I’m not a happy bunny.
The hardest thing about buying a new appliance, is getting use to all the things it can/can’t do, that your old one did. Yet after three months with my HOTPOINT FDW60, I’m still having teething pains, and miss my old dishwasher terribly – even the bits of sellotape ... Read review
Advantages: Looks nice and washes well Disadvantages: Read on ... you'll see. Call me picky, but I have to live with it.
...after three months with my HOTPOINT FDW60, I’m still having teething pains, and miss my old dishwasher terribly – even the bits of sellotape that were holding the handle together.
As our previous dishwasher was over 10 years old, it was with excitement that I skipped into Comet to browse the aisles for a brand spanking new replacement, with my husband, his hands in his pockets protecting his wealth, moping along behind.
...white shape and the way the door wasn’t completely straight, but curved back slightly at the edges. Price-wise, the model was £239, which meant that it was not cheap enough for me to doubt its quality, but not expensive enough for me to walk away, moaning that someone somewhere was, ‘having a laugh!’
But as no two prices are ever the same, shop around. If you use price comparison websites, I’d strongly recommend still visiting a store ... more
I’m not a happy bunny. The hardest thing about buying a new appliance, is getting use to all the things it can/can’t do, that your old one did. Yet after three months with my HOTPOINT FDW60, I’m still having teething pains, and miss my old dishwasher terribly – even the bits of sellotape that were holding the handle together.
As our previous dishwasher was over 10 years old, it was with excitement that I skipped into Comet to browse the aisles for a brand spanking new replacement, with my husband, his hands in his pockets protecting his wealth, moping along behind.
The HOTPOINT FDW60 caught my eye for its simple white shape and the way the door wasn’t completely straight, but curved back slightly at the edges. Price-wise, the model was £239, which meant that it was not cheap enough for me to doubt its quality, but not expensive enough for me to walk away, moaning that someone somewhere was, ‘having a laugh!’
But as no two prices are ever the same, shop around. If you use price comparison websites, I’d strongly recommend still visiting a store and having good look at them in the ‘flesh’ so to speak.
Internally, it looked like every other dishwasher, but I was surprised to see that the rotating water-sprayers are now plastic, whereas I was use to stainless steel in my old machine. (And my old machine wasn’t an expensive one – it was £80 in a sale)
I immediately thought of cutting corners for the sake of price.
But it had 12 place settings, had the ‘A’ for efficiency, is a good brand, and I liked the look of it. ‘Kerching!’
I installed the dishwasher myself, (just remove packaging, attach pipe, push into place, plug in, and tell husband how clever you are) but I quickly removed the long plastic strip running along the right side on the top shelf. I think this is to keep wine glasses in place but, on closer inspection, saw it looked badly designed, didn’t flip up high enough for my wine glass’s stems, and there was a lot more room without it. Also, tall glasses don’t fit on the top shelf. And you can’t push the top tray back if you have big side plates (the type you use for toast in the morning).
The basket for CUTLERY in the bottom is fine, but could have been bigger. The space around it seems wasted; a bigger one would have been nice.
Deep, rounded, breakfast bowls can lie down on the top, but are really too deep to fit between ‘spokes’ on lower shelf.
The dishwasher has a HALF LOAD and DELAY START button, but that was about it for special features. A single, ‘programme select’ button is all you have to switch from Intensive 65’c, Normal 55’c, Eco 45’c, Fast 40’c, Prewash and Delicate 50’c.
There are four lights to the right of the machine labelled, ‘Prewash, Wash, Rinse, and Drying.’ Even though they light up at various stages throughout the wash, you don’t know how long each stage lasts, or how long you have left before you can reach in for your favourite ‘Gollum, “my precious”,’ cup for that coffee you’ve been waiting for.
Some sort of clock or timer would have been nice. I know some models had dials, so you can see how long. I guess this is the problem with machines covered in buttons and nothing else. I did try to time it myself using ‘Normal 55’c’, but after an hour and a half of hanging around the kitchen, I had to get on with other things, and didn’t hear the beep when it finished. The drying function takes quite a while too. Shame it isn’t quicker.
There is also a DELAY START button; 3,6,9 and 12 hours. But why would anyone want to delay the wash I don’t know. Have you ever smelt 12 hour old dirty dishes in a confined space? Nasty!
NOTE: HALF LOAD means that it will only wash items in the top tray – not a few items dotted around on both shelves, as I initially thought. This is ANNOYING if you have just a couple of large items that won’t fit in the top. You have to wait until you have a full load before you can wash them.
There are lights for ‘Salt Refill’ and ‘Rinse Aid’ to indicate when you need to top them up. To be honest, I never used salt in my old machine and never had a problem (I live in a soft water area mind) but I actually went out and brought some, just to stop the light blinking at me. There is one large On/Off button, and a small red bulb to show when it is ‘on.’
All programme buttons BEEP when you press them. It’s like a baby chick cheeping.
ALSO – Compared to my old dishwasher, this is a very QUIET machine. This I am pleased with.
IMPORTANT – If you have a kitchen where nothing quite fits, and you know that your dishwasher will stick out due to a pipe – like mine, then I wouldn’t recommend this machine. Ours sits under the counter below the kettle. When my daughters make themselves drinks and lean across the counter, they inadvertently turn off the machine or change the programme with their flashy belt buckles. I’ve done it with my hips and the tops of my legs. (I’m talented, what can I say!) The buttons are that sensitive! There is nothing worse than filling the kettle and hearing the dishwasher beep. Then it all goes quiet, and you realise you’ve shut it off – and don’t know where in the cycle it was. Downright annoying! A child lock would prevent this but, alas – there isn’t one.
And when I load the bottom shelf, the flippin’ thing keeps rolling back on me.
One a brighter note, the door only takes a little nudge to flip up. (my old one was broken, so I’d forgotten what it was like) but make sure your shelves are pushed right in, cos if the door hits them, something may smash
AND A DIFFERENT OPINION - I must admit that my sister has the exactly the same dishwasher as me (we brought them separately, on different days from different stores, but uncannily picked the same one.) After never owning one before, she loves hers. It washes the dishes. That is all she needs it to do. It fits nicely under her counter, so she has no problems with accidentally switching it off … and she is not as picky as me. (give her time and children and she will be, I’m sure) Also, her door doesn’t flip up as fast as mine, and her bottom draw doesn’t roll back when she’s loading. Go figure??
BUT DOES IT WASH THE DISHES? You cry. Yes, I admit it does. Very well. And it dries them very well too. NOTE: When the drying light is illuminated, but the machine is quite, it is still drying, so don’t think it has finished. (I did) When it blinks though, then it is all washed and dried. The dishwasher does beep when the cycle is complete, but you have to be near it to hear. So remember; blinking drying light, and you can start that wonderful task of unloading.
I hope this helps your decision when looking for a dishwasher. But I must admit, my husband doesn’t like ours, and I’m still having trouble getting use to it. I have now started giving the children 20p each time they unload it for me, just so I don’t have to deal with it too much.
Advantages: no more dishwasher hands Disadvantages: none
You know the old joke of I dont need a dishwasher I have got the Wife.
I havent had one very long, a dishwasher I mean, and I must admit I used to think that by the time I messed around filling it up and sorting it out I could have done all the washing up by hand.
But I was very happy when my husband said about getting one even though by then two of my three children had left home - having said that though they are boomarangs and keep moving back!
... ...without one.
We chose this one because it had all the settings and features that we thought that we would need. I cant say how it was fitted but my husband who is no plumber, did it to the instructions and it didn't take long at all and all done very calmly!
Washes
Intensive - very dirty dishes and pans. The machine will pre wash with hot water at 40 c then go up to 65 c, 2 cold rinses, 1 hot rinse at 70 c and then dry This takes about 100 minutes
...
MAllen400 25.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hotpoint FDW60G
Advantages: Very quiet, easy to load and easy to use Disadvantages: Lots of buttons!
...I ended up buying this Hotpoint FDW60 and I am very glad I did. Advantages:-
Very quiet in operation - much much quieter than my last one.
It has A cleaning rating and yes it washes very well.
Very easy to load, the drawers do come out easily and are very spacious for you to load all your stuff on.
I have so far washed pans, plates, frying pans and very mucky kids stuff and it's all come out sparkling - so far no rejects as happens with some ... ...on it with holes in for you to put your tea spoons in, which is a great idea if you drink loads of tea like we do.
Disadvantages:-
Has loads of options, which I am sure I will never use and quite a lot of buttons so if you are used to the dial versions, this will take a little getting used to but once you do it is easy to use - so not a real disadvantage.
The second isn't really a disadvantage either but I have to point this out - you must load ...
krissiebea 29.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotpoint FDW60G
Advantages: Quiet Disadvantages: only top drawer half load wash
This is the first dishwasher that I have owned and so as a novice to the functionality of a dishwasher I find this one easy to use and does the job. It has a half load option that just washes the top drawer (usually cups and glasses), although after using it for a few weeks now I would rather a half load just washed the bottom drawer as I tend to run out of plates and pans before cups, but that's something to remember for the next machine I buy (i ... ...or bottom drawer wash but everwhere had sold out and i was constantly being mucked about by sainsburys appliances, eventually leading me to go to currys to get the FDW60).
As i'm still learning on how best to place items there have been a few items (large serving/mixing spoons and baking dishes that are ceramic not pyrex) that have needed rewashing, but that is most likely my fault and not a design fault.
There is one problem that i have found, ...
dawnie1981 09.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotpoint FDW60G
Advantages: Hotpoint has a great warranty and very reliable. This machine has 12 place settings and operates really quietly. It is easy to install if the fitments are already in place Disadvantages: Not as good as our last hotpoint as regards the baskets they don't seem to hold as much
Hotpoint is a great make as the parts and labour warranty is usually better than any other make and the reliability is brilliant - we had our last Hotpoint for 12 years without any problem. We've haD this one about 18 months and it's been on every day and we've had no problems at all. The design is modern and easy to keep clean. There are lots of settings to choose from, from pre-wash to intense to economy and a half-load option (just top basket ... ...a fault (i.e. blocked filter) by flashing a particular combination of lights (detailed in booklet). The top basket is adjustable so that it can be lowered or raised to accomodate large items in top or bottom basket. We find the top basket to lack options and can't fit as much in as with the old dishwasher. The cutlery basket has large side holes that allow spoon handles etc. to poke through if you aren't careful, and will stop the bottom spray arm ...
dingwall 24.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotpoint FDW60G
...hand. With excellent results from Hotpoint with my other appliances we ended up getting one from them FDW60 Aquarius Dishwasher in Polar.
All I can say is WOW...for a start I will never wash pots again, I cant believe I never had a dishwasher before, the results are better than me standing at the sink, I have NEVER seen glasses and stainless steel gleam like that in my life.
MAIN FEATURE
A Energy, A Wash, A Dry Performance, 12 Place Settings, ... ...LED Programme Progress Indicator, Height Adjustable Top Basket, Fast Wash, Intensive Wash, Delicate Wash, Eco Wash, Pre Wash, Salt and Rinse Aid Refill Indicators, Removable, Cutlery Basket, Foldable Plate Racks, Foldable Cup/ Safety Knife Rack When I first tried it I needed help from my other half as hes used one before and I had not. After putting salt and rinse aid in , and put all my things in there and set the setting onto intense wash, let ...
sonnie 12.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hotpoint FDW60G
