Recipes - DishWashers

Did you know that a dishwasher might be able to save you as much as four hours a week? If you are tired of hand washing your dishes and thinking of purchasing a dishwasher to do the job for you, here are some things to consider before you shop.

Space

First, measure the amount of space you have for a dishwasher. The standard size dishwashers are either 18 inches or 24 inches wide.
These dishwashers can hold a place setting for 12, so it is quite roomy inside.

Heat control

You want a dishwasher that heats to at least 140 degrees to get the dishes cleaner and remove bacteria. Find out how many spray levels the dishwasher has. The more spray levels, the cleaner you dishes will be. Also, check the different cycles that the dishwasher has to offer. Most offer normal and heavy, but some also offer a “pots and pans” cycle (for dishes with baked on food) and a “rinse and hold” cycle (removes food and odors on dishes that will be sitting there until you have enough to run the washer).

Special sensors

Some special features you may want to look for in a dishwasher are sensors (monitors the soil and temperature levels), energy efficiency (to conserve both water and energy), and noise reduction (for quieter washing). If you do not like pre-rinsing the dishes, there are dishwashers the come with a heavy-duty disposal so all you have to do is put the dishes in the washer. There are also dishwashers that you can program to start at a later time. If you have hard water, you can purchase a dishwasher with a built-in water softener.

Space savers

There are compact, countertop dishwashers that might be a better choice for someone in a small apartment or dorm room that does not have room for a floor model. These dishwashers will hold a place setting of four plus silverware. They measure 17 1/4 inches wide and only 21 inches high and cost around $150. They usually only have two cycles, normal and heavy, but work great for people that do not have space for a standard dishwasher.

Ask for what you want

Having a dishwasher can free you up from the time consuming task of washing dishes by hand, but make sure you choose a new dishwasher wisely. When you are out shopping for the dishwasher, do not be afraid to ask the salesperson questions about it. If you have a dish that never fit well in your old dishwasher, take that along with you. You can try it in the new dishwasher to make sure it fits.