Any historian worth their specialist BBC 2 re-enactment-heavy show will tell you that there are certain fixed points in the evolution of humankind that defined the direction of our species.
The first use of basic ‘tools’, the ability to create fire, the invention of the wheel and, of course, trumping all of those, the leaps in technological evolution that resulted in such advanced devices as the dishwasher.
Attributed to an American socialite in the mid-19th century, the dishwasher was created to relieve her contempt at washing up after the endless array of dinner parties she was expected to host (and the husband that made her hold them). Josephine Cochran was, according to the US Patent and Trademark Office, reported to have declared “If nobody else is going to invent a [mechanical] dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.” and, well, did.
Of course, like all technologies, such as the aforementioned ‘tools’ and fire, things have evolved constantly since their early origins, and the same can very much be said of the long-suffering Mrs Cochran’s dishwasher. Indeed, today’s iterations of this marvellous escape from the worst of domestic drudgery clean faster, smarter, more economically and more ecologically than any mere bi-handed human ever could imagine.
There are two things I’d be lost without: the GPS on my phone and my dishwasher. But if you’ve yet to invest in this world of cleaning convenience, then there are a few things you want to watch out for. Namely, physical size, internal capacity, number of place settings, and energy efficiency rating (running from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with ‘A’ being top rated and ‘G’, well, ‘also-ran’). Then there are also aesthetic concerns, but that’s down to the individual to judge, so I’ll hold comment on that score. Besides, I only ever pick the pretty ones.
Ready to wash your hands of dishwashing forever? Here’s our top performing dishwashers.
Beko BDFN15430W Standard Dishwasher
Best for: quality dishwashing under £300
The kind of thing that the poor Mrs Cochran had in mind all along, the 85 x 59.8 x 60cm (HxWxD) ‘standard’ sized BDFN15430W freestanding dishwasher from Beko fits neatly into most kitchen workspaces and yet has the capacity to contain a colossal 14 place settings – more than enough for even the most ambitious of domestic dinner parties.
Energy rated ‘D’, the Beko helps keep costs down (a pretty big concern these days). Should you be the forgetful type who only remembers that a hoard of hungry guests will be descending on your pad at the 11th hour, a very handy 58-minute programme will get all your dishes and cutlery food-free and gleaming like new, ready to serve up the cheeky takeaway you ordered in a panic and are about to claim as your own cooking.
Also handy, sensors inside the Beko can work out just how deeply ingrained the dirt is on your pots and pans, so should you have little to no idea as what programme you need to put it on, fear not, just hit auto and let the BDFN15430W do its thing. Hell, it’ll even pop the door open at the end of its cycle to allow everything inside to dry until bone-like and ready to remove. Coming complete with a removable cutlery tray, for the price, the Beko BDFN15430W is an undoubted absolute bargain.
Buy now £259.00, AO
Samsung Series 7 DW60R7040FS Standard Dishwasher
Best for: An energy efficient, first-rate free-standing dishwasher
Making dishwashery as simple and efficient as possible, the 13 place Samsung Series 7 freestanding DW60R7040FS measures a miniscule 84.5 x 59.8 x 60cm (HxWxD), so fits neatly into all standard kitchen appliance fittings, making it ideal for medium-sized households.
Featuring seven programme settings, including a 55-minute quick wash cycle, half-load setting and an extra hot wash for those items that need an extra helping hand to achieve true hygiene, if all of that sounds a bit overwhelming, then simply hit Auto Wash and let the Sammy’s internal sensors work out what’s required and see to it all automatically.
At the end of any set cycle, the DW60R7040FS will open its own door by 10cm to allow steam out and your freshly cleansed crockery to dry swiftly and naturally, before stashing safely away or serving up your next 70’s style cheese fondue and prawn cocktail themed social soiree.
Finally, ‘D’-rated for energy efficiency, not only is the Samsung a quick cleaning dishwasher demon, it’ll also help drive down those insanely inflated power bills somewhat, making the somewhat steep price tag well worth the outlay in the long-run.
Buy now £650.00, Samsung
Bosch Serie 6 SMS6EDW02G Standard Dishwasher
Best for: flexible, eco-friendly dishwashing
Slotting into the price chain at a ton less than the Samsung, the Bosch Series 6 SMS6EDW02G nevertheless comes packing many of the same features and even a couple of others that will tick all the right green-boxes.
First off, at 84.5 x 60 x 60cm (HxWxD), this is another standard-sized, free-standing option that will play nice with most kitchen configurations. Secondly, also akin to the Samsung, it is capacious enough to hold 13 place settings, features an Auto mode that adjusts water and energy usage to each individual load, and also has an auto-open door that releases the internal steam at the end of a cycle to allow your pot, pans and plates to dry naturally.
However, where it differs from the Samsung is in the energy rating stakes, classified at ‘C’, it’s a step-up when it comes to cost/planet-saving, something well-worth taking into account.
Buy now £549.00, AO
Miele G 7422 SC AutoDos Select
Best for: money-no-object ultimate dishwashing
Hitting the high-end of the dishwasher market hard now, Miele is one of (if not the) premier name in this arena; and for very good reason. Delivering a solid ‘C’ energy efficiency rating, the free-standing Miele offers space for a full 14 place settings, while measuring just 84.5 x 59.8 x 60cm (WxDxH). It also comes loaded with 11 programmes to deal with any kind of load and eliminate any food-residue no matter how long you’ve left it to congeal on the work surface.
When it comes to loading, the Miele’s 3D MultiFlex tray and removable cutlery basket it makes it a breeze to get objects of wildly alternating size in, while the automatic dispensing of detergent saves you almost any effort at all.
Featuring an innovative water feed to cut down on O2 consumption and a speedy setting that will render averagely soiled dishes squeaky clean in just 58-minutes, the Miele G 7422 SC AutoDos Select is ingenious in every way.
Fully smarted-up, it can also connect to your Wi-Fi using the Miele@home system, meaning you can control it via the Miele app on your smartphone, by voice control using any compatible virtual assistant or via integration into any other of your existing smart home systems.
Lean, mean and capable of getting your dishes incredibly clean, the Miele G 4422 SC may come with a mighty price tag around its neck, but if you want the best kit possible for your kitchen, prepare to dig deep.
Buy now £1599.00, AO
Beko DEN59420DG Wifi Connected Standard Dishwasher
Best for: A connected dishwasher at an unconnected price
This is an award-winning free-standing dishwasher that comes packing AutoDose technology - a feature that automatically to dispenses the ideal amount of detergent and rinse aid for each and every load you cram into it. It can be controlled directly from your smartphone.
So, costing considerably less, just how ‘smart’ can a sub-£500 dishwasher be? The answer to that is: smarter than an electric Einstein with a degree in advanced dishwashing, that’s how smart. Once the Beko is plumbed in, download the HomeWhiz app to your smartphone and monitor and remotely control your dishwasher from anywhere you please. Tie it in with any and all Amazon Alexa-armed devices you may have around the home and control it by voice, even getting updates as to when your dishes will be done. I mean, I don’t know how big a house you live it, but if your kitchen is a 20-minute walk from the living room (or grand ballroom), then such updates will be vital in giving you a head start.
Another AutoDose-toting model, simply fill the detergent and rinse aid reservoirs and let the Beko deal out the ideal dosage for each load. You can even set up Automatic Detergent Replenishment so that the app orders in for you when the machine is running low, saving you from having to brush shoulders with hoi polloi down at some supermarket.
With nine programmes plus Eco and Quick Wash options at the ready out of the box, the aforementioned app also lets you download additional programmes, should you be so bold.
An energy efficiency rating of ‘E’ means it might not go over-easy on the electricity, but if total remote dominance over your dishwasher is what your domestic life needs, then the bargain-priced Beko is a no-brainer.
Buy now £429.00, Amazon
Bosch Series 4 SKS62E22EU
Best for: tabletop dishwashing
Living in London and perhaps renting one of those properties where space comes at quite the premium? Or maybe you live alone and don’t generally generate enough dirty dishes to warrant the need of an undercounter dishwasher? Or perhaps a combination of the two? In any event, there’s still not need to sully your skin with scourers and dirty dishwater, at least not while the Serie 4 SKS62E22EU exists!
A dishwasher designed to sit smartly on a worksurface (nobody is going to truly stick it on a tabletop, are they?), the 45 x 55.1 x 50cm (HxWxD) Bosch has ample space inside for six place settings, includes a removable cutlery basket for unloading convenience, and comes with all the washer tech anyone really needs. It includes ActiveWater which delivers more performance while using less water and energy, a Load Sensor to ensure just the right amount of water is used every cycle and Glass Protection tech to make sure the Bosch goes easy on your delicate glassware.
With Auto, 45-65°C, Delicate, Economy, Intensive, Pre-Rinse and Quick wash programmes at your fingertips, all available in a unit raised up to an excellent height for loading and unloading, the Bosch Serie 4 SKS62E22EU is a work of labour-saving genius for those short of space.
Buy now £499.00, John Lewis
Hisense HV661D60UK Fully Integrated Standard Dishwasher
Best for: families on the larger side
Before we shift into the more commercial/industrial side of dishwashing demands, we come to the fully integrated HV661D60UK from Hisense, a standard-sized model measuring a rather weeny 81.7 x 59.6 x 55.6cm (HxWxD) despite the fact it can cleanse some 16 place settings! Making it an obvious go-to option for families of the fuller type.
But its 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, if your household is rammed to the rafters with humans eating and drinking almost non-stop, then the Hisense HV661D60UK is not so much a casual desire but an absolute necessity.
Buy now £429.00, AO
