Whether you’re redesigning your kitchen or investing in your very first dishwasher, you will be saving hours of your life by choosing the right dishwasher to use instead of washing by hand.  But, when it comes to choosing a dishwasher, how do you even know what to look for?  Most of us are not experts in the industry, and may not even know what features we need, let alone what will look good in our kitchen.

If you’re ready to invest in a new dishwasher, allow us to walk you through the steps when deciding which is the best for your needs.  Plus, even how to choose the best dishwasher detergent to ensure that all of the features of your new dishwasher do a perfect job of keeping your dishes clean.

How Do I Know What Dishwasher to Buy?

If you’re wondering how to choose the best dishwasher when there are so many available, we’re here to help.  The answer is by breaking down your needs into these main categories below.

Type

Overall, there are a few different types of dishwashers that should be selected based on the compatibility with your existing kitchen design.

• Built-In: Built-in dishwashers are the most common, and are generally full-sized. They sit below a countertop, between lower cabinets, and are attached to the plumbing and gas line in your home.
• Drawer: A drawer dishwasher is also technically a built-in, but it’s much smaller, and appears like a regular kitchen drawer on the outside. When you open it, there is a small space to load dishes, using a traditional dish rack design.  It cannot wash large amounts of dishes at once, so may not be ideal for bigger families.
• Countertop: A countertop dishwasher is for extremely small spaces, and doesn’t require professional installation. It can only wash a very small dishes at a time, so it may not be ideal for families.
• Portable: A portable dishwasher can also be full-sized, but also, can easily be removed if need be. This type of dishwasher can be taken with you should you move to a new home, and just want to bring your dishwasher along.

Material

There are generally two types of dishwasher materials: stainless steel and plastic.  Stainless steel is largely considered better, because it’s more attractive, more heat-resistant, and more durable.  It also retains heat more easily.  Plastic is less attractive, and cannot handle heat as well, but it is a more affordable option.

Size

Size is extremely important in this case.  Standard dishwashers fit a cavity that’s 24 inches wide and 24 inches tall, and so this is the size that you’ll come across the most.  But, some people have small kitchens, in which case an 18-inch width would make a lot more sense.  Of course, you can also find larger dishwashers for those kitchens that have a lot of extra space.

Keep in mind when deciding on size that this will also affect how many dishes you can fit into the dishwasher.  A smaller dishwasher is great in a tiny kitchen, but it won’t be able to fit more than a few meals’ worth of dishes, in most instances.  If you have an average-sized kitchen and want a small dishwasher, you may want to consider a larger one, if capacity matters to you. 

Reliability/Brand Reputation

You also want to buy a dishwasher that you know isn’t going to break down after a few months.  Of course, they all come with warranties, but still, no one wants to have to use one as they’d rather just have a dishwasher that works.

This is why it’s critical that you consider the reputation of the brand you’re buying from, to know that they build high-quality, reliable, and long-lasting dishwashers.  Basically, while you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good product, you also don’t necessarily want to totally cheap out, as you’ll likely end up disappointed.

Settings

There are standard settings that all dishwashers have – different types of wash cycles, sanitization features, and so on.  If you’re picky about different settings, or have very specific needs, make a point to really look at all the features available to find what you’re looking for – such as higher-end features that accommodate the needs of someone who cooks a lot, or so on.

Eco-Friendliness

More and more companies are making eco-friendly dishwashers, which generally use less water and less energy in order to achieve the desired results.  If this is something that’s important to you, then make sure that you consider whether or not you’re looking at an eco-friendly model.

Appearance

Lastly, you should consider the appearance of the dishwasher, as it’s something that you’ll be seeing several times a day.  Make sure that it generally fits the aesthetic of your kitchen, instead of being an eyesore.  Today, an influx of companies are putting an emphasis on visual features, knowing that the general public wants every appliance in their kitchen to be as attractive as possible.

What are the Features of a Dishwasher?

Nowadays, dishwashers employ more features than ever before, and one model can have unique features from what’s considered standard.  But overall, these are the features that you can expect to find.

• Wash Cycle: Dishwashers have different wash cycle options, which usually include “NORMAL,” “ECO”, “RAPID”, and others that companies may decide on based on what they think the average consumer wants. Some newer designs have “HARD FOOD” cycles, that can take care of food that’s crusted or caked on dishes, so you don’t have to do the scrubbing yourself.  Of course, this uses a lot more energy, so keep that in mind.
• Sanitize: There is often a sanitize option, which goes further to sanitize the dishes and the inside of the dishwasher.
• High-Temp: This is usually a feature that can be selected, which users a higher temperature when washing, mainly to get rid of any grease left on dishes.
• Heated Dry: Allows the temperature to get high as the cycle is done, with the heat drying the dishes so that you don’t have to.
• Delay: There is often a delay option, which will start the washing cycle after a selected period of time.
• Adjustable Dish Racks: Some dishwashers feature adjustable dish racks, so they can be reconfigured to accommodate different washing loads.
• Cutlery Tray: Many dishwashers have cutlery trays, which are separate trays that fit pieces of cutlery so that they can be washed without potentially falling through the spaces of the standard dish rack part.
• Filters: Dishwashers have filters, designed to catch food debris during the washing cycle. Some of these filters have a self-cleaning attachment that pulverizes the food, similarly to a garbage disposal.  This filter is convenient, but also needs to be cleaned regularly.
• Soil Sensor: Some dishwashers use intelligent technology to detect how dirty the dishes are, and then adjust the cycle accordingly.

Choosing the Best Dishwasher Detergent

Now that we’ve gone over the dishwasher, let’s move onto the detergent.  You can have the best dishwasher in the world, but if your detergent isn’t right, your dishes will never look clean.

At Grab Green Home, we offer only nontoxic, eco-friendly dishwasher detergent products:

• Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Powder
• Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods
• Cookware & Bakeware Cleaner Pods
• Stoneworks Auto Dish

Each of these products aboce is intended to wash your dishes and leave them sparkling, without the use of unhealthy or environmentally harmful chemicals.  All Grab Green products are EPA-certified, and even contain natural ingredients that do a flawless job at getting all of your dishes sparkling clean.

In fact, our products are developed to accommodate all dishwasher settings and styles, so that whatever model you end up choosing, you’ll know that the detergent you’re using will get the job done. 

Ready for a New Dishwasher?  Don’t Forget the Detergent

Choosing a new dishwasher is a process that you don’t want to rush too much, because there are a lot of factors to consider, not even counting budget.  We recommend looking at a variety of models, and even reading reviews online to know that you’re getting the best deal.

Once your new dishwasher is ready to go, we invite you to explore the amazing detergents at Grab Green Home, which can ensure that your dishwasher is able to really get those dishes clean. Grab Green supplies only environmentally friendly and nontoxic products that can make your life easier and safer, all while improving the state of our planet.