1. Tidy Kitchens

Keep your kitchen benches and sink free from clutter by stacking dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher after meals. If you haven't got many dirty dishes, select the rinse programme to flush away the heavy soil until you are ready to wash a full load.

2. Less time at the sink means more time for you

Washing up even a few dishes by hand a couple of times a day can take around a half an hour. Time you could spend on yourself or with others doing things you want to do instead of washing the dishes.

Dishwashers are also convenient if you have guests for dinner and need to reuse the same dishes again such as the soup bowls for desert. Simply place them in the dishwasher and select a fast program so they will be ready to be used again later on.

After preparing and serving the meal the last thing you want to do is spend time at the sink washing the dishes. Simply place them straight in the dishwasher, select the desired wash program and forget about them until you need them again.

3. More Stars means lower running costs

The highest energy rating for dishwashers is 6 stars, which can save you up to $40 a year in operating costs. You can save several hundred dollars over the operating life of the dishwasher. Compare the savings using the energy rating guide from your local electricity provider.

4. AAA Consrvation Rating saves even more water

Dishwashers use less water than washing up by hand and are more hygienic. AAA rated dishwashers are the most water efficient.

Dishwashers use only a small amount of water in comparison to washing up by hand and filter it continuously through a series of filters to remove the soil. Waste water drains away to be replaced by fresh water several times depending on the length of the program selected. Each time the dishwasher uses only a few litres.

AAA rated dishwashers use less than 18 litres of water to wash up to 14 place settings, which is less than a sink and half of water. To wash that many plates clean by hand you have to change the water in the sink several times, using considerably more water.

5. Larger Capacity means fewer washes

Although most dishwashers look to be the same size on the outside, it's the room on the inside that really counts. Washing up to 14 place settings at a time saves energy and water and means you don't need to wash as often as a dishwasher with a smaller capacity like 12 place settings.

6. Under the bench,Beside the bench or Mobile

Dishwashers are available in different cabinet styles to suit the kitchen. If you are renting a house or space is limited in the kitchen you may prefer a mobile dishwasher. These are plugged into the plumbing with a special fitting connected to the tap. Once you have completed the wash they can be wheeled out of the way.

Free-standing dishwashers are designed to fit at the end of the bench. Sometimes they are fitted with a work top to create more bench space. They can also be installed under the bench if there is room provided.

In new or renovated kitchens the dishwasher is often built in to the kitchen cupboards. A built-in dishwasher is sometimes cheaper than an equivalent free-standing dishwasher. As an option, integrated door kits provide for a door resembling the kitchen cupboard doors to be fitted to the dishwasher to help it blend into the kitchen.

7. Safety First

Electronic program lockout prevents children from accidentally operating the dishwasher without adult supervision. Usually a combination of buttons must be depressed and held for a few seconds to defeat the program lock. This system is more difficult for children to overcome than a single button lockout.

Dishwasher detergent should always be stored carefully out of reach of children to prevent mishaps. It can irritate the skin and can be very harmful if accidentally put in the mouth or swallowed. A child resistant detergent dispenser prevents children from opening the dispenser after it has been filled, prior to the wash.

8. So quiet you can hardly tell it's working

Some brands of dishwasher are well known for quiet operation. Although most modern dishwashers are relatively quiet, some are more quiet than others. You can try this simple test at a friends house or in a showroom that has dishwashers operating. Try and carry on a conversation with the person next to you. If you can be easily understood, then it's a quiet dishwasher and unlikely to disturb the household when it's operating.

9. Sparkling clean and Germ Free

Dishwashers wash at much higher temperatures than you can stand to wash your hands in. Whilst most can wash up to 65 C, some wash at even higher temperatures up to 73 C, hot enough to kill most household germs. They also dry the dishes effectively without the need for a towel that may have been used to wipe other things like hands or bench tops. So when you remove the dishes from the dishwasher they are sparkling clean, dry and ready for use.

10. Should I use a rinse aid?

Using a rinse aid helps to dry the dishes at the conclusion of the wash cycle. The rinse aid is a surfactant which helps to break the surface tension of the water droplets so the dishes will shed the water more easily. Rinse aid helps to prevent streaks and make dishes and glasses sparkle.