Q+A Section for Replacement or First Dishwasher Purchase

No matter if you intend to purchase your first dishwasher or need a new replacement for your old one, here is a Q+A list of interesting miscellaneous facts about dishwashers.

Washing up by hand seems to be cheaper and quicker. And compared to machines 30 years ago that needed about 50 liters of water and long hours for a cycle might justify this. Modern dishwashers, however, have got energy and water saving economy-programs that need e.g. only 12-15 liters per washing a load of about 100 pieces (dishes, plates, cutlery, glasses etc.) Intensive programs can clean even dirtiest cookware without needing to soak and extra-rinse. If you wash a normal load of dirty plates, glasses, cutlery and cooking ware from a normal dinner, you usually fill the sink or a big bowl with water ( this is around 10 - 12 liters). Usually you can clean everything in that first water, but you might need a second fill. And if you rinse (not under running water) you will need even more water. Washing with a dishwasher might save you in average up to 4 hours time per week and about £15 ($30 -35) per year on your energy/water bill.

Antique or expensive glasses should not be washed in a dishwasher. Manufacturers also suggest to wash long-stemmed wine glasses from hand to avoid breaking them. Lead-crystal glasses or aluminium- or silver containing glasses are loosing their shine and will discolor after repeated washing.
If you want to wash delicate glasses in the dishwasher after all, you should wash them separately on a short program that uses a low temperature and remove them from the dishwasher as soon as they are ready.
Fill only the upper basket and make sure glasses don't reach each other. You can purchase special delicate glass racks from manufacturers.

The used detergent needs to be a glass protective labeled product.
Some people used to put a cup of white vinegar on the lower rack and switch on the dishwasher for about 10 min.
They then stop the program, put some detergent in and re-start the gentle program again.

Crystal safe glass racks are available e.g. from Whirlpool and other manufacturers, Amazon or from specialized glass stores.

It is very important to choose as a first dishwasher or replacement one that suits your individual needs.
There are many different brands in various sizes and types available. They do show significant differences in energy-efficiency and water consumption.
Quality and longevity of some brands is legendary; other brands hardly produce satisfying cleaning results, leave dried food rests on dishes and glasses or start to leak all of a sudden.
Especially, if it is your first dishwasher you buy, it is essential to get to know exactly what type you need.
A machine like this is an investment and should save you energy, time and money.

Basically you need first dishwasher detergent, then rinse aid (prevents watermarks and spots) and finally a special dishwasher salt (note: never use household salt!).
Special salt will soften hard water, prevents scaling and helps that the detergent works efficient enough.
All-in-1 products combine detergent, rinse aid and salt in one tablet, but they still require separate dishwasher salt additionally.

Older machines might still not have the option "3 in 1" amongst its program features, if you used with them all-in-1 detergents, you might loose your warranty!

Modern dishwashers have got a special program for using 3-in-1 tablets.
4-in-1 tablets manage to protect glasses' surface (glass looks clear and smooth for longer).
5-in-1 detergents can make stainless steel ware more shiny beside all the above.

Main washing programs wash at a hotter temperature than eco-programs.
With eco-programs you can save definitely water and energy as they wash at a lower temperature. However, a wash cycle will be longer in time.
The dish-cleaning results are with both programs satisfying.

Real energy and water "eaters" are intensive programs, although their washing results are really good.
These programs can clean extremely hard-to-remove dirt and dried on food remains off all sorts of cooking ware, plates and cutlery that would require usually extra soaking, rinsing and washing cycles. As you might guess already, intensive programs need therefore significantly more electricity and water than a main- or an eco-program.