Life is too short to spend time washing up.
However, as there’s sadly no avoiding dirty plates, a dishwasher is a real kitchen game changer. They’re particularly popular with families with 64 per cent of UK homes with two children owning one according to Statista, while a survey of 2000 adults found that 12 per cent of adults consider the appliance a necessity in life.
When it comes to buying a dishwasher, there are four main types – freestanding, slimline, tabletop and integrated. Unlike freestanding dishwashers, integrated dishwashers come without a front panel so can be hidden behind a kitchen cupboard making them a great choice for anyone with an open-plan space or who wants a seamless look.
In every other way, integrated dishwashers are the same as freestanding ones though usually cost a little more. You will also need to factor in the cost of a cupboard door for the front of the dishwasher if you’re not replacing another integrated model.
An integrated dishwasher will fit into any space where there’s a 60cm gap, as long as there is drainage and a water supply within reach. Most suppliers offer installation for an extra cost if you’re not happy to fit the appliance yourself and this usually includes attaching the cabinet door to the front of the dishwasher too, though always double-check the specifics.
One factor to consider before buying is the dishwasher’s energy rating, particularly with the rising costs of electricity. Ratings go from A to G and it’s worth looking for a model with a B or C rating as A is rarely awarded to dishwashers. The good news is that research has found that dishwashers are roughly four times more energy efficient than hand washing per place setting.
Other ways to make the appliance more energy efficient include using the eco setting, which takes longer but saves energy and water, and only running a fully loaded dishwasher. It’s also worth looking for an air-dry model. This automatically opens the door towards the end of the cycle to use outside air to dry dishes naturally, rather than heating air inside the machine. This cuts energy use but also drastically improves drying results. So you can sit back, relax and let the dishwasher do all the hard work for you.
Shop the best below
AEG 7000 Glasscare 60cm FSE74747P
We’re already big fans of AEG appliances so had high hopes that this integrated dishwasher wouldn’t let us down either. With a decent C energy rating, we were startled by just how clean it made dishes – even one with burnt-on lasagne on came out squeaky clean and our stainless-steel utensils and cheese grater looked brand new after one wash. We have to confess that we’re inclined to over-pack dishwashers and even that didn’t cause problems thanks to its spray arm which guarantees corner-to-corner cleaning and up to three times better spray coverage.
It was the glasses that really wowed us though. Not only did they emerge sparkling, but even our tallest wine glasses were held securely thanks to special SoftGrip spikes that hold both the stem and foot of every glass – a small but significant addition that we think every dishwasher should have. We also appreciated the MaxiFlex cutlery drawer which fits in all sorts of utensils we normally squeeze into any space possible and then hope for the best. The touchscreen slider is clever too – simply select your preferred cycle time and the machine will suggest the most sustainable programme to save energy and water. It’s a downright dishwashing dream.
Buy now £649.00, AEG
Miele G7191 SCVi 125 Integrated Dishwasher
Miele’s G7191 Integrated Dishwasher is one of the most advanced white goods on the market. Paired with the companion app, you have complete control over the schedule of your wash, meaning you can optimise it if you are on variable electricity tariffs to save on your bills.
The ability to operate, select programs and check the status of its health (e.g. the need for rinse aid or salt) from your phone gives the power to time it when you arrive home and a notification tells you when it’s done. I found this to be handy on a few occasions but more often than not, I control the dishwasher manually from the LED screen which details duration, tells you to refill the accoutrements and has buttons to switch between programs. Call me old fashioned but it’s far easier. The other thing I liked? The dishwasher is impressively quiet.
Innovative features like AutoOpen remove the faff of wiping down each cup as you unload as it helps dishes dry and cool are appreciated - but most of the techy features I don’t find need for, like 10 different washing programs.
Instead, I stick to the same few cycles. This includes AutoDos which adjusts the detergent to the contents, which is clever but also requires an extra investment into the pricey PowerDisks exclusive to Miele. For state-of-the-art washing, this is a state-of-the-art dishwashing machine. But for those who want to clean without the bells and whistles, you can find yourself a dumber model for a fraction of the cost.
Buy now £1148.99, John Lewis
Bosch Series 6 SMV6ZCX10G Fully Integrated Dishwasher
Let’s face it – even the fanciest dishwashers sometimes need emptying with a tea towel in hand to mop up those annoying droplets left on plastic dishes. However, this Bosch dishwasher is a real drying marvel as it uses minerals called Zeolites to absorb any moisture left in the machine and release heat to finish drying your dishes. We were astounded to see there were no watermarks even on our children’s plastic drinking bottles, which is nothing short of miraculous.
It’s full of other problem-solving features we didn’t know we needed. There’s an electric child lock, a machine care programme and an extra clean zone in the top basket for items that need a bit more oomph. It even projects the time remaining in the cycle on the floor underneath the dishwasher. We also love the speed clean setting that shortens cycles up to 75 per cent and can be pressed mid-cycle if you want to speed things up.
Best of all, the dishwasher comes with an additional spray head that can be added to tackle large baking sheets or even oven shelves, which is a major bonus in our book. All this and it’s Wi-Fi connected so you can control it from the sofa via the app or even with Amazon Alexa. Suddenly, dishwashing doesn’t seem quite so dreary.
Buy now £749.00, Amazon
Miele G 7650 SCVi Fully Integrated Dishwasher
We can’t lie: for this price, we wanted this appliance to come with our own personal chef who’d stack the dishes after cooking. However, if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range, all-bells-and-whistles machine with that rare A-grade energy rating, this Miele is unbeatable.
For a start, this is the world’s first automatic detergent dispensing dishwasher with an integrated PowerDisk to release exactly the right amount of detergent at exactly the right time for the programme selected. Programme it once and it will take over for the next 20 washes. You won’t need to hang about waiting for dishes in an emergency either as the quick cycle is just 58 minutes, while other programmes include an intensive wash, eco load and a hygienic setting for chopping boards or baby bottles.
Best of all, there’s a programme to clean the dishwasher itself which is nothing short of ingenious. We also love the fact that estimated water and electricity consumption values are displayed when a programme is selected so you can make a conscious choice every time. If you can swallow the initial cost, this is by far the best dishwasher available for both the planet and your energy bills.
Buy now £1679.00, John Lewis
Hoover H-DISH 300 HDI1LO38SA fully integrated standard dishwasher
Appliances that can be connected to a smartphone app usually come at a hefty premium. So, we were staggered to discover this brilliantly priced Hoover dishwasher can be controlled from afar if you want to choose programmes or check its status even when you’re not at home.
It has everything else you’ll need as well including a delayed start option, five programs and an end-of-cycle indicator. The quick wash will even deliver clean dishes in a lightning-quick 29 minutes if you’re really in a hurry. It’s also worth noting that this appliance has a traditional cutlery basket rather than a drawer, which some people prefer for speedier stacking. This is positioned at the back of the bottom rack which is a good safety feature for keeping knives out of harm’s way but does make it a little fiddly to load. Still, a great budget buy overall.
Buy now £370.00, Argos
Smeg DI324AQ Fully Integrated Standard Dishwasher - Silver Control Panel with Sliding Door Fixing Kit - A Rated
One of the only downsides of an integrated dishwasher – particularly ones without Air Dry - is that there’s no way of seeing the control panel or knowing if the cycle has finished. Opening the appliance too early can interrupt the cycle and affect cleaning or even damage your machine. Luckily, this Smeg model has thought of everything. It projects a red light on the floor outside the dishwasher when it’s running that turns off at the end of each cycle. It will even flash if the appliance has run out of salt or rinse aid, which is a simple but oh-so-smart solution.
Loading is easy too. The dishwasher includes an Intelligent Flexiduo cutlery basket which essentially means you’ll never be stuck wedging dishes into a space they don’t fit. Instead, the cutlery basket consists of two separate and moveable sections. These can be adjusted individually or even removed entirely in case you want to wash your tallest champagne flutes or clean chunky utensils like ladles and potato mashers, making the dishwasher work even harder to suit your individual needs.
Buy now £699.00, AO
Beko BDIN38650C Integrated Dishwasher with DeepWash Technology
Do you live with someone who uses every pot and pan available every time they make a meal? This dishwasher – which is designed for a whopping 16 place settings – is the one for you. There’s even a Fast+ function that shortens the programme by up to 70 per cent if they still run out of dishes and need clean ones in a hurry.
Other functions we like include automatic detection to adjust the temperature of a cycle when using a three-in-one detergent, an interior light for easier stacking and another light projected on the floor so you know when the dishwasher’s on. There are also adjustable plate supports that fold flat to fit in larger pans and even an auto program that will adjust the amount of energy and water used depending on how dirty your dishes are for the ultimate hands-off housework.
Buy now £529.00, Currys
LG TrueStream QuadWash DB425TXS Dishwasher
The days of a dishwasher just cleaning your plates are long gone. Top-of-the-range models like this one completely personalise the experience for all-new bespoke dishwashing you can be really smug about. Connected over Wi-Fi, this machine’s accompanying app allows you to adapt settings to suit the cleaning you need and even download new wash cycles – like Night Care or Casseroles. It will also let you know when it’s time to clean the dishwasher (though we won’t judge you if you ignore it).
It’s not all style over substance either. The dishwasher uses TrueStream to remove 99.99 per cent of bacteria, dried-on food and watermarks, while a four-arm wash system gets into every nook and cranny. We especially like the Dual Zone Wash setting which gently cleans delicate glasses on the top rack, while power-washing pots and pans on the bottom. We would’ve loved the energy rating to be a little better but the knockout cleaning and next-level connectivity has us seriously impressed.
Buy now £969.00, John Lewis
Hisense HV661D60UK Fully Integrated Standard Dishwasher
Best for: families on the larger side
The fully integrated HV661D60UK from Hisense is a standard-sized model measuring a rather weeny H81.6 x W59.8 x D55.5 despite the fact it can cleanse some 16 place settings! Making it an obvious go-to option for families of the fuller type.
But it's not just its internal capacity that makes the Hisense an attractive proposition, there’s also a 15-minute quick cycle to get your cutlery ready for reuse in next to no time, an eco programme that serves to save energy, water and, of course, cash, plus a self-opening door that automatically pops itself by 10cm at the end of the cycle to let the steam out and the drying commence without the need for any interference from you.
Helping to seal the deal is a removable cutlery basket, but the bottom line here has to be, that if your household is rammed to the rafters with humans eating and drinking almost non-stop, then the Hisense is not so much a casual desire but an absolute necessity.
Buy now £379.00, AO
Verdict
All these dishwashers will make your life a whole lot easier but we especially love the AEG 7000 Glasscare 60cm FSE74747P for its top-notch cleaning power, versatile stacking and the thoughtful glass spikes that help our wine glasses live to see another day. If you really fancy a Wi-Fi-connected model though, we rate the Bosch Series 6 Fully Integrated Dishwasher for its smart operation and frankly staggering drying capabilities.
