How to Buy the Best Type of Integrated or Countertop Dishwasher
Choosing the right dishwasher is important for your kitchen to look good and work funcionally.
In this article, we’ll discuss installation types, capacities and features, so you learn how to find the perfect model for your space. Check this other article for installation requirements and pros and cons of having a dishwasher.
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Types of dishwasher: freestanding, built-in or countertop
Most dishwashers are placed under the kitchen countertop, integrated with the cabinets. There are two slightly different types for this placement:
The advantage of this placement is the appliance discretion and the free space on the countertop.
The disadvantage is the inconvenience of leaning down while uploading and unloading the dishwasher.
If possible, I recommend leaving the undercounter space for cabinets and placing the appliances in a more comfortable height, once the cabinets are usually more quickly accessed.
For that situation, we have a third type of dishwasher:
If you like the idea of a higher dishwasher but want the standard size, not a shorter one like above, you can choose any of the other types, and either put a freestanding one on a counter or embed a built-in one in a floor-to-ceiling cabinet.
How to determine the ideal capacity and size for your dishwasher
As for other appliances, the bigger your kitchen and your budget, the bigger the appliance you can get. But unlike a range, for example, you will waste water and energy it you pick a bigger model than you will usually need.
Models with the standard height are either 45 cm / 18″ or 60 cm / 24″ wide, while shorter ones are always 60 cm / 24″ wide. The choice depends on the size of your kitchen and your lifestyle:
- Big kitchen and lots of dishes: go for the wider one with the standard height.
- Small kitchen and not so many dishes: pick a narrower or shorter model.
- Big kitchen and not so many dishes: that’s when you can make a mistake by getting a too big one. As it is recommendable to load your dishwasher close to its full capacity, you will end up having to wait too many meals before you get enough dishes. So you should get a smaller in spite the size of your kitchen.
- Small kitchen and lots of dishes: pick a smaller model and use it more often. It is a better idea then taking up too much of your precious space.
Besides from the dimensions, you can check the number of place settings that fit in a dishwasher in the product specifications.
Options of features for dishwashers
Once you determine the ideal type and size for your dishwasher, you will still find a number of possible models.
The most common features are:
- Different washing cycles. It is important to check which model has the cycles that will be more useful in your routine. Consider if you need heavy duty or quick rinse options, for example.
- Security key, important for homes with children
- Washing scheduling.
Think about which function is really important for you, because these extra features may just make the dishwasher more expensive, with no advantage for you.
You may also want to check the partitions that each model has and choose one that suits the dishes you use the most.
Possible finishes for dishwashers
Dishwashers do not typically offer a wide variety of colors, like other appliances. You can find colors like white, black, gray and stainless steel. They are neutral colors, easy to match with any other.
The ideal is to have the same color on all kitchen appliances, unless you opt to cover your built-in dishwasher door with the same finish as the cabinets, which should look nicer.
I hope this guide has made it easy to choose the perfect type of integrated or countertop dishwasher for your kitchen. Again, you may want to check this other article to find out what you need to provide for its installation.