A Guide to Buying the Right Dishwasher for the Indian Kitchen

The pandemic has forced everyone to stay indoors and work from home. At the same time, it has also made people to rely on themselves to do the household chores. Thus, there is an increasing demand for home appliances in India. Convenience is the main reason for this demand since it is challenging for people to work and do household chores at the same time. Hence, a lot of working professionals are buying dishwashers online to avoid utensils piling up their kitchen’s sink. Especially with Indian food which contains heavy oil and curry, you need to be specific about how to choose the right dishwasher based on your needs in India.

 

 

1. How to choose the right dishwasher?
2. There are 4 types of dishwashers
3. Key functions to look for while selecting dishwashers
4. Things to consider before selecting your dishwasher
5. To sum up
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

 

 

 

How to choose the right dishwasher?

Dishwashers are basically vessels washing machines. Cost isn’t the only factor to consider before purchasing the dishwasher. You need to also check for other factors such as:

• Energy ratings
• Body size & design
• Warranty and service life

Energy ratings of a dishwasher determines its electricity consumption level. A 5-star of 4-star rated dishwashers consume less electricity compared to 3-star dishwasher. Hence it is advisable to buy higher star-rated dishwasher if you are planning to use it for longer duration.

Body size and design is also important because it should not ruin the aesthetics of your kitchen space. Dishwasher size and body design should blend-in well with the kitchen interiors. But the most important factor would be the service life. Utensils washing machine or the dishwashers are comparatively costly home appliance. Hence ensure that you get return to every single rupee you have spent on dishwasher. It is ideal to buy dishwasher online to get the best deal. So, service life and warranty period must also be considered before buying a dishwasher.

 

There are 4 types of dishwashers

It is important to know the basic types of dish washing machines to understand what suits best for your requirement.

 

1. Built-in dishwasher

Built-in dishwashers are usually attached with the plumbing system inside the kitchen. This type of dishwasher is suitable for people who own a permanent home. It will cause challenges for people living in rent, who may later consider moving out. Since built-in utensils washing machines are directly connected to the plumbing system, you can use the water pipe or the kitchen sink, while the dishwasher is running on. Built-in dishwashers are normally placed under the counter in a typical kitchen.

 

2. Portable dishwasher

As the name indicates, portable dishwasher is a stand-alone machine for cleaning utensils with does not involve any plumbing work. The only requirement is to adjust it to your kitchen faucet. This is suitable for people living in rented houses since it is easier to transport them later.

 

3. Countertop dishwasher

Countertop dishwasher is like the portable dish washing machine with one key difference – countertop dishwasher needs to be placed upon a counter close to the sink. But it needs to be connected to the faucet before using it on a normal mode. Hence it is like a semi-portable dishwasher type.

 

4. Drawer Dishwasher

Kitchen dishwasher range generally consists of two types – double drawers and single drawers. Double drawers require more space and permanent installation. Drawer dishwashers are expensive and offers unique features too. For example, in a double drawer dishwasher, you can use single drawer or both independent of each other, set in different wash cycles. This is good for long term usage, where the amounts of dishes are also larger. Drawer dishwashers offer multiple programs and modes for washing, and hence they are more energy efficient than the other types of dishwashers.

 

Key functions to look for while selecting dishwashers

Wash capacity:

The first step towards choosing the right dish washing machine for you is based on your family size. Bigger the size of family, larger should be the wash capacity. Dishwashers come in 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16-place settings. For example, a dishwasher of 8-plate capacity means it can wash 8 dinner plates at the same time.

 

Wash cycle:

Wash cycle duration of vessels washing machine varies from 30-120 minutes based on washing types such as light wash, regular wash or heavy wash. Dishwashers also give options to adjust temperature of water and steam. These features may vary from model to model, and each cycle may vary in terms of speed, temperature, pressure and number of washes.

 

Delayed wash:

New kitchen dishwasher models offer options for delayed wash where you can select time at which a wash cycle can automatically begin later

 

Rinsing:

There are options like ‘only rinse’ where the dishes are washed with plain water only. There is ‘temperature rinsing’ option in machine for cleaning utensils, where the hot water is used to kill germs and bacteria. 

 

China cycle:

This option is for fragile utensils such as glass, porcelain, and ceramics where washing needs to be done in a gentle manner. 

 

Consider these things before selecting your dishwasher

Noise level:

While high-end models have noise level less than 40 decibels, starting range and mid-range dish washing machines have slightly higher noise levels of 50 decibels or more. 

 

Drying techniques:

Different vessels washing machines use different methods to dry utensils such as heat, fan, and condensation. Experts opine, condensation to be the better and advanced method of drying. 

 

Hard water compatibility:

Most of the utensils washing machine models these days come with water softening slots to treat hard water and prevent scaling. This is done by salt dispensers which inject salt and dissolve hardness of water. So, make sure that your dishwasher is compatible with hard water.

Filtration type:

It is important to clean the filters of dishwashers to remove the solid food particles regularly. Or else, they get clogged to the machine and decrease the machine’s efficiency and performance. There are lot of options with regards to filters and disposers. Nevertheless, it is advisable to remove all the solid food particles from the utensils before placing them inside the washer. 

 

To sum up

In addition to the above-mentioned points, here are some of the things you need to consider while choosing the right machine for cleaning utensils:

• Dishwashers consume significant electricity. So always opt for a dishwasher with higher star ratings.
• Always select an authentic brand that assures long warranty and good after-sales service.
• Select dishwashers with convertible racks or adjustable shelves. This allows you to place pressure cookers or tawa with their handles inside the dishwasher.
• Ensure there is auto-restart option in your utensils washing machine. This comes handy during power-cuts.
• Make sure child safety-lock system is embedded.
• Choose between automatic, semi-automatic and manual dishwashers. While automatic dishwashers perform with a click of a button, manual dishwashers require you to press a few more buttons to perform.
• Dishwasher machine price in India ranges from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 60,000. Make sure you opt the right one!
• There are lots of options for dishwashers online. Dishwasher price in India vary significantly between online and offline. Buy dishwasher online to save additional bucks.

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I choose the right dishwasher?

Among many features, you need to particularly look for wash capacity, washing features, energy ratings, body size, filter type and budget. Also check for warranty, service life and aftersales services.

 

2. What dishwasher is best for me?

It depends on your family size. There are lots of options in starting price range for smaller family size with basic washing features. Depending on the innovation and wash capacity, the price of the dishwasher increases.

 

3. What is the difference in dishwashers?

Based on installation type, there are built-in and portable dishwashers. Based on the automation features, dishwashers are categorized into automatic and semi-automatic dishwashers.

 

4. Which dishwasher has least problems?

A dishwasher’s efficiency depends on washing frequency, filter design, and total weight of utensils and their placing. If your dishwasher exceeds these parameters, then the dishwasher will start to give problems. Ideally it is best to opt for automatic dishwashers since they come with more washing options.

 

5. How long should a dishwasher last?

The average service of a dishwasher ranges from 6-10 years. So go for a good brand that provides good aftersales services.