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Europeans have long understood the advantage of automatic washing over manual washing, but among Russians, disputes do not subside. Many people prefer to wash dishes by hand and not spend money on a dishwasher, but do they really save money? After learning about the advantages of dishwashers, many of their opponents will surely change their minds.
Dishwasher Advantages
In order not to argue in vain, we invite readers to sort out the pros and cons of dishwashers (PMM) on the shelves. We found 5 good reasons to buy a dishwasher.
The first benefit is water savings
Opponents of dishwashers probably do not know how economical PMM is in terms of water. Washing on normal programs lasts an average of 190-225 minutes. Therefore, people who are unfamiliar with the design and operation of the devices in question think that they spend a huge amount of resources over such a long time.
In fact, PMM is very economical in terms of water consumption. Unlike manual washing, automatic washing requires 2–2,5 times less water.
To wash 9-12 sets of dishes – and this is a standard load for PMM, you need 15 liters of water or even less. To wash such a volume by hand, you will need no less than 20 liters, or even all 40 – depending on how you wash it.
When washing by hand, the consumption of water resources depends on the pressure, on the degree and complexity of pollution, even on the human factor. The cost of water in the dishwasher does not depend on the above reasons – each model has its own consumption, recorded in its technical documentation.
Opponents of PMM argue their denial of automatic washing by the need to “accumulate” dishes – in order to fully load the machine and not run it half empty. But this is a wrong opinion.
Today there are models:
- Half loaded. This feature is available on most models. The user can load the chamber halfway, saving water.
- With Zone Wash Technology. This is a technology that not all PMMs have. The function can be enabled on any cycle and at any load – full or half. It allows you to completely shut off the water supply to one of the baskets. It turns out an improved half load. The device washes fewer dishes, but more efficiently – due to increased pressure and water savings.
Zone Wash technology is available, for example, in Hansa ZIM 628 EH – this is a full-size machine, designed for 14 sets and spending 10 liters of water per cycle.
The second benefit is time.
It is not easy to find people who genuinely love to wash dishes. There are, of course, individuals for whom washing dishes turns into relaxation, allowing them to escape from problems to the sound of water. For most, washing dishes is a chore associated with a waste of time.
By shifting the washing of dishes and kitchen utensils to the dishwasher, you can save 30 to 60 minutes of free time per day. This time can be usefully spent in the gym, beauty salon, for a walk.
Thanks to the delayed start timer, any machine can be easily programmed to turn on at a certain time. The user can start the machine when leaving home, and when he returns, washed and dried dishes will be waiting for him. And if you buy a PMM with a low noise level, then it will be possible to turn it on at night.
The third benefit is the quality of washing
The dishwasher copes with its task better than a person:
- Wash quality. The water in the apparatus can be heated up to 90-100 degrees. At such temperatures, it is impossible to wash dishes by hand. High temperatures combined with effective detergents can remove any dirt. All hard-to-reach places are washed – handles of pots and pans, curly and relief areas.
- Hygiene Thanks to the high temperature of the water, it is possible to destroy bacteria that hand washing cannot cope with. The machine helps out families with children – it can sterilize children’s dishes.
Washing plates, cups and cutlery by hand, a person uses reusable sponges or washcloths, which always have germs.
The fourth benefit – does not require connection to hot water supply
If there is no hot water in the tap, you will have to wash it with cold water. Or turn on the boiler – if any. Or heat water on the stove. Both options are expensive in terms of electricity, apart from other inconveniences of such washing. PMM is connected to the water supply, and she herself heats cold water to the desired temperature – in accordance with the selected program. Having a dishwasher, you cease to depend on hot water supply, saving on all types of resources.
If there are no meters in your apartment, and there is always hot water in the tap, then washing dishes and pots with your hands does not “eat up” a lot of money. But today, few people can boast of such a position. Hot water consumption is recorded by meters. And if the heating is carried out by a boiler, you have to pay for electricity. In any case, without a dishwasher – more expenses.
The fifth benefit is a caring attitude
During hand washing, there is always a risk of breaking something fragile. It is especially dangerous to wash glasses made of thin glass. In addition, people often make mistakes when washing objects made of glass, ceramics and other vulnerable materials with their hands – they use abrasive products.
Dishwashers use special detergents – they do not contain abrasive particles. Washing in the machine does not threaten the dishes with a loss of integrity and shine.
Cons
By comparing the advantages and disadvantages of automatic washing, as well as taking into account the peculiarities of their diet and cooking, everyone can easily make the right conclusion – he needs a dishwasher or not.
Consider the disadvantages of dishwashers that deter some consumers from making a purchase.
Cons:
- High price. Even models from the budget segment are not cheap – an average of 15 rubles. The products of the middle segment are even more expensive, and the premium-class equipment is completely accessible to a few.
- Electricity costs. For all its energy efficiency, any dishwasher consumes electricity, which will be reflected in the bills. That is why you need to buy models with the highest possible energy consumption class – from A to A +++. Such devices consume no more than 1 kW / h.
- Dimensions. For full-sized and narrow PMMs, a certain amount of space is required. If not, you have to resort to redevelopment of the kitchen.
If there is very little space in the kitchen, you can buy a desktop model – but its load is enough to serve 1-2 people.
- Service. Rules for the operation of dishwashers require regular maintenance – cleaning and washing filters and blades.
- Limited opportunities. In PMM, you cannot wash dishes made of a number of materials – aluminum, copper, wood, and some types of plastic. This is due to oxidation and exposure to high temperatures. Also, machines do not always cope with burnt food. It is especially problematic to wash pans and baking sheets.
- Requires special tools. Ordinary gel for manual dishwashing will not work – you need to purchase a special detergent composition. And not only: you will also need a rinse aid and a special regenerating salt to support the operation of the ion exchanger. Of course, you can save money and replace all this with cheaper analogues, but it is not always known how this will affect the quality of washing and the performance of the PMM.
What consumers say – reviews from the forums
What dishwasher owners say:
- You can wash stainless steel pans in a way that you never wash by hand. To shine.
- Unreliable technology – many complaints about technical problems. The sealing rubber wears out, other breakdowns appear.
- You have to constantly endure expenses. One wash costs 20-50 rubles. Tablets are especially expensive.
- The benefits of water and electricity are clear savings.
- If there is no 50% load, collect plates – to fill the chamber. This moment is especially surprising for those who have not yet bought a PMM.
In families where they are actively involved in cooking, where there are a lot of dirty plates, pots and other utensils, a dishwasher becomes a happy purchase. Their owners are not overjoyed at the new assistant. Especially great is the joy of people who managed to buy reliable equipment that does not create problems for their owners.
The decision to purchase a dishwasher is made by each consumer himself. The more they cook and eat in the house, the more necessary this device is and the more benefits it will bring.