Appliances
Dishwashers
Introduction
Our test of 31 dishwashers of all shapes and sizes will help you find the one that suits you best.
The perfect dishwasher is hard to find, but we've tested a wide range of models so you can pick the one that's best for your situation. We also explain the features to consider when you buy, and which brands are the most reliable.
Video: How we test
Ever wondered how we test dishwashers? Watch our video and find out all about it.
Models we tested
This report contains test results and recommendations for the following dishwashers:
Checklist
If you're thinking about buying a dishwasher, here's what to consider:
Dimensions
Size
Most 12- to 14-place models are designed to fit into the same-sized under-bench space, usually accepted as around 850mm height, 600mm width and 550 to 650mm depth. If you are replacing an existing dishwasher, check the fit before you order. Some models come with a worktop that must be removed before building in. Check the ventilation space requirements.
If you’re looking for a dishwasher to squeeze into a small space, a slimline model might be right for you. They’re only 45 centimetres wide but can still fit 9 or 10 place-settings, so they’re good for smaller households. Or you can choose F&P's single drawer DishDrawer, to take up less vertical space.
Capacity
Dishwashers come in sizes up to 16 standard place settings; though 12 is a realistic maximum for most standard-sized washers. The extra sets of crockery and cutlery have reduced wash performance in some tests.
Flexible loading
Adjustable top basket
Essential if you want to wash champagne flutes or other tall wine glasses, or wash very large plates in the lower basket. Some models let you lower one side of the basket, so you can wash tall glasses and large plates at the same time.
Removable or folding tines allow large or awkwardly shaped objects to fit in the baskets. Watch out for short tines - plates can fall over onto each other and prevent a good wash.
Take along a few pieces of your everyday dinnerware such as a large plate, a deep bowl and a long-stemmed glass. See how they fit - check that the baskets can close and the spray arms can spin without hitting anything.
F&P's double DishDrawer is another way of having versatile loading. You can wash one load of lightly soiled glassware and cups simultaneously with a separate load of dirty pots. If you don't need, or can't fit in a big dishwasher, a single DishDrawer is a good choice as the racks and tines can be removed or adjusted to suit varying loads.
Anti-nesting grids
Fitted over the cutlery basket to prevent cutlery bunching together. Removable grids are more versatile and easier to use.
Cutlery tray
Here's an innovation in some models you'll either love or hate. Critics find it time consuming and fiddly to load, because each piece of cutlery has to go in its own slot - the right way round. And it can prevent tall glasses from fitting, unless the tray is removed.
Our test found there was no performance advantage with a cutlery tray. A basket may be offered as an alternative or in addition to a tray.
Settings
Program options and features
What do you want your dishwasher to do? The options vary. A low temperature wash saves power, and lets you take advantage of the new enzyme detergents. A delicate cycle is useful for fragile items. A fast-wash function is efficient if you've pre-rinsed the plates to remove the worst of the grime. A half-load option reduces the amount of detergent, power and water required.
Cycle time
A normal cycle usually takes around 100 minutes. But some models we've tested take up to 196 minutes. Some models have a fast cycle, and those with a hot connection will be quicker than those which heat the water themselves.
Auto-sensing
Where a dishwasher has an auto-sensing cycle we use that for testing. An auto-sensing cycle adjusts wash time, temperature and energy level to suit the amount of dirt in the wash water. This means dishes should be done in the shortest-possible time - and with the lowest water and energy consumption. But our tests have found some auto-sensing machines aren't always consistent in their choices.
The self-selecting dishwasher
You press 'start' on the Fisher & Paykel DW60DOX1 and the machine begins to wash - then over the next 10 to 30 minutes it chooses one of five wash cycles (intensive, daily, economy, normal, and quick). It may seem easy to let the dishwasher make the decisions. But it also gives you no say in the matter - which won't always suit. Think of wanting your dishes washed in a hurry and not being able to select a fast cycle.
Displays
It's helpful to see how soon the cycle will finish, or where to look to fix simple problems, such as blocked spray arms.
Other features
Anti-flooding devices
Worth having. Often fitted to the hose, to prevent your kitchen becoming awash if there's a leak.
Concealed heaters
We can't see any difference in performance, though stray plastic items are more likely to melt onto an exposed element. If you must wash plastic, do larger pieces only, and in the top rack.
Fan drying
Fan assistance can improve drying by removing condensation from inside the dishwasher.
Noise
If you're used to a 15-year-old dishwasher, you'll probably be astonished at how quiet the current models are. Machines that can wash at levels below 45dBA won't intrude too much on your post-dinner chat.
Child proofing
Door locks, and child-safe detergent dispensers could prevent accidents.
Style
The right look can be a key factor. Most brands offer stainless steel and integrated options. Integrated models (often with an "i" in the model number) can be fitted with a front panel to match your kitchen décor.
Filter
Make sure the filter is easy to remove and replace.
Controls
Look for clearly labelled buttons and a display screen or rotary dial to indicate time remaining.
The second-hand option
Considering a second-hand dishwasher? Unless you really must, we think new is better. It's hard to work out how old a dishwasher might be. It's also not easy to find out how much water and energy an older model uses.
But if second-hand is your only option:
- Stick to well-known, reliable brands under 5 years old. It'll be easier to get parts if anything needs fixing. (Avoid AEG machines made before 2005: parts are very hard to obtain). See our reliability data for brands to look for.
- Check the door seal is intact and that the door clicks shut properly.
- Check all connecting and drainage hoses are intact and in good condition.
- Make sure the inside is free from rust, the filter is clean, and the baskets slide in and out easily.
- Under the Electricity Act and its regulations, electrical appliances for sale must be safe. This law applies to every way of selling an electrical appliance, new or used.
- If you buy a dishwasher from a second-hand dealer and then discover it to be faulty, you're covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act. If you buy privately, you're not.
Water & energy efficiency
What matters most to you?
The perfect dishwasher balances washing performance against water efficiency, and drying performance against energy efficiency. But the perfect dishwasher is hard to find: dishwashers with high scores for washing are often less water-efficient; and those that are best at drying use more energy to do so.
A dishwasher’s main job is to wash dishes properly. It’s false economy to choose a model that has excellent water and energy efficiency but can’t do its main job: you’ll just end up using more water and energy rinsing and re-washing dishes.
To bring the focus of our test back to basics – cleaning your dishes – we've revised our rating scale so that washing is the most important part of the scoring.
Washing performance now accounts for 55 percent of the overall score (up from 40 percent). Drying performance, water and energy efficiency are each 15 percent. This means the overall scores for our previously tested dishwashers have changed.
Individual scores for washing, drying water efficiency and energy efficiency vary amongst our recommended models – so when choosing a new dishwasher think about what matters most to you.
Tip: You can achieve almost-perfect drying if you’re in the kitchen when your dishwasher finishes its drying cycle: just open the door to let most of the steam out.
Energy labels
The more stars, the better the efficiency. But make sure you're looking at the latest standard – AS/NZS 2007.1:2003. Ratings for this standard are based on a normal cycle, which takes longer and uses more hot water than an economy cycle. Under the old standard, the ratings could be based on an economy cycle.
Some models create an economy cycle by dispensing with the drying heater. It saves on power, but means you could have to get out the tea towel. This rather defeats the purpose of a dishwasher!
Water connection
While a hot connection usually gives shorter wash times, electricity costs can increase due to heat losses from the water pipes, especially if the dishwasher is well away from your hot-water cylinder.
Check the maximum allowable hot-water temperature for the machine. Your hot water supply may exceed this if you have a wetback system.
A cold-only connection is cheaper to set up and run, and more energy efficient, as the dishwasher itself heats and uses exactly the amount of hot water needed. A cold pre-rinse (which many models use) is also effective at loosening egg and cereals.
Is a dishwasher cheaper than handwashing?
It could be. If you wash by hand, we estimate you'll use around 40 litres of hot water (at least two sinks full) to wash the same pile of dishes that fit into a dishwasher. That costs about 13 cents. If you rinse the dishes with hot water (before or after) the cost rises.
Use the normal cycle of an efficient dishwasher, and it will cost you about 16 cents. Use an economy cycle, which leaves you with some drying, and the cost reduces to about 13 cents. The load will have had a pre-wash rinse, a detergent wash and a rinse.
Which detergent?
We're often asked what the best detergent is. The answer may well be that it doesn't matter - the dishwasher matters most. In a huge trial of detergents that included most of the familiar Kiwi brands, the Australian consumer organisation Choice used 200 households to do home testing.
Despite big differences in price, the testers didn't find equally big differences in performance. As one said: "All the products were good and we'd be happy to use any of them."