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to appliances.
They helped me evaluate the dishwashers for energy efficiency, load capacity, range of programmes, how quietly they run as well as how well they dry, how user-friendly they are and how well they cater for different needs (for example, big families versus small households, home chefs versus those who need to wash glass often).
Here are the models the recommend, starting with the best…
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