Somewhat surprisingly, only around 40% of British households own a dishwasher whereas 77% of Germans and 78% of Americans do.

But more people in the UK are becoming interested in buying dishwashers. This is unsurprising when one considers that it takes about 4 hours a week on average to wash dishes by hand. This time equates to about 10% of the average working week, and rather more than 10% of the average person's "free" leisure time! Using a dishwasher can also be better for the environment, partly because modern dishwashers use relatively little water. And using a dishwasher tends to be more hygienic: dishcloths and tea towels are notorious hosts for bacteria.

So what should one look for when one is considering buying a dishwasher? There are a number of factors to bear in mind.

First, and most obviously, one needs to know where the appliance will be accommodated. Is there suitable plumbing and wall or under-counter space? Most modern dishwashers are either 18 inches (45 cm) or 24 inches wide (60 cm wide). Whether one goes for the larger or smaller size will partly depend on available space and partly on one's own needs. A single person living alone will, for instance, rarely need a full-size 24 inch-wide machine; indeed, a compact table-top machine may be perfectly adequate.

Second, look at the inside storage which the machine offers to ensure that it meets your needs. Some have flexible shelving which can be moved around to accommodate different loads; others have fixed racks that determine how the machine can be loaded.

Third, consider how important it is to you that the dishwasher should not be too noisy. Modern dishwashers are generally quieter than their predecessors, but some are noisier than others. They generally range from 40 decibels (low) to about 62 decibels (high). If noise level is an important factor, choose a silent one - the decibel information is shown on the Energy Rating label.

Fourth, while on the subject of energy, more energy efficient machines will use less electricity and water.

Fifth, does it have an internal heater and can it attain at least 140 degrees?

Sixth, look at local service and spares availability.

Finally, shop around. A comparison site provides a convenient and easy means of comparing products, offers, and deals on dishwashers across multiple retailers.