No! This review is not about choosing husbands; though the topic might have led you to believe so. Ever since man and woman started entering each others domain (that was clearly demarcated by our ancestors) and it became perfectly normal for the woman to work outside home, man has been in a quandary. He cannot cook (he can cook actually, but then, who will eat what he cooks), he cannot look after the kids (he cannot look after himself in the first place), he can wash the clothes but the washing machines make lesser noise and does a better job…. So only thing that he is allotted with certain degree of regularity is the menial job of doing the dishes….. But then if you are a married man and find yourself with nothing else to do after dinner but the dishes, well this review is for you.
Size does matter: (Strictly referring to dishwashers)
Dishwashers come in varying sizes. It does make sense to have an idea of how much load the machine will have to take. The compact ones which are otherwise called the Table top models are suitable for small families of 2-3 members. The larger under the counter models are the ones ideally suited for bigger families. While buying the latter it is a good idea to go for ones with wheels, so that they can be easily moved around if needed.
Space in the kitchen and the load the machine should take must be the main considerations in this case. You cannot keep your dishwasher in your living room no matter how good it looks (even of its color matches with the sofas kept there). Most dishwashers perform at optimum levels with a full load. Of course there are machines that can be programmed to deal with lesser than full capacity loads. But then they are top end machines that would cost a fortune.
Performance:
Cleaning modes: Most dishwashers come with various wash options. You would ideally want at least the following options in yours - Gentle (fragile) for washing glasses and expensive china, medium/economy for your day to day utensils and intense (thorough) for your bigger, greasier and messier pans.
Flexibility: Adjustable/removable racks, collapsible shelves, doors that can hold cutleries etc are features that help you make maximum usage of the space inside the dishwashers.
Noise levels: Most models do feature sound insulation and noise reduction amongst their features. But then I would recommend the ones that create a lot of noise to “husbands” who need a concrete proof to establish that it is the dishwasher and not them who do the dishes in their homes.
Solid food disposal: These machines pulverize the solid food and there by prevents drains from clogging. This will reduce your workload as it means that you can even load the machine with dishes without pre-rinsing.
Self Cleaning: Another feature worth having, this ensures that the machine cleans its filters by itself from time to time. This reduces the need for manual cleaning of the filter which is a rather unpleasant chore, that if neglected can lead to not just bad odors but also a fall in the efficiency levels of the machine.
Economy features:
Water consumption: This is of great significance; especially in metros, where water is costliest resource. Choose machines that will use lesser water per wash cycle without compromising on the cleaning ability. The economizing on water is usually done with the help of stronger nozzles that propel the water at a greater speed and of course by heating water to higher temperatures. Anyway research indicates that a good dishwasher uses considerably lesser amount of water (almost 50% less in some cases), compared to average hand wash process.
Power Consumption:Most of your power related problems are due to heating option in the dishwasher. Any machine that can heat up to 65C should be fine enough. We only want to clean the dishes not cook it, do we? It is believed that most common microorganisms found in food do not survive beyond 60C. There are machines that use the hot air formed when water is heated, to dry the dishes. This saves on power. Also air drying machines (that use fans instead of hot air) save a lot of your electricity bills. Twin motor machines are supposedly more economical as they carry out operations simultaneously.
Artificial Intelligence:
Technology has ensured that machines have a mind of their own. Of course if you have the money, go for a “thinking” dishwasher. The most interesting features worth considering are
Delayed Start: This option ensures that you can start your dishwashing at a time specified by you. Now this is an option worth considering, if you live in a place that has voltage fluctuations during peak times and the supply is fairly steady late in the night when most other electrical and electronic appliances are switched off.
Load sensor: A quality that was discussed earlier briefly. This quality in the machine detect the load in it and there by adjust the water level, heating, pressure and detergent levels required for the wash cycle.
Memory and display: A feature that will ensure that the cycle will re-start from where it stopped in case there is a power failure. Also electronic display that will help you ascertain the status of the operation, beginning and end of a wash cycle, time left or elapsed etc are quite useful. A beeper to indicate the start and the end of a cycle is definitely an advantage.
Safety and durability:
Anti-Rust: The nature of its work demands that a dishwasher is in constant touch with water. Plastic, stainless steel and ceramic are materials that would ensure that rust does not affect the machine. The inner lining of most dishwashers are stainless steel or ceramic. The trays come in plastic, PVC or metals with an anti-rust coating.
Fuse: An inbuilt fuse reduces the risk of shock and short circuits; Once again an important feature in dishwasher, given its connection with water. Also the control mechanism and the knobs should be shock proof.
Rodent trap: you do not want to spend large amounts of money to provide the rats in your home with some comfortable accommodation, do you?
Detergent and salt levels: Lets you know when you need to refill the above components. Salts are used in machines that are operated in areas with hard water, to soften them.
Warranty: There are different types of warranties issued by manufacturers. They are available for parts and service. Also warranties can be classified as full, limited or life-time, make sure what type of warranties are issued by the brand you pick.
Budget:
Last but not the least; you have to know how much you want to spend on a dishwasher. Considering that these are more of convenience equipments than essential, a reasonable dishwasher should start from the price range that’s around Rs.25,000 . On the long run you can save on your water consumption, but then your electricity bills will go up. But what it guarantees is some additional free time and relief from a chore that is often not considered very pleasant. The most expensive need not necessarily mean the best quality.
Brand scan: Indian brands that I have seen and found good are IFB,Electrolux and Videocon. Of course our International members have much wider options that include Bosch,Hotpoint,GE,KitchenAid etc.
The time saved by using these appliances can be used to rate and comment on this review..!
