Buying Guide: is a Slimline dishwasher right for my home?

May 11th, 2015

Appliance Talk Buying Guide Dishwashers Environment, Energy & Water Saving

Looking for an easier way to do the dishes, but don’t have much room to spare in your kitchen? Will adding a standard dishwasher to your new or renovated compact kitchen leave you drastically short of cupboard space?

Slimline dishwashers have narrower designs than most standard dishwashers, making them a better choice for more modest kitchens. Your dishes will enjoy the same cleaning standards as using larger models, while your kitchen remains clean, tidy and efficiently organised.

Bosch Slimline Dishwasher SPS60M08AUBosch Slimline Dishwasher SPS60M08AU

Here are a few reasons why a Slimline dishwasher could be just the right machine for you:

They’re slim!

The clue is in the name – slimline dishwashers don’t take up a lot of kitchen space.  This means your dishes can benefit from faster, more efficient cleaning, and you’ll also leave enough cupboard space available to store all of your cookware, utensils and more.

Omega Slimline Dishwasher DW300XAOmega Slimline Dishwasher DW300XA

While every model is different, an width of approximately 450mm is fairly common among slimline dishwasher designs (that said, ALWAYS check the measurements before making a purchase!).

They use less power and water than you may expect

Did you know that on average, most dishwashers actually use less water to clean a load of dishes than washing by hand? If you’re not sure, check out this article on the subject by Dr Karl.

Slimline designs, being smaller than standard dishwashers, tend to use even less water and power with each load. Just be sure to use them efficiently to get the most sustainable performance – for example, consider air-drying or hand-drying your dishes rather than running an energy-intensive drying cycle.

Energy ratings for dishwashers

Check each dishwasher’s energy and water star ratings to get an idea of a dishwasher’s efficiency. Remember that these ratings are based on washing an average load with a standard cycle, and that different dishwashing settings may use more or less power or water.

They can help save more money

Tying in with the above point about using less power and water than you may expect, Slimline dishwashers in turn often have lower average running costs than their full-sized cousins.

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To save more money while keeping your dishes clean, try to make good use of your slimline dishwasher’s Eco setting (if available). And if there’s an option to delay the start of your dishwashing cycle until a time of your choosing, try to program your machine to run at night, during off-peak energy periods.

They’re just right for singles and couples

If you live alone or with a partner, a full-sized dishwasher could be overkill when it comes to dealing with your dishes. Full-sized dishwashers have capacities of up to 14 place settings (one place setting = all the plates, cutlery and glassware required to serve a diner a three course meal), which is much more than really necessary for a smaller household.

formal place settingsource: wikipedia

As Slimline dishwashers typically average 8-10 place settings, they’re a more efficient choice for a smaller home of two or three persons.

Learn more:

For more information regarding Slimline dishwashers, visit Appliances Online, where you can also find a wide selection of slimline dishwasher models available to purchase.

And if you have any further questions regarding dishwashers or any other home appliances, contact the Appliances Online team on 1300 000 500 – available 24/7!

Mark joined Appliances Online in November 2011 and has since learned more than he ever expected to know about appliances. He enjoys looking for new and unusual ways for to solve everyday problems using typical household appliances. When he’s not toiling at the desks of Appliances Online and Big Brown Box, he tries to find time to write the next big bestseller and draw satirical cartoons, but is too easily distracted by TV, music and video games. Mark’s favourite appliance is the Dyson Groom Tool, as he loves the concept of vacuuming your dog. Google+

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