How to Buy a Dishwasher

If you are wanting to spend your evenings and weekends doing more of the things you love, incorporating a dishwasher into your kitchen is the perfect solution. As well as helping you save valuable time and water, dishwashers help to keep your kitchen clean and clutter-free. When choosing a dishwasher, it is important to consider your lifestyle and the design of your kitchen as well as the features and technologies that can deliver fantastic results and convenience. To help you during the decision-making process, we have put together a guide on points to consider when buying a dishwasher, along with some suggested models.

Freestanding or Integrated

The best place to start when choosing a dishwasher is considering whether you would benefit from a freestanding or integrated model. Freestanding dishwashers are a versatile option, with models featuring hard-wearing laminate tops offering the choice of being used as worktop space. Since the appliance is not built-in, it can be easily relocated if preferred or simply re-installed in a new kitchen if you move home. On the other hand, semi and fully integrated dishwashers can be matched to the cabinetry of your kitchen or concealed behind matching furniture, for a seamless design.

Size

Another important point to consider early on when choosing your dishwasher is the size of the appliance that you require. For large families and busy kitchens, XXL models may be most beneficial. Miele XXL dishwashers offer an extra 4cm of additional interior height, providing you with increased versatility and various loading options for stemware, large coffee mugs and bulky dishes. For smaller kitchens and households where space is at a premium, models that are 45cm wide such as Miele’s Slimline range of dishwashers may be more suitable, providing you top of the range features and technology in a more convenient, compact size and saving you valuable space.

Features and Technologies

From features that deliver fast results to functionalities that allow you to programme your wash in advance, there are many options available for you to choose from to achieve the best cleaning with added ease.

Energy and Water Efficiency

Keep in mind models that can help you reduce your water consumption. Miele dishwashers use less than seven litres of fresh water in a single wash – significantly less than filling your kitchen sink and rinsing pots and pans, plates and cutlery. Features such as automatic load recognition can also help you keep energy consumption down, automatically detecting the amount of crockery in the wash cabinet and adjusting the use of water and electricity accordingly. Additionally, eco programmes can ensure that less water is used and dishes are washed at lower temperatures, whilst delay start functions can instruct your machine to run during off-peak times when the lowest electricity tariff is available.

Noise Levels

If you spend considerable amounts of time in your kitchen or use it for entertaining, it is vital to also consider noise levels – particularly in small or open-plan kitchens, where noise can easily fill the space. Miele dishwashers operate at particularly quiet noise levels that do not disrupt a normal conversation, whilst consistently delivering excellent results.

Fast Result

For clean cutlery and crockery ready to be used again fast, consider a dishwasher featuring a quick wash function, such as Miele’s QuickPowerWash programme. Alongside the use of Miele’s perfectly matched tabs, this programme achieves the best possible cleaning and drying results in less than one hour.

Flexible Loading

For further ease and versatility, consider trays that offer adjustable sections to suit different load situations, helping you avoid having to do multiple washes. Miele’s Patented 3D Cutlery Tray features hinged rows of spikes in the centre allowing more space for larger cutlery items such as salad serves or bread knives. Additionally, features such as Miele’s FlexAssist markings can help you identify at a glance which elements can be repositioned in order to adjust the basket to your needs. Small symbols such as a cup or a wine glass on the coloured elements point out how the area can be used.

Gentle Washing

For delicate glassware, keep in mind programmes that will deliver gentle cleaning and drying. Soft water will clean crockery thoroughly but it can have an aggressive effect on glass. To counter this, look out for functions such as Miele’s Perfect GlassCare to ensure glasses are washed gently, so you can enjoy them for many years to come.

Peace of Mind

To ensure an uninterrupted wash and keep curious hands from using your dishwasher, consider a model that features a child safety lock.

Ultimate Ease

For ultimate ease and convenience, look out for models that feature LED lighting that illuminates the interior with brilliant light when the dishwasher is opened, allowing you to make use of your appliance at any time of day.

Our recommended models:

First Home – Miele G 4940 SC Jubilee Dishwasher

Ideal for a first home, this dishwasher has been awarded a prestigious Which? Best Buy as well as a Quiet Mark, as it operates at noise levels considerably quieter than a normal conversation. Boasting an A++ rating for energy efficiency, this model uses as little as 6.5L of fresh water, significantly less than filling your kitchen sink, and sensor-controlled washing programmes measure how dirty the water is to adapt the wash programme accordingly. Flexible storage options include nine different basket positions, an adjustable 3D Cutlery Tray and our exclusive MultiComfort area that can be easily rearranged to provide a large, flat surface for large pots, pans and bulky items. Thanks to delay start, you can programme your wash up to 24 hours in advance for the utmost convenience, allowing you to operate your dishwasher whenever it is most suitable for you.

Compact Living – Miele G 4620 SCi Active Dishwasher

Part of our new range of 45cm slimline dishwashers designed to fit into compact kitchens, this semi-integrated model is available in White and CleanSteel. Featuring Perfect GlassCare technology, delicate glassware is washed gently and protected from soft water abrasion during the cycle, so you can enjoy them for many years to come without concern. Our exclusive SensorDry programme ensures optimum drying results and using automatic load recognition, this dishwasher automatically detects the amount of crockery in the wash cabinet to adjust the use of water and electricity accordingly, helping you to save time and money.

Family Friendly - Miele G6630 SC Dishwasher

Perfect for families and ideal for open plan kitchens, this dishwasher keeps disturbance at a minimum as it operates at particularly quiet noise levels. Boasting a selection of washing programmes including Gentle for delicate crockery, Short for a fast wash and Intensive for maximum cleaning performance, this dishwasher ensures excellent cleaning and drying results whilst being highly economical, with a rating of A+++ for energy efficiency. For convenience, thanks to AutoOpen drying the dishwasher door opens automatically at the end of the washing programme, and the 24-hour delay start feature allows you to operate your dishwasher whenever suits you best.

Fast Results – Miele G6770 SCVi Dishwasher

Thanks to the efficient QuickPowerWash programme, this model provides perfect results fast in just under 58 minutes. Additionally, with our perfectly matching Miele tabs, you are ensured to achieve the best possible results as these tabs only take two to three minutes to dissolve, meaning that cleaning performance begins right at the start of the washing programme. Featuring an ExtraComfort basket design, this model boasts a 3D Cutlery Tray or optional cutlery basket, a height-adjustable upper basket and MultiComfort area for larger dishes in the lower basket. Our Flexi Timer with EcoStart allows you to keep track of costs and consumption, as it automatically selects the cheapest electricity tariff before the dishwasher has started, and our EcoFeedback function allows you to view the consumption values in the display at the end of the programme.

Exclusive Collection – Miele G 6997 SCVi XXL K2O Dishwasher

Part of our Exclusive Collection, this fully-integrated XXL dishwasher features an impressive A+++ -20% energy rating. Ideal for modern kitchens this sleek, handleless model benefits from our unique Knock2Open technology, which automatically opens the dishwasher door with only two taps. Once the dishwasher is open, our exclusive BrilliantLight activates four powerful LEDs, illuminating the interior and making it incredibly easy to load and unload dishes at any time of day. Thanks to our ExtraQuiet programme, this model is perfect when entertaining as dishes can be thoroughly cleaned at extremely low noise levels, whilst the QuickPowerWash programme ensures clean and dry crockery in under an hour, leaving you with more time to enjoy the evening with guests. Being part of our Exclusive Collection, this model includes a complimentary five-year warranty, free delivery, installation and removal of an old appliance.