18 inch Dishwasher
18 inch Dishwasher : Super Slim but Packs a Punch.
An 18 inch dishwasher is exactly what it sounds like it is. Often called a slimline dishwasher, it is simply a dishwasher that only measures 18 inches in width. This clearly makes it a great choice for anyone who is looking for a decent appliance but does not have the space for a standard 24 inch model.
Apart from the width, there really is no other difference between an 18 inch dishwasher and any other traditional dishwasher. There is the same range of available features. There is the same homework that you will have to do, to understand these features and choose which ones are important to you. Do you want a Built-In Dishwasher that is only 18 inches wide? Maybe you need a Portable Dishwasher, or a Stainless Steel Dishwasher that can fit into an 18 inch space. Any of these options are available.
Equally, you will have to go through the same decisions that you would with any other dishwasher. The decisions that are most relevant for 18 inch dishwashers are all related to size - both capacity and dimensions.
Size Matters
The dimensions of the dishwasher are probably the main reason that you are going to consider slimline or 18 inch dishwashers in the first place. A lot of older kitchens just don't have lots of available space under the counters for appliances. If you only have a space smaller than the standard 24 inch cabinets and your heart is set on a built-in dishwasher then this type of dishwasher can be your solution. Even if there isn't ANY space under a counter, or you live in an apartment and cannot remodel, then perhaps an 18 inch Portable Dishwasher can answer your needs. The extra slimness gives your far more options about storing it in a closet out of sight.
Capacity is another important factor for these dishwashers. Just how many plates and bowls are you going to have to clean at the same time? For people without large families, a smaller dishwasher may be perfectly capable of dealing with everything. However, still make sure that your smaller loads of dishes can fit into the smaller space. Read about how many place settings each can hold, when comparing specific models. It is always a good idea to visit a store if you can and bring along some of the dishes that you will be cleaning. Do your cereal bowls fit neatly without touching each other? Do your 13 inch dinner plates fit at all? Bring along any unusual items that you wash regularly to make sure that they can be handled.
With 18 inch dishwashers you will probably find that any time that you want to clean any large items, such as pots or pans, that there won't be enough room for a lot of other dishes. This may mean that you will end up running two loads through, or decide to scrub your pots by hand while the place settings are cleaned in the dishwasher. Having to run multiple loads will increase your water and energy costs. However, if the 18 inch dishwasher is the only type that you can squeeze into your kitchen, then this will still be preferable to handwashing ALL the dishes.
Good Design to the Rescue
While considering the possible problems of the lower capacity, please be aware that a lot of modern 18 inch dishwashers have been very well designed. European dishwashers in particular, have some very innovative features related to getting the most into a small space. Look at the ways that the racks can be configured or adjusted in the models that you are looking at. Often they are designed to allow you to modify their arrangement to allow you to fit surprisingly large items. As mentioned previously, the best guide is to go somewhere and try them out for yourself. That way you can feel confident that you are getting what you expect.
Buying a Dishwasher Online
We have advised you to visit some stores and try out a few different dishwasher designs. It can be very tempting, when standing there at the end of the day, with a slick salesman in front of you, to just give in and buy something on the spot. However, come home and think about it for a night. Modern dishwashers are not simple purchases, there is a lot to consider. Give yourself some time.
Once you are home, go online and look around again at the partiular model of dishwasher that you were almost going to buy in the store. Check out what other people think about it. Look up the repair history to see if you are going to have problems later. Compare the energy and water costs with other similar models. Go to the website for the store that you visited and see if they have any special online deals that were not on offer at the store. Visit the merchants listed on other websites that you trust, ahem, like DishwasherGuru.
Featured Merchants
BUY.com is a well known name for online shopping that has quite an extensive range of dishwashers, plus over 2 million other products. They trade both in the US and also Canada and have won awards from online institutions in both countries. They have fantastic customer service and a low price guarantee.
Look at the selection and choose a 18 inch Dishwasher at Buy.com.
AJ Madison is based in Brooklyn, NY and has an enormous presence in the online world for home appliances. They have a very large range of dishwashers and handle most of the big brand names. They are backed by the Better Business Bureau and have great customer service that can help you through the purchasing process.
Check out a 18 inch Dishwasher from AJ Madison.
Shop.com has, for the past 10 years, provided a very simple and easy way to shop across hundreds of stores, thousands of brands and millions of products, all in one place. This means that their range of dishwashers is extensive.
Do yourself a favor, pick the right 18 inch Dishwasher at SHOP.COM.
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