Are you still arguing over who should wash the dishes? Have greasy pots and pans become a nightmare after dinner? A competent dishwasher is not only an efficiency tool for modern kitchens, but also a “reconciliation ambassador” that improves the quality of life and promotes family harmony. Faced with a variety of models and merchants’ propaganda on the market, how can you avoid traps and choose a “dish savior” that is truly suitable for your family? This super detailed guide to avoiding pitfalls will help you get started easily and enjoy clean dishes and precious free time!
- Dishwasher, really good warning! N hard-core advantages you must know
Completely free your hands, time is more precious: Say goodbye to 30-60 minutes of hand washing time every day, especially suitable for busy office workers and families with children. Chasing dramas, spending time with family, self-improvement, isn’t it good?
Cleaning power crushes hand washing, high temperature sterilization is healthier:
High temperature and high pressure flushing: Strong flushing with hot water above 70°C (hand washing cannot withstand), dissolving stubborn oil stains (especially dried dishes, hot pot oil, egg stains).
All-round no dead angle: The rotating spray arm covers every corner, solving the bottom of the cup, deep bowls, and filter gaps that are difficult to clean by hand washing.
Efficient sterilization and disinfection: High temperature water flow effectively kills common pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (some models have ultraviolet rays, silver ions, etc. to enhance sterilization), protecting the gastrointestinal health of the family, far exceeding the effect of hand washing.
Save water and electricity, be thrifty:
Subvert your perception: A standard washing program consumes about 8-12 liters of water (or even less), which is much more water-saving than continuous running water hand washing (often dozens of liters)!
Controllable energy consumption: In energy-saving mode, the power consumption is about 1 kWh (depending on the model and program), and it is more cost-effective to run it during the off-peak hours at night.
Take care of tableware and extend its life:
Avoid scratches and wear caused by friction and collision caused by hand washing.
Gentle rinsing is more friendly to glassware, delicate ceramics, and non-stick pan coatings (need to confirm applicability).
Resolve family conflicts and improve happiness: No longer have to worry about “who washes the dishes today”, the division of labor in the kitchen is more harmonious, and the family atmosphere is warmer.
- In-depth analysis of dishwasher types: Find your “birthplace model”
Built-in dishwasher: The center of the kitchen
Advantages: Beautiful and elegant (integrated with the cabinets), large capacity (usually 12 sets or more), relatively low operating noise, strong performance, and rich functions.
Disadvantages: Cabinet space and openings need to be reserved (best planning during decoration!), relatively complex installation, and high price.
Suitable for: Newly renovated or renovated kitchens, families pursuing beautiful integration, large population (3 or more), and families with high requirements for capacity and performance. It is the current mainstream and recommended first choice.
Independent/desktop dishwasher: flexible helper
Advantages: No need to modify the cabinets, plug in and use (need to connect to water and sewage), flexible placement (countertop or floor), relatively affordable price, small size (suitable for small capacity).
Disadvantages: Small capacity (usually 4-6 sets), occupying countertop or ground space, average appearance, and slightly loud noise.
Suitable for: Renters, small apartments (1-2 people), kitchen space is limited and cannot be installed with embedded, limited budget, as a supplement (such as washing bottles and baby dishes).
Sink dishwasher: innovation adapted to local conditions
Advantages: No bending over to operate (taking and placing dishes in the sink), saving space in the lower cabinet, can also wash fruits and vegetables (important selling point), installation is relatively simple compared to embedded.
Disadvantages: Limited capacity (usually 6-8 sets), high price (close to embedded high-end models), occupies a sink position, maintenance may be relatively troublesome, not very friendly to pot cleaning.
Suitable for: People who don’t want to make a big change in the old kitchen renovation, people with waist inconvenience, have a strong demand for washing fruits and vegetables, families with a small population (2-4 people) and accustomed to washing after each meal. When purchasing, pay special attention to whether the capacity can meet the needs.
- Core purchasing parameters: Understand these, and merchants can’t trick you!
Drying method: The key to the final experience!
Residual heat condensation drying (basic):
Principle: Use the residual heat of the last rinse to evaporate water, and condense the steam through the condenser.
Advantages: Low cost and simple structure.
Fatal disadvantages: Water droplets are easy to remain on the inner wall and bowl basket! Especially plastic tableware, deep bowls, and stainless steel products cannot be dried, and they are easy to get damp and breed bacteria, so they need to be removed in time.
Conclusion: If the budget allows, try to avoid pure residual temperature drying! The experience is not satisfactory.
Heat exchange drying (upgrade):
Principle: On the basis of condensation, add cold water pipes on both sides of the inner cavity to accelerate steam condensation.
Advantages: The drying effect is better than pure residual temperature, the dryness of the inner wall is improved, and the energy consumption is relatively low.
Disadvantages: The drying effect on tableware (especially plastic and deep mouth) is still limited.
Hot air drying (active drying, mainstream recommendation):
Principle: Built-in fan and heating element, blow out hot air to actively dry the tableware and the interior.
Advantages: The best drying effect! Tableware, inner cavity, and bowl basket can all be dried thoroughly and not easy to get damp. Good user experience.
Disadvantages: Slightly increased energy consumption (but acceptable), there may be slight fan noise.
Conclusion: The best choice for comprehensive experience at present, highly recommended! (Such as Midea, Siemens/Bosch mid-range and above models commonly used)
Automatic door opening drying (high-end):
Principle: Automatically open the door gap after the program ends, and use air convection to remove moisture.
Advantages: Energy saving, quiet, good drying effect (especially for tableware).
Disadvantages: There are requirements for the use environment (cockroaches? Dust? Pets?), the door opening space needs to be reserved around, and there may be a little water accumulation at the bottom of the inner wall.
Conclusion: Excellent effect and energy saving, but it is necessary to consider whether it is suitable for the home environment. (such as Haier high-end, some Miele models)
Crystal bud/zeolite drying (Siemens/Bosch high-end):
Principle: Use the physical properties of natural minerals (crystal bud/zeolite) to absorb moisture and release heat to assist drying.
Advantages: Energy saving, good drying effect, strong storage capacity.
Disadvantages: expensive.
Conclusion: The choice for those with sufficient budget and pursuit of the ultimate experience.
Washing program: Practicality is king!
Required basic program:
Smart wash/Auto: The first choice for lazy people! Automatically sense the degree of oil pollution to adjust the water temperature, duration, and water volume. Most commonly used.
Strong wash/heavy oil pollution: For hot pot, barbecue, solidified oil pollution, 70°C+ high temperature washing.
Energy-saving wash/daily wash: It takes a long time but saves water and electricity, suitable for daily washing.
Super fast wash: About 30 minutes, suitable for light stains or when tableware is urgently needed.
Practical bonus programs:
Crystal wash/glass wash: Low temperature and gentle water flow, protect glass and delicate tableware.
Pre-rinse: Short rinse to prevent food residue from drying, not necessary but convenient.
Layer wash/half load wash: Only wash one layer of the bowl basket, saving water and electricity, suitable for when there are few dishes.
Tips to avoid pitfalls: Don’t be dazzled by fancy programs! Focus on core common programs. Confirm whether “smart wash” is really smart (needs a dirt sensor).
Cleaning and sterilization capabilities: the foundation of health
Spray system:
Number of spray arm layers: at least two layers (upper + lower), three layers are better (upper, middle and lower), more comprehensive coverage.
Spray arm design: The rotatable angle, the number and direction of the water outlets affect the coverage effect. Pay attention to whether there is a special lower spray arm to deal with deep pots.
Water pressure/water efficiency: Sufficient water pressure (usually marked in the parameters) can ensure flushing power. Choose products with the national first-level water efficiency label to save water and electricity.
Sterilization technology:
High-temperature sterilization is the basis and core. Confirm the highest temperature of the program (powerful washing/sterilization washing should be ≥72°C).
Additional technologies: ultraviolet rays, silver ions, plasma, etc. can be icing on the cake, but high temperature is the foundation. Check whether there is a sterilization certification report from an authoritative organization (such as Zhongjiayuan).
Installation and after-sales: must be read before buying!
Embedded:
Reserve the size in advance! Strictly reserve the cabinet space (including the opening height, depth, skirting height, inlet and outlet, and power supply position) according to the installation opening diagram (width, height, and depth) of the selected model.
Water and electricity requirements: There must be a water inlet (angle valve), a drain (floor drain or sink drain), and a power socket (10A) nearby.
Stand-alone/desktop: It needs to be close to the sink (convenient to connect the three-way inlet and outlet), and there is a power socket.
Sink type: The sink position needs to be modified, occupying a sink position.
- Tips to avoid pitfalls: Be sure to ask yourself when purchasing
What type of equipment can be installed in my kitchen? Is the size and space sufficient? (For embedded equipment, be sure to measure the reserved space accurately!)
How many dishes does my family usually use for a meal? Do I need to wash pots (especially large woks)? → Determine the number of sets based on this, 12 sets or more is the best!
Do I have high requirements for the dryness of the dishes and inner walls after drying? Can I accept wetness? → Determine the budget for the drying method, hot air drying is the safest!
What are my main pain points? (Heavy oil stains? Save trouble? Save water and electricity? Wash fruits and vegetables?) → Determine the focus of the core washing program.
What is my budget? → Prioritize core needs (capacity, drying) within the budget, and don’t pursue the top configuration.
VI. Installation and Use Tips & Maintenance Instructions
Place tableware correctly:
Follow the instructions, tilt the bowl downward to avoid water accumulation.
Do not block the rotation of the spray arm with large items.
Put chopsticks and spoons in a special basket.
Use special dishwashing powder/blocks/liquid: Do not use detergent! It will produce a lot of foam and damage the machine.
Regular cleaning and maintenance:
1-2 times a month: Use special dishwasher detergent to clean the inner cavity, spray arm and filter to remove residual oil and scale.
Regularly (1-3 months): Check and clean the filter (coarse and fine filter) to prevent clogging.
According to the water quality (half a year to 1 year): Use a special descaling agent to perform the descaling procedure (especially in hard water areas) to protect the life of the machine.
Add soft water salt to the salt tank: Must be added in hard water areas! Protect the internal pipes of the machine and improve the washing effect. Add rinse agent to the rinse agent tank to help dry more thoroughly and reduce water marks.
Take out the tableware in time: After the program is finished, especially for machines that dry with residual heat, it is recommended to take out the tableware in time to avoid moisture.
VII. Soul-searching question (Q&A): Break the rumor about dishwashers!
Q: Is the dishwasher really cleaner than hand washing?
A: Absolutely cleaner! The high-temperature and high-pressure water flow above 70°C is a physical cleaning force that hand washing cannot match. Coupled with efficient sterilization, it is especially effective in killing bacteria and removing stubborn oil stains (such as dried rice grains and egg stains).
Q: Does the dishwasher consume a lot of water and electricity?
A: Absolutely wrong! A standard wash consumes only 8-12 liters of water (even lower), which is much more water-saving than continuous running water hand washing (usually more than 30 liters)! The power consumption is about 1 kWh (lower for energy-saving washing), especially it can be operated at night using peak and valley electricity prices, and the cost is controllable.
Q: Can the dishwasher wash pots? Woks, soup pots, non-stick pans?
A:
Iron pots/stainless steel pots/enamel pots: Usually no problem.
Coated non-stick pans/rice cooker inner pots: Be careful! Check the cookware manual to see if it says “dishwasher safe”. High-temperature, high-pressure water and strong dishwashing powder may damage the coating. To be safe, it is recommended to wash expensive coated pots by hand.
Wooden tableware/cutting boards: Most are not suitable, and they are prone to cracking and deformation when soaked in high-temperature water.
Plastic products: Check the bottom label (whether there is a “dishwasher safe” label), some plastics that are not resistant to high temperatures may deform.
Q: How long does it take for a dishwasher to finish washing?
A: Some are fast and some are slow! Smart washing/powerful washing usually takes 1.5-2.5 hours. But super-fast washing only takes about 30 minutes and is suitable for light stains. The key is that you don’t need to watch it next to you! Start it at night and harvest clean dishes in the morning.
Q: Can an old kitchen be equipped with a dishwasher?
A: There is a solution!
Freestanding: Place it on the countertop or the ground, and connect it to the sink for water supply and drainage.
Renovation of cabinets: Some embedded ones can be renovated and some floor cabinets can be installed (professional masters need to evaluate).
Sink type: Replace a sink (need to evaluate the space under the sink and installation conditions).
Conclusion: Follow https://muyizhijia.com/ to embrace technology and unlock kitchen freedom
Dishwashers are not “for lazy people only”, but a wise choice to improve life efficiency and quality. It brings not only clean dishes, but also precious time and a more harmonious family atmosphere. As long as you follow this guide, avoid key pitfalls such as capacity and drying, and combine your own kitchen conditions and needs, you will definitely be able to choose the perfect dishwasher that makes you say “really fragrant”. From now on, let greasy dishes become a thing of the past, and enjoy the pleasant time after the meal!
