When it comes to choosing a dishwasher, the first question is: freestanding or built-in? The right choice will suit your daily dishwashing habits, kitchen design and style preference. All going well, your days of furious pot scrubbing will be far behind you.

Freestanding Dishwashers

“For renters or frequent house flippers, freestanding dishwashers make a lot of sense because they are portable,” says Tania Grillinzoni, Cooking, Dishwashers and Kitchenware Buyer at The Good Guys. “They are also easy to install and can be positioned anywhere in the kitchen as long as it’s near a water connection and drainage point.” Unlike built-in dishwashers, they are not designed to fit under a bench and come with sides and a top cover. Choose from full size, slimline and compact models.

Built-in Dishwashers

A more seamless option, built-in dishwashers are built into your kitchen cabinets – just as the name implies. They fit snug under the bench and you can choose a finish that best suits your kitchen style. “Alternatively, you can choose a model without a front cover so you can match it to your cabinetry for an integrated look. Your cabinetmaker is the person to call for that,” says Tania Grillinzoni. Choose from fully integrated, with the control panel fully concealed behind the door, or semi-integrated, with the control panel visible at the top of the door.

Dishdrawers

Easy on your back and on the eye, dishdrawers are built into the kitchen bench at waist height and slide out like a drawer. “Tall people or those with bad backs love dishdrawers, because the ergonomic design means no more bending over to stack and unload dishes,” says Tania Grillinzoni. You can opt for a single drawer unit or a full-sized double drawer. The drawers operate independently, which means no more turning on a half-empty dishwasher to do the breakfast dishes – and greater energy efficiency as a result. As a bonus, dishdrawers are also super-quiet – at or below 45dB, which equates to the hushed tones of a public library.

Dishwasher Size & Dimensions

Dishwasher manufacturers measure a dishwasher’s capacity in terms of the number of place settings it can hold. One place setting equates to one small and one large plate, a bowl, cup and cutlery. Dishwashers come in three sizes: full-sized (12 to 14 place settings); slimline (nine to 10 place settings); and compact (up to eight place settings). When working out how big your dishwasher should be, it’s a simple matter of averaging the number of regulars at meal times. If you are a regular entertainer, factor that in too, to ease the load after weekend gatherings. As a general rule, one to two people will need a dishwasher capacity of six to nine place settings; three to four people will need a dishwasher capacity of nine to 12 place settings; and a household of five or more people will need a dishwasher capacity of 12-plus place settings.

The Best Dishwasher Finishes

“Stainless-steel, white and black are top of the pops when it comes to dishwasher finishes,” says Tania Grillinzoni, Cooking, Dishwashers and Kitchenware Buyer at The Good Guys. “That said, white works with pretty much any kitchen style, from modern to traditional. White also visually recedes – something to keep in mind if you want to make a smaller space appear bigger.” Stainless-steel is another timeless choice and will make your appliances a focal point. Love a touch of drama? Go dark with gloss black, black stainless-steel, matte black or deepest-grey anthracite finishes for your dishwasher. Or, go bespoke by integrating your dishwasher’s front panel with your chosen kitchen cabinetry.

Dishwasher Features to look for

• Self-cleaning filter, no need to remove and clean the filter. Amen to that.
• Fast wash for barely-dirty dishes, so you save on water and energy bills.
• Half-load function that adjusts water and program times for smaller loads, again saving on water and energy bills.
• Quick programs that deliver a stellar clean in under 30 minutes.
• Intelligent sensor technology that applies the optimum amount of water and pressure to produce sparkling results, no matter what type of load.
• Fan-assisted drying so dishes come out bone-dry and auto-opening doors that let steam escape for drier dishes post-wash.
• Extra-hot wash cycle to bust germs and sanitise baby bottles.
• Flexible, adjustable shelves that let you stack your dishwasher the way you like, whether you need a spot for long-stemmed wine glasses or more room for pots and baking sheets.
• Lift-up bottom basket that literally slides out and lifts up so you can load and unload without bending your back.
• Glass care technology that adjusts water quality to optimise the sparkle on your Champagne flutes, and eliminates cloudy or streaky glassware.
• Pull-out cutlery tray to keep knives, forks and spoons organised.
• Bottle-cleaning jets to wash the interior of water bottles, vases and more.
• Built-in garbage disposal that removes food particles, preventing them from collecting in the filter and having to be manually removed.
• Anti-flood protection to stop the flow of water from the tap if there is a leak – no-one wants the hassle of an unexpected leak in the kitchen.