A dishwasher is a mechanical device used to clean dishes and other utensils. Dishwashers work by spraying hot, soapy water onto dirty dishes and other items, then rinsing them with clean water.
Since the invention of commercial dishwashers in the 1920s, home use has become increasingly popular.
Types of dishwashers
There are several different types of dishwashers currently on the market. Dishwashers are categorized by their installation method and size, so you can find a perfect fit for your home.
- Built-in dishwashers
- Portable dishwashers
- Compact (countertop) dishwasher
- Drawer dishwasher
- Fully Integrated dishwasher
- Top control dishwasher
- Front control dishwasher
What is Built-In Dishwasher?
Built-in dishwashers are designed to be built into your kitchen cabinetry.
Because they’re not freestanding appliances, built-in dishwashers fit best under the counter or inside a base cabinet that measures 24 inches deep. Most are designed to hold seven or eight-place settings at one time.
What are the features of a built-in dishwasher?
Since built-in dishwashers are designed to be installed into your kitchen’s cabinetry, they typically have the following features:
- Large capacity that can handle up to eight place settings at one time.
- Digital controls with a screen for easy operation.
- Special racks or utensil holders so you can leave your silverware in the dishwasher.
- Adjustable racks to accommodate large plates or wide bowls.
What is Portable Dishwasher?
Portable dishwashers are freestanding appliances that can be installed anywhere you have a power source and a water supply.
Since they’re not built into your cabinetry, portable dishwashers typically stand on wheels and have a built-in faucet for your water connection.
What are the features of a Portable Dishwasher?
Portable dishwashers are freestanding appliances that typically come with the following features:
- Digital controls.
- Smaller size.
- Large capacity.
- Racks are designed to hold large utensils and serving platters, including folding tines or rails that allow you to stack dishes inside.
- Adjustable tines or folded racks that let you customize the interior to accommodate your dishes.
What is a Compact Dishwasher?
Like portable dishwashers, compact dishwashers are freestanding appliances that can be installed anywhere you have a power source and a water supply.
However, they’re even smaller than portable dishwashers and generally don’t have any built-in features.
What are the features of a Compact dishwasher?
Compact dishwashers are freestanding appliances with the following features:
- Digital controls.
- The small size makes them ideal for small spaces like RVs, apartments, and boats where there’s not enough room for a full-size dishwasher.
- Racks are designed to hold large utensils and serving platters, including folding tines or rails that allow you to stack dishes inside.
- Adjustable tines or folded racks that let you customize the interior to accommodate your dishes.
What is Drawer Dishwasher?
Drawer dishwashers are designed to fit inside a kitchen drawer. They’re smaller than both portable and compact dishwashers, with an average size of 18 inches wide by 23 inches deep.
Like other types of stand-alone dishwashers, they can be installed anywhere you have a power source and a water supply.
What are the features of the Drawer dishwasher?
Drawer dishwashers are designed to fit inside a kitchen drawer. They’re smaller than both portable and compact dishwashers, with an average size of 18 inches wide by 23 inches deep.
Like other types of stand-alone dishwashers, they can be installed anywhere you have a power source and a water supply.
- The small size makes them ideal for small kitchens and smaller spaces like RVs, boats, and apartments where there’s not enough room for a full-size dishwasher.
- Digital controls with a screen for easy operation.
- A built-in faucet adapter allows you to hook up your water supply directly to the machine instead of using an external hose or pipe.
- Racks are designed to hold large utensils and serving platters, including folding tines or rails that allow you to stack dishes inside.
- Adjustable tines or folded racks that let you customize the interior to accommodate your dishes.
What is Integrated Dishwasher?
While standalone dishwashers require a separate installation process (and can be installed wherever you have a power source and water supply), integrated dishwashers are designed to replace your kitchen sink.
Because they’re built into your countertop, integrated dishwashers can be either under-the-counter models or top-mount versions.
What are the features of an Integrated dishwasher?
Integrated dishwashers are designed to look like traditional kitchen sinks. They typically feature one large basin instead of two separate basins for washing and rinsing.
This makes them an excellent choice if you regularly use your kitchen sink to clean large dishes or pots and pans.
Integrated dishwashers are also larger than most standalone models, making them more suitable for families of four or more people.
what is a fully integrated dishwasher?
A fully integrated dishwasher has a single door that’s large enough to hold a dinner plate.
It requires the very little installation and can be placed under your kitchen sink or to the side of your existing sink.
What are the features of the Fully integrated dishwasher?
Dishwashers with a single basin don’t have two separate basins for washing and rinsing, making them a good choice for large dishes.
They’re also much larger than drawer dishwashers or compact models, with enough room to accommodate up to 12 place settings at once.
what is a top control dishwasher?
Top control dishwashers feature a simple, flat control panel on the top of the door.
Because it’s so easy to access, this type of control panel is very intuitive and convenient to use.
What are the features of Top Control Dishwasher?
Most stand-alone dishwashers have an electronic control center, which can be difficult to reach if you have an under-the-cabinet installation.
While this type of control panel is very easy to use, it can be frustrating if you have small children or are short on countertop space.
Top control dishwashers also tend to have a manual dial for selecting the cycle setting.
Most other types of dishwashers have electronic touchpads that are more difficult to use.
what is a front control dishwasher?
Front control dishwashers feature a simple dial or push button interface on the door of the unit itself.
Because it’s so easy to access, this type of control panel is very intuitive and convenient to use.
Also, since most front controls face downwards, the dishwasher is less likely to suffer damage if small children reach in.
What are the features of the Front Control Dishwasher?
Front control dishwashers are typically smaller than most other types of dishwashers, making them ideal for households with space constraints.
They also tend to feature a manual dial for selecting the cycle setting, which is less complicated than electronic touchpads and easier to use.
Why do I need to use Dishwasher? 7 reasons to use it
1. It’s easier
Using a dishwasher is certainly much easier than washing dishes by hand, even if you have a full load.
You simply put your dirty dishes into the machine, turn it on, and go about other tasks while it gets to work.
Plus, because of this added convenience, more people are willing to keep their dishes clean on a daily basis.
2. It’s more sanitary
According to the FDA, using a dishwasher is actually safer than washing dishes by hand because it removes 99 percent of potentially harmful bacteria while also rinsing away chemicals and food particles that can cause harm during the washing process.
That said, you should always make sure your dishwasher is set to the right cycle and only uses water that’s hot enough for proper cleaning.
3. It helps save money
If you can use a dishwasher to do dishes, you don’t need as many plates, bowls, cups and utensils as someone who has to clean them by hand.
Plus, because dishwashers use less water than hand washing, this is another way they help save you money.
4. It’s more effective
Surprisingly, the effect of hot water on dishes for hand-washing isn’t that much different from the effect achieved by dishwasher detergents when it comes to reducing bacteria levels.
However, commercial dishwashers are much better at removing soil from both flatware and dishes of all shapes and sizes.
In fact, the high-pressure sprayers on some dishwashers can remove even baked-on or stubborn stains that hand washing may not be able to remove.
5. It’s good for the environment
By using a dishwasher, you’re reducing the amount of water and power you use.
Dishwashers typically use less water than hand washing, and they also use hot water only when necessary, which means lower energy bills and less fossil fuel usage in heating your water.
6. You can pack more dishes into the dishwasher
Because modern dishwashers use low-energy spray jets and special detergents, you can pack your dishwasher pretty tightly.
In fact, a study by the University of Bonn in Germany found that people would use much more water hand washing their dishes than they needed to, and an average family could save up to €900 a year.
7. Some dishwashers hold silverware as well
Some dishwashers come with special racks that hold silverware, allowing you to put away up to 12 knives, 12 forks and 12 spoons without risking damage.
However, not all dishwashers can hold silverware, so always check your product description before buying one.
How does it work?
A dishwasher works in much the same way as a washing machine, with a few small differences. The first thing you must do is to load your dirty dishes into the machine.
When you’re finished, you add detergent and close the door. Then it’s just a case of pressing a button or setting a timer and going about your business while the water jets and sprayers go to work.
When you’re ready, the machine will stop and eject your dishes, allowing them to dry in the fresh air.
Some dishwashers also come with special heaters that further reduce bacteria levels by killing any lingering spores or bacteria on your dishes after they’ve been cleaned.
Why is it better?
Dishwashers are better than hand washing in several ways. First of all, dishwashers use less water (typically 6-10 gallons for a full load), which means they’re better for the environment and your water bill.
Dishwasher detergent works more effectively than regular soap to get dishes clean, plus it uses electrical power only when it’s needed and is automatically released in measured quantities.
Finally, dishwashers can get into the hard-to-reach places where your fingers just can’t go.
This is particularly effective when dealing with food particles or oily residue that you didn’t notice before loading the dishes into the machine.
Some dishwasher models even have adjustable spray jets that let you change the strength of the water jets, so you can get your dishes extra clean if necessary.
Top 10 Benefits of using a dishwasher
1. Less water and energy
Most dishwashers count on the fact that their contents are hot in order to run efficiently, meaning they use less than half of the amount of water used by hand-washing.
They also tend to only require cold water connections, which means it will be more affordable for an apartment-dweller or renter to hook up.
2. Helps to prevent spots on the dishes
This is due to the fact that dishwashers have hot water jets in order to remove particles of food.
Hand-washing, in contrast, might require you to rub at stubborn stains with extra force or a brush. That’s often when spots can happen!
3. Efficient use of your time
Taking a few minutes to load a dishwasher in the evening will save you the hassle of doing the dishes in the morning.
This way, when you wake up or come home from work you can spend that time with your family instead of cleaning off plates and silverware.
4. Saves the hassle of purchasing, storing and maintaining a dish rack
If you’re not using a dishwasher, then you probably have a dish rack sitting in your sink or countertop.
You also need to make sure that it’s clean and ready for use whenever you need it.
If your main kitchen sink is already full with dishes from last night’s dinner, then you’ll have to wait until those are washed and dried before you can set up your dish rack.
5. Dishwashers do a better job of cleaning the dishes
It’s often the case that people use less water during hand-washing as well as less soap, meaning that there isn’t as much of a clean or soapy smell afterward.
Dishwashers, on the other hand, use more water and soap in order to get the job done right.
6. Less need for storage space
Since dish racks take up so much counter space, many people opt to stack their clean dishes nearby instead of putting them away immediately after washing.
This takes up even more room, which you could now use for other things.
7. You won’t need to purchase as much cleaning material
When you’re hand-washing dishes, chances are that you’re using sponges or dish rags alongside dish soap in order to get them clean.
Dishwashers will do the hard work for you, so you won’t have to spend money on so much cleaning material.
8. Less dirty towels from washing dishes by hand
Since a dishwasher will do the heavy lifting for you, there is less of a need to wash towels after each meal in order to clean off plates and silverware.
If your family is anything like mine, they tend to be lazy about hand-washing.
9. Dishwashers are safer for young children
If you’re like most families, then there’s a good chance that your little ones love to explore the kitchen and touch everything they can get their hands on.
With dishwashers, though, kids won’t accidentally turn on the faucet and flood the kitchen.
10. Dishwashers help to prevent disease
This last benefit is a little more serious than the others since it has to do with preventing illness from bacteria that grow on unclean dishes.
In fact, one study found that there was a 70% reduction in the number of bacteria samples when comparing dirty plates from hand-washing to those from dishwashers.
I hope that was as useful as I believe it to be, and now you can’t say that you don’t know when or how to use a dishwasher!
Remember, the most important thing is to save time and money by using this modern convenience!
Final Words
The dishwasher is a device that washes dishes and cleans the kitchen. It gets rid of bacteria, dirt, grease, food particles and other debris from plates, cups and silverware so they are safe to use again.
With all this power in one machine, it’s no wonder we depend on them every day!
