Our favourite dishwashers for all households

Not only does the Hotpoint Hydroforce H8I HT59 LS UK pack 10% extra usable space inside thanks to its Maxi Space tub, but it’s powerful and inexpensive to run too. As an integrated model you can’t do much better than this.

The Hydroforce H8I has three racks: a bottom rack for plates, middle rack and a top cutlery rack. Dive deeper and you’ll find there’s enough space for larger plates at the bottom and you can even fit up to six tall wine glasses on the middle rack. The top cutlery rack also offers space for more than just cutlery with a clever dip that’s designed to hold mugs and bowls.

Although its default setting is Eco mode which runs at 50°C, there are numerous options to choose from including Rapid Delicates, Auto, 3D Wash for especially dirty items, Half Load and Sani Rinse for sanitising items. You can also modify temperatures from 45°C up to 65°C.

We found that running the default Eco cycle cost just 21p each time, making it excellent value for an everyday appliance. Using the Auto mode with 3D Wash enabled costs 62p which, despite being quite a big leap, is only necessary for extra-soiled items. 

For faster cleaning you can select Rapid mode which runs for between 30 and 40 minutes, depending on what you select. This mode is more expensive at 41p, so isn’t a great option for everyday use but ideal if you need to wash dishes quickly.

Once the dishwasher comes to the end of a wash, a motor gently pushes the door open to allow steam to escape and help the plates to air dry.

Full review: Hotpoint Hydroforce H8I HT59 LS UK

Reviewer: David Ludlow

How annoying is it to remove a dish from a dishwasher and find it still covered in residue? Even worse, stains can even seem to be baked on my some dishwashers. That’s where the LG TrueSteam QuadWash DF455HMS Freestanding Dishwasher comes in, as this model uses steam to dislodge stains without the need for scrubbing or rinsing.

Does it work? Absolutely. In our tough dried-on scrambled egg test, the LG TrueSteam QuadWash DF455HMS Freestanding Dishwasher managed to remove every trace of dirt without any scrubbing at all. This shows how powerful the dishwasher is, and makes this a great choice for keen cooks that often have difficult messes to remove.

The slight downside is that with Steam, the cost per cycle is high: we measured this at 71p. However, if you don’t need Steam and are running a regular cycle, costs dropped down to 28p, which is pretty good, although not the cheapest that we’ve seen.

The LG TrueSteam QuadWash DF455HMS Freestanding Dishwasher is nicely designed, with two baskets and a cutlery rack at the top. Neatly, the left-hand-side of the cutlery rack can be dropped down using the slider control to take larger items.

As well as controlling the dishwasher via its front panel, it’s compatible with LG ThinQ, so you can remote control it and choose the additional wash programmes, such s for Casserole dishes or Glassware.

If you want a hassle-free, no-scrub dishwasher for tough dishes, this is a great choice.

Full review: LG TrueSteam QuadWash DF455HMS Freestanding Dishwasher

Reviewer: David Ludlow

As it can either be plumbed in like a traditional dishwasher or used with a moveable water tank featuring a carry handle on top, the Loch Capsule is extremely versatile and portable.

At just 262mm and the same depth as a kitchen counter, the Loch Capsule can fit seamlessly into smaller kitchens however this does mean its capacity is fairly limited. Even so, the inside is well designed so all available space is utilised. 

In fact we managed to fit four full-sized dinner plates, side plates, mugs and all the associated cutlery comfortably into the dishwasher. There’s also room to fit in a full-sized frying pan on its own too. 

For everyday use we found the standard Eco setting (67°C) performed well when cleaning even tough and dried-in stains such as wine, cheese and eggs. This mode takes just under three hours to complete but it is pricier than an average dishwasher, at 12.6p per cycle. 

Otherwise there are other modes to select from that vary in lengths and temperatures, ranging from a speedy 15 minutes at 70°C up to 152 minutes at 75°C. Unsurprisingly the quicker modes cost slightly less to run, dropping to 10p for the cycle, and we still found it to clean lighter loads well. 

Although the Loch Capsule does generally operate as a standard dishwasher, there are some key differences to keep in mind. Firstly, while there is a dispenser for rinse aid there aren’t any controls over how much should be dispensed and, perhaps most notably, it doesn’t contain any salt for water softening.

How big an issue this is depends on your area. If you live in a hard water area then you may find it better to choose a model with an integrated water softener.

Overall, if you’re limited on space or need a dishwasher that can be easily transported around then you really couldn’t do better than the Loch Capsule. Just keep in mind that it does cost more to run than a standard dishwasher and doesn’t have a water softener.

Full review: Loch Capsule Dishwasher

Reviewer: David Ludlow

If you don’t want to fork out on a dishwasher but equally need a reliable appliance that’ll see you through busy family life then the Candy CF 57CF0W is a great choice. 

The Candy CF 57CF0W is a freestanding dishwasher that is actually one of the biggest available thanks to its Maxi Tub which offers enough space for up to 15 place settings. 

Unlike other dishwashers available, the Candy CF 57CF0W only has two racks so you unfortunately lose the addition of a third cutlery rack. Both racks also don’t provide much flexibility either, with only half of the right-hand tines able to fold down on the lower rack, and all tines are non-adjustable for the top rack. 

Having said that, the top rack does have an adjustable height with a choice of two positions. 

Despite being a budget-friendly appliance the Candy 57CF0W comes equipped with a useful app that acts as a remote control and offers more information about what each cycle does. 

The beauty of the app though isn’t with its remote control but actually with its Eco Scheduling feature. This mode shows you the hourly time slots when power is cheaper and programs the dishwasher with the optimum start time so you can save money on your cycle. If you have a smart meter then this is a feature that can genuinely help save you money.

Otherwise we found the default Eco wash cycle cost 29.91p to run which is a touch higher than other models in this list. This rises to 54.43p for the Auto Mode cycle.

Full review: Candy CF 57CF0W

Reviewer: David Ludlow

The Hotpoint HF7HP33UK is perfect for larger families, thanks to its Maxi Space design which provides 10% more space than a standard freestanding dishwasher. 

Included are three racks which are flexible and can be adjusted accordingly to best suit the load. For example, the tines on the middle rack can be flipped up for stacking plates or flipped down to accommodate larger bowls. 

When loading the middle rack we found that even our particularly tall wine glasses fit comfortably underneath the cutlery rack that sits at the top, which is a common nuisance with most standard-sized dishwashers. 

Similarly the bottom rack has tines that are both spaced out at different intervals and are able to be folded down to accommodate larger dishes such as pots and pans. 

Away from its design, the Hotpoint features a wide range of programs and boasts brilliant cleaning results. The default mode is Eco at 50°C which we found is the most efficient programme but there’s also three Auto programs where the dishwasher cleverly detects the soiling level of the dishes and adjusts the program accordingly. 

Other programs include a Rapid 30-minute wash, Delicate and Self-Clean. There’s even a useful Active Dry option which automatically opens the door once a wash has finished, releasing steam and helping to air dry the dishes.

We found that running the default Eco cycle costs 28p, which places the dishwasher as a mid-priced option to run. This cost jumps up to 66p when using the intensive Auto mode with 3D Zone Wash switched on and even the Auto Fast Wash mode costs a dearer 42p per cycle.

Those with big families or who just tend to entertain often will appreciate the amount of space the Hotpoint HF7HP33UK has to offer, however it’s definitely not the cheapest to run. If you want a more energy-efficient and cheaper dishwasher that still has a good amount of space, we’d recommend the Candy CF 57CF0W.

Full review: Hotpoint HF7HP33UK

Reviewer: David Ludlow

If you don’t have enough space for a full-sized dishwasher but don’t want to compromise on the performance, then the Hotpoint HSFO3T223WXUKN is a perfect option. 

All its controls are listed on the outside which includes an LCD that displays the selected mode, time remaining for a cycle and ways to select a desired mode. 

There are a total of nine programs to choose from including an Eco 50°C, intensive clean, sanitising soak and self-clean. While the default Eco mode will work for most jobs, the Zone Wash 3D mode lets you select one of the two dedicated racks to wash for lighter loads. 

Both of the racks are flexible with adjustable tines, fold down wine-glass holders (on the top rack), two adjustable holders (on the bottom rack) and a moveable cutlery basket which can be placed wherever. 

To be expected with a slimline model, running the Hotpoint HSFO3T223WXUKN isn’t the most cost efficient option out there. Running the Auto Intense cycle cost approximately 50p whereas the Eco mode cost around 29p, with both cycles performing well and able to cope with dirty dishes. The 30-minute cycle costs just under 11p each time but is better suited for less-soiled items. 

Although the Hotpoint HSFO3T223WXUKN is a slimline dishwasher that offers more flexibility for smaller spaces, if you have a large family or simply want better value for money then we’d recommend going for a full-size dishwasher. 

Full review: Hotpoint HSFO3T223WXUKN

Reviewer:David Ludlow

The Indesit DIO3T131FEUK is a great value dishwasher that boasts space and performs well even across particularly dirty dishes. 

A full-size integrated dishwasher, the Indesit DIO3T131FEUK has space for fourteen place settings and includes three generously proportioned racks, although they aren’t quite as flexible as other similar-sized models like the Hotpoint H7IHP42LUK.   

The middle rack in particular is fairly inflexible, as its tines for small plates and utensils aren’t able to collapse and, although it is height adjustable, lowering it means plates underneath can get caught. 

Otherwise, using the machine is simple with all the preset wash cycles listed on top of the DIO3T131FEUK’s door, which includes Eco 50°C, Auto Intensive 65°C, and a useful Push and Go option. The latter is designed for everyday use and runs a short cycles at 50°C.

To test the efficiency of the DIO3T131FEUK, we first ran its Eco mode and determined this costs a decent 24p per cycle. Although this isn’t the cheapest we’ve seen, cleaning performance was still generally good although tougher stains like dried egg did remain.

We then moved on to the Auto Intensive 65°C wash which although cost a pricier 38p to run, performed much better than the Eco mode and was able to make light work of dried-in stains.

If you need more cleaning prowess than Eco mode but not as much power as the Intensive wash, there’s the useful Auto Mixed mode that runs at 55°C and costs around 28p to run. 

Overall, the Indesit DIO3T131FEUK boasts a solid selection of wash cycles for all types of messes, a roomy inside and isn’t too expensive to invest in nor run. If you need a large dishwasher that just gets the job done, then this is a hard one to beat.

Full review: Indesit DIO3T131FEUK

Reviewer: Joshkun Salih

Not only is the integrated Hotpoint H7IHP42LUK one of the easiest dishwashers we’ve reviewed to load, thanks to its Maxi Space tub which offers 10% more space than a standard appliance, but the racks are cleverly designed for flexibility and manoeuvrability too. 

Its bottom rack has two rows of tines with different spacing, allowing you to load multiple plates and bowls comfortably. The row at the back is also split into two sections which can both fold down so pans and casserole dishes can sit flat. 

Underneath the back section is the Hotpoint 3D Zone Wash arm, a separate sprayer which when enabled, offers a deeper clean for more heavily soiled dishes. 

Then there’s the middle rack which, like most other dishwashers, can be height adjusted however the difference with the Hotpoint H7IHP42LUK is that moving the rack to its lower position still leaves room for most regular-sized plates on the bottom rack underneath. 

Another useful feature comes with the top cutlery rack, which has dedicated sprayers to ensure a thorough clean. Not only that but the left or right sides can be slid away to leave a gap, which is especially useful if you’re washing wine glasses or other tall items. 

All the cleaning modes are listed on the top of the door and include all the standard cycles you’d expect, such as Eco, Auto 65° and even a night mode. Each cycle also has additional selectable options including 3D Wash Zone for heavily soiled items and a half-wash option that reduces energy and water consumption.

We started our testing with the Eco programme and found this cost just 19p per cycle. This is especially impressive as we found cleaning performance to be excellent and able to handle even tough messes challenge with relative ease.

We then ran the Auto 65° cycle which costs around 37p however when the 3D Wash Zone is enabled, this pushes the cost up to 48p per cycle. 

Finally, we ran the standard 50° Auto cycle which is designed for a deeper wash than the Eco mode can deliver and worked out that this cost a reasonable 26p.

For flexibility, space and performance all at a reasonable price, the Hotpoint H7IHP42LUK is a fantastic choice. Although it doesn’t boast fancy features like other dishwashers on this list, it is more than capable of getting the job done.

Full review: Hotpoint H7IHP42LUK

Reviewer: David Ludlow