Smarter, quieter, more sustainable dishwashers are making their mark

KitchensFeatures Fri 4th Mar 2022 by Nicola Hanley

Smarter, quieter, more sustainable dishwashers are making their mark

Smarter, quieter, more sustainable dishwashers are making their mark


Feature by Nicola Hanley | Fri 4th Mar 2022

Nicola is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about interiors for 15 years. A former editor of Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business magazine, she has also worked in PR and is now a freelance writer specialising in kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. More



Dishwashers are evolving – now they are smart appliances that clean perfectly and offer genuine time, lifestyle and eco benefits. Nicola Hanley takes a look at the latest models on the market. 

“It sounds fundamental, but when it comes to a dishwasher, people want to know if it will clean their dishes properly,” says Simon Plumbridge, category manager at Gaggenau. “Will it dry them? Will it protect sensitive crockery and cutlery? And is it quiet? Every dishwasher should offer this.”

Gaggenau’s 400 series DF481 built-in dishwasher uses low-temperature drying with Zeolite to protect delicate glassware and can be controlled remotely through the Home Connect app. It holds up to 12 place settings and has eight programmes and four options while the push-to-open function makes this model ideal for sleek, handleless kitchens

With open-plan living on the rise and more time being spent at home, quiet dishwashers are topping consumer wishlists in 2022. “A low decibel dishwasher has always been a must-have for an open-plan kitchen, although COVID has accelerated this demand as people look to create a dual quiet zone for both dining and working from home,” says Bodie Kelay, MD of Küppersbusch Sales UK. “Furthermore, as energy prices continue to rise, consumers are looking even closer at energy efficiency and functionality that helps save on valuable energy and reduce water consumption.”

Perfect for open-plan kitchens, Küppersbusch’s K.Series.8 G6805.0 v has a low 40dB sound level and a sleek, handleless design. It features 15 place settings and nine wash programmes, including IonClean, designed to prevent bacteria and odours forming within the machine. It uses 9.9 litres of water per cycle and is rated D for energy and A for cleaning and drying efficiency

Recently launched, Rangemaster’s slimline Premium 45cm dishwasher holds up to 10 place settings and uses just nine litres of water on its eco programme. Its nine programmes also include Smart 50°C-60°C and Mini 14, a 14-minute cycle. This fully integrated model has touch controls with a black panel and white LED display

According to recent research conducted by Whirlpool Corporation, when it comes to home appliances, energy and water efficiency have become incredibly important to consumers. Its study of more than 2000 people in the UK found 50% of respondents value innovations that use less energy while 40% value those that have a lower carbon footprint and help to save money. 

Hotpoint’s ActiveDry HIP 4O539 WLEGT UK dishwasher automatically opens the door by up to 10cm at the end of the cycle to naturally dry dishes. Endorsed by Quiet Mark, it has a 39dB noise level while a dedicated Sanitising cycle eliminates 99.9% of bacteria

It’s a trend that Fisher & Paykel is also increasingly seeing. “More than ever before, we are extremely eco-conscious and constantly making changes in our lives to help the environment,” says Jo Jackson, market product manager at Fisher & Paykel. “We expect a continuous drive for more energy and water-efficient products that are quieter than ever. We also see a big demand for water-saving appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. Dishwashers generally use a lot less water than you would use washing up in the sink. The average sink will hold about 20 litres of water while the Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer uses only 6.7 litres of water per cycle.” 

With a black stainless steel finish, Fisher & Paykel’s DD60DDFHB9 double DishDrawer features 15 wash programmes, including quick, extra-dry and a sanitise wash that kills 99.9% of bacteria. The two drawers, each of which holds a half load, can be used independently

With an A+++ rating, Spanish brand Pando’s top-of-the-range PLT-7260 integrated dishwasher will wash 14 place settings in 9.91 litres of water. It has eight programmes including party wash and features include a pull-out cutlery tray, delay start and a choice of temperatures

Neil Pooley, kitchen trade at Miele GB, agrees. “Never has sustainability been more front and centre of people’s minds when it comes to their purchases,” he says, highlighting Miele’s recently launched G7000 dishwashers, which are all A-rated for energy efficiency and use just six litres of water per cycle. 

Ideal for clients keen to reduce their environmental impact, Miele’s new G 7460 SCVi is A-rated for energy efficiency and uses six litres of water per load. Features include EcoPower and AutoDos, designed to use the precise amount of water, energy and detergent according to how dirty the dishes are and the programme selected. It can be operated remotely by voice control via Alexa or through Miele’s app

The pandemic has also made consumers much more conscious about hygiene in the home, and appliances are no exception. “Hygiene is at the forefront of a lot of our minds at the moment,” continues Fisher & Paykel’s Jo Jackson. “While we live, work and play in the kitchen, hygiene has crept onto our radar. Appliances that use innovative technology to keep germs at bay and help you to achieve maximum hygiene in your kitchen with minimal effort have been very popular since the beginning of the pandemic. We predict there will be a high demand for self cleaning appliances as well as appliances that kill bacteria.” 

Perfect for consumers that like entertaining, CDA’s CD16371 takes 15 place settings within a 60cm footprint and uses nine litres of water per cycle. Advanced programmes include Hygiene Pro, Dual Pro Wash and Triple Wash, which operates at high temperatures to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria

Gaggenau’s Simon Plumbridge says consumers are becoming more switched on to smart functionality when it comes to dishwashers, too. “It’s not a dealbreaker, but we’re being asked more and more whether appliances have smart home connectivity, particularly when it comes to cooling, laundry and dish care. It’s very easy to see the benefits in those categories.”

Neff’s N 90 S299YB800E 60cm fully integrated dishwasher holds 14 place settings. It can be controlled with the Home Connect app, which will advise users of the ideal settings for each load while the VarioHinge makes it quicker and easier to install

Shree Dandekar, Whirlpool Corporation’s sr. vice president of engineering and innovation says the smart technology must provide consumers with tangible benefits. “It’s about creating useful ecosystems that connect with utilities and other services to make consumers’ lives run more smoothly and have less environmental impact. For instance, smart dishwashers can be set to run in non-peak hours to save on electric costs while delivering the product performance consumers depend upon.”

Rated B for energy efficiency, Smeg’s 60cm DI323BL has 13 place settings. Features include ActiveLight, which projects a red light onto the floor when the machine is in operation, and Smeg’s patented planetarium wash system, designed to provide complete coverage of the dishwasher due to the eccentric rotation of the spray arm on the base

Tags: kitchens, features, dishwashers, appliances, rangemaster

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