Dishwashers are helpful appliances if you find doing the dishes an unpleasant experience. On the other hand, many households are just fine without them. So, are dishwashers worth it?
Yes, dishwashers are worth it in most cases. They are easy to use, save time and hassle, and are somewhat affordable. If you make the best use of their basket space, you can put an average of 100 items in one wash cycle. However, if your dishes aren’t too many, you may not need a dishwasher at all.
Let’s now take an in-depth look at how dishwashers work, what to expect from them, and how to tell if buying one is worth it.
How Does A Dishwasher Work?
Dishwashers use constant sprays of hot water mixed with a detergent to clean the dishes.
Check out this video to see the mechanism from inside!
It seems pretty straightforward, but there are many steps involved for that process to happen.
Most dishwashers come with two baskets with a spraying arm under each of them.
Those two spraying arms keep rotating constantly to spread the water as far as they can.
The rotating arms are powered by a large induction motor that’s usually located at the bottom of the dishwasher.
The cycle starts when water is added to the dishwasher using a hose that’s connected to the dishwasher.
That water is then sprayed through the spraying arms.
Afterward, the built-in heaters inside the dishwasher start to raise the water temperature.
As you probably know, hot water efficiently softens and removes any clutter on the dishes.
The detergent doesn’t come into the picture at the beginning because it would be ineffective if the stains and clutter were hard.
Once the clutter gets softened, the detergent starts to mix with the water to start the deep cleaning process.
Then the dirty water is drained away, and the rotating arms start spraying fresh water again.
However, the water isn’t heated this time, and the rinsing is done with cold water.
Of course, that’s because too much hot water can crack the dishes.
But the dishwasher isn’t done yet. It drains the water one more time, and a new rinsing cycle with hot water starts again.
This would be the last rinsing cycle.
The hot water is then drained for the last time, and the dishes start to dry out by the residual heat remaining from the last rinsing cycle.
Recommended Further Reading:
- Do All Dishwashers Have the Same Size?
- Does a Dishwasher Require Hardwiring?
- How Many Amps for a Dishwasher?
What Can You Expect From A Dishwasher?
Before deciding if any product is worth buying, it’s important to have the correct expectations about it.
The same product could disappoint one person while being very helpful to someone else.
Some people purchase dishwashers expecting an effortless and timeless dishwashing experience.
This is not always the case.
So we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of having a dishwasher.
That way, you can easily tell if dishwashers are worth it or not.
Dishwasher Pros
- Saves Time: A dishwasher may take a little time to set the dishes and align them correctly to make maximum use of the cleaning arms. But once the cleaning starts, it’ll clean the dishes faster and with far less effort than manually doing them one by one.
- Easy to Use: You don’t need practice or go through a learning curve to operate a dishwasher. All you have to do is load your dishes, select a program, add the detergent, and then let the dishwasher do all the work.
- Better Cleaning: The hot water which the dishwasher uses to clean your dishes is much hotter than our hands can withstand. It’s proven that hot water is more efficient in getting rid of bacteria than cold water. By hot water, we mean water that’s too hot for us to touch.
Dishwasher Cons
- Might Be Pricey for Some: Dishwashers can sell as low as 200 dollars, but a good dishwasher averages around 600 dollars. This price might make some people think twice before getting a dishwasher.
- Takes Space: Dishwashers require a considerable amount of space unless you purchase a compact or a space-saving dishwasher, which isn’t very efficient in most cases.
- Needs Periodic Maintenance: Another downside to dishwashers is that they need regular checkups and maintenance, just like most appliances. So it’s important to have your dishwasher checked at least once a year to prevent or predict problems before they happen.
Related Further Reading:
- Can The Dishwasher And Disposal Be On The Same Circuit? [Explained]
- Is it Safe to Put a Food Processor in the Dishwasher?
- Why Do Dishwashers Take So Long? (Is It Normal?)
How To Judge a Dishwasher’s Worth?
Before you get a dishwasher, you should ask yourself a few questions.
Depending on the answer to these questions, you’ll know if a dishwasher is worth buying or not.
Can You Spare Extra Space?
Dishwashers can be handy, but at the end of the day, you can still wash your dishes one by one in the sink without taking extra kitchen space.
So ask yourself this, do you have enough space in your kitchen setup for a dishwasher without compromising the necessary space for other items?
If your answer is yes, then that’s one less thing to worry about when buying a dishwasher.
Is It Worth Spending Money For?
Dishwashers could cost you anywhere between 270 to 1400 dollars, sometimes even more.
A good dishwasher usually averages around 600 dollars, which is not exactly affordable.
Is the idea of having your dishes washed faster with relatively less effort worth spending 600 dollars on?
Of course, it all depends on your budget.
How Many Dishes Do You Have?
The more dishes you have, the more exhausting the experience of doing them.
A dishwasher can make life much easier if you have a relatively large household with lots of utensils lying around.
On the other hand, if you live a solo lifestyle and your dishes are a handful, getting a dishwasher could be a waste of money.
Are You Willing To Maintain The Dishwasher?
As we mentioned above, dishwashers will need to be checked every once in a while, even if they show no problems.
If you don’t look after the dishwasher, it might need more maintenance than it should in a few years.
This can force you to buy a new one or fix the existing one at an extra cost, making money more of an issue.
Are Miele Dishwashers Worth It?
Miele dishwashers are among the most expensive in the market.
However, according to those who have used them, the price is justified.
These dishwashers are reliable, and they’re built to last around 20 years, providing your usage is regular.
If you look at it as a long-term investment, Miele dishwashers can hold great value.
Interesting Further Reading:
- Can You Wash a Rice Cooker in the Dishwasher?
- Do Mini Fridges Have Freezers? [How Do They Work?]
- What Cooktops Do Chefs Prefer: Gas or Induction?
Are Cove Dishwashers Worth It?
Cove dishwashers are new to the market, and it’s hard to decide if they’re worth buying over other brands or not.
Most reviews are good so far, claiming that the dishwashers are durable and that they get the job done.
However, some people reported that Cove dishwashers don’t dry plastic very well.
Additionally, the washing cycles tend to be a bit longer than the average dishwasher.
Are Slimline Dishwashers Worth It?
Slimline dishwashers have smaller dimensions and can fit in smaller spaces, but does that make them worth buying?
To be fair, slimline dishwashers tend to be louder than regular ones, not to mention that they consume more electricity.
The funny thing is, the difference in the space they take isn’t that much!
Still, slimline dishwashers can be great candidates for people who live in studio apartments or small houses.
