Best Dishwasher in Egypt: Capacity, Sizes, and Buying Guide

What does "12 place settings" mean? And how many places do you need?

A "place setting" in a dishwasher means one complete set: a soup plate, a dinner plate, a dessert plate, a glass, a cup, and their cutlery. But Egyptian cooking uses many pots and trays, and these pots take up the space of full sets. So, get a slightly larger size than your number of family members.

• Two or three people: 10 place settings (usually 45 cm wide).
• Family of 4: 12 to 13 place settings, 60 cm wide.
• 5 people and above, or gatherings: 14 to 15 place settings.

Freestanding, built-in, or slim 45 cm?

• Freestanding: Stands alone with a top surface, you place it next to the sink and hook it up. The easiest and cheapest, and you can move it with you if you relocate.
• Built-in: Installs inside an opening in the cabinets, and some can be fully covered with a wooden door panel. It looks cleaner but needs a carpenter and an opening of the exact size.
• Slim 45 cm: Approximately the same depth and height but narrower. A good solution for a small kitchen, at the expense of capacity.

A frequent mistake: measuring the width of the space and forgetting that the door opens forward and takes up space roughly equal to the depth of the dishwasher, so make sure the door will open all the way without hitting a cabinet or the kitchen door.

Specifications that actually make a difference

• Half load: Washes a single basket with less water and electricity, useful if there are few of you.
• Quick program and Eco program: Quick for dishes that aren't very dirty, and Eco is longer but more economical.
• Sound in decibels: Below 45 decibels is quiet, and above 48 you will hear it if the kitchen is open.
• Energy efficiency and water consumption: Read the liters per wash, and most modern models are between 9 and 13 liters according to sales pages.

Hard water and salt in Egypt

Water hardness varies from one region to another in Egypt. If your kettle or faucets get a white scale layer on them, then your water is hard, and this will show up on glasses as white spots. Most dishwashers have a salt reservoir that softens the water, and this is filled with special dishwasher salt, not table salt, because table salt is fine and can clog the reservoir and damage the softening unit. Adjust the water hardness level in the settings as the manual says, and add a Rinse Aid if the glasses come out spotted. "All-in-one" tablets might be enough with soft water only, but with hard water it is better to put the salt as well.

Installation, electricity, and warranty

• The dishwasher needs a water source and drainage nearby, so the best place is next to the sink.
• Make sure it is 220 volts, and that the outlet has a ground wire and can handle an appliance that draws up to about 2400 watts during heating.
• Ask the seller: Is installation included or through the authorized dealer? And is installation by the authorized dealer a condition for the warranty?
• Warranty: The Bosch Egypt website states that the basic warranty is 24 months and there is an extended warranty of 3 extra years, and many sales pages write 5 years. Ask for the duration written on the warranty card, and save the customer service number before you need it.
• As soon as it arrives, look at the body and door before you sign for receipt. A dishwasher buyer on Amazon complained about dents in the body.

To make it last

Remove food scraps with a spoon before putting the dishes in, but you don't have to rinse them. Clean the filter at the bottom every week or two, and run the machine cleaning program if available every few months. Teffal and granite pots are better washed by hand so the coating lasts longer.