Dishwasher brands: My kingdom for a dishwasher - but which one?

For those of us who dread the daily task of washing the dishes, the good news is that most modern dishwashers actually use less water than hand washing - important in a dry country like Australia. So finally, true liberation of dishpan hands can be achieved with the purchase of a sleek new dishwasher.

What to look for in a new dishwasher

Dishwashers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so you may not need to allocate a whole cupboard space, but perhaps just a large drawer. Make sure you know exactly where you will put it, and measure it out. Make sure you check which brands have the highest energy and water ratings. Some of these may be a little more expensive up front, but they'll save you bucket loads (of money and water) in the long run.

Make sure that the dishwasher fits your specific needs; there's no point buying a small dish drawer if you drink more champagne than coffee - long stem flutes might not fit. Likewise, if you only need to use it every other day buying a smaller unit may suit your needs better. It's a good idea to take along some of your own dishes and glasses when shopping around, just to be sure that your kitchenware fits as it should.

Dishwasher brands to look out for

The following dishwashers come up trumps with a 4-star energy rating:

• Bosch SGU69T15AU, SGV69T15AU, SHV55M43AU
• Brandt VH745XZ1, Elcobrandt ACAV43
• De Dietrich DVH740JA1, DVH744XA1
• Kleenmaid DW47, DW37I, DW35X, DW36i
• Siemens SL56T590AU
• Siemens SE66T373AU

More recently, the WELS system was introduced for appliances such as dishwashers to rate their water use, much like the energy star system. On average, a WELS dishwasher will use half the water of a standard model.

Whatever the budget, there is sure to be the right machine out there for you. Being more energy and water efficient than ever before, cheaper and offering a variety of sizes and shapes, the modern dishwasher really puts dishpan hands firmly in the past.