A smart dishwasher can connect to the internet and open up a range of useful features – from remotely starting a cycle using your phone, to accessing additional wash programs and keeping up with maintenance.
We assessed the functionality of apps used by smart dishwasher brands including Miele, Bosch, Haier (including Hoover and Candy), Samsung, Beko and Hisense. See why you'd want to connect your dishwasher to wi-fi, and what benefits it can bring.
Get our expert tips for making smarter consumer choices.1. Remotely start your dishwasher
All smart dishwasher apps enable you to remotely start a cycle with a tap on the app you download to your phone.
Of course, you need to load up the dishwasher first, and usually need to have activated a mode or program (often called 'remote start') on the dishwasher itself.
You'll also need to ensure that the dishwasher door is closed before you leave the house. With most machines, remote start won't work if the door is open due to safety issues.
2. Access additional programs
With all smart dishwashers you can access additional programs, but how many depends on the brand.
Hoover offers a staggering 29 additional programs including some interestingly named options such as 'party', 'dinner for 2' and 'happy hour'.
Although the names can vary, most brands typically offer the below extra program options:
Hygiene and baby care°Even faster cyclesSpecial pansExtra delicate cycleYou can often pre-set your favourite programs to access them more quickly.
Discover3. Monitor performance
Most smart dishwasher apps have functions for you to monitor how your dishwasher is running, including tracking an activated program to see how long it has left.
You can also monitor energy and water consumption of individual selected programs to see which are most efficient.
Some apps have reports showing consumption over a period of time, and suggest ways to use optimise usage going forwards.
4. Get maintenance help
Keeping your dishwasher properly maintained is essential to ensure that it remains in top working order.
Smart dishwashers will alert you immediately if salt or rinse aid levels need attention. Some will also detect the water hardness and help you add salt to the right level.
Find out more about maintenance in our guide on5. Troubleshooting
Some brands offer advice and guidance via their apps on how to troubleshoot your dishwasher if something goes wrong.
On the Bosch app, a link takes you to a selection of self-help tips on the Bosch website, including what any error codes mean, and advice on how to clean and descale your dishwasher.
With Samsung dishwashers, a supposed 'AI' diagnosis tool monitors the device for any issues, such as with water supply/drain, leaks etc.
Haier's hOn app (also used by Hoover and some Candy machines) has a wealth of troubleshooting advice, but it's quite basic and a lot of it is more focused on problems with the app than your appliance.
How much does a smart dishwasher cost?
The cheapest smart dishwasher we have tested costs around £250, but the cheapest smart Best Buy will cost at least £449.
By contrast, you can get a non-smart Best Buy full-size dishwasher from around £300, so you do generally pay a premium for smart features.
When considering a smart dishwasher do think whether the features outlined above would be genuinely useful to you. If not, then go for a traditional dishwasher instead.
Browse all tested models from brands such as Bosch, Beko and Samsung in ourWhich smart dishwasher brands offer the best security support?
When you invest in a new dishwasher you'd expect it to last many years before it needs replacing – our research indicates the average lifetime of a dishwasher is 13 years.
Security support policies determine how long a brand will update the dishwasher with security patches to guard against emerging cyberthreats, thus keeping the smart element in good working order.
We contacted the biggest brands to find out their support policies, and some are most definitely better than others.
Miele10 yearsBSHBosch, Siemens Neff10 yearsAEG five yearsSamsung LG five yearsHaier Group (including Hoover and Candy)two yearsBeko and Grundig one yearundefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/useful-smart-dishwasher-features-aLblx5n0NQNk