Zanussi DCE5655 Review

Overall Rating

Capacity seems better than other counter top machines.
Washes okay.

Drying depends on the type of dishes, ie plastics don't dry, everything else does.
Costs the same as a cheaper full size machine.
Basket isn't great for our dishes and bowls.

Zanussi DCE5655 Pros:
It's a counter top machine and is not ugly.
It usually washes the dishes satisfactorily.
We haven't had a dishwasher before so I can't compare.
Not too noisy.
All in all, seems fine.
Used it long enough to know it's limits.
We only seem to use it on economy setting for some reason. Haven't really tried many of the other settings except delayed start.
I'll try the other setting and get back with a comment.

Cons
There's a tendency to pack it to the brim due to its small capacity, this is counter productive as not everything is washed properly.

Also you can't use those popular tablets of *soap*, you have to use the powder or liquid or you'll end up not rinsing properly.

When we first had it delivered, we received about three or four of them in succession, each one was damaged in transit, bashed about and broken. The boxes just couldn't cope with the manhandling that this type of equipment will receive during transportation and were totally wrecked.

Then I collected it. All the screws holding the inside front door cover/panel together were missing - The whole front door wasn't attached to the corresponding piece on the reverse side.

Took it back.

Went to another chain store, took it home and all has been well.

It's stopped twice over the two years we've had it, but luckily blowing up the water outlet pipe fixed it, just a blockage it turned out - phew.

I think that a bigger capacity machine with more space would be good. I think the small capacity just causes problems, just have to be patient and don't over fill.

I do like this machine - we couldn't really afford to lose a cupboard space to a washer.

Yeah, okay, but a very bad start.

Love it when it cleans greasy plastic stuff without scratching it to pieces, I shouldn't use a scotchbrite on everything.

Seems rubbish at cleaning stainless steel pans but maybe I'm using the wrong setting.

Compared to other machines - can't compare.
Compared to hand washing - easier, but not much faster really (I'm comparing hand washing to loading the machine).

When I come across a dirty dish when I hand wash I think, argghh, how did that happen?

When I come across a dirty dish when I machine wash I think, argghh, another one.

Bottom line
Okay, it's an appliance and does the job - can't really fault it.
It's less boring than hand washing which can get very tedious if you have lots of fiddly things to wash.
Would I buy it again?
Yes, we still haven't anywhere to put a full size machine, even a slim one, I don't think I'd bother to go back to only hand washing until the toddlers are old enough to help washup - they create most of the mess - how do they use so many spoons and dishes in one sitting?

Hope this is of use.

Members' Comments onvincent0's Review

• vincent0 on 24th May 2006

  24th May 2006. Machine still going strong, no blockages or anything. Other wash settings, the hotter more intense ones are quite good, but nothing shifts the difficult dirt on pans better than elbow grease. Money well spent.

• vincent0 on 18th Sep 2006

  Still no problems and can't see anything better.
  There is a new model out which looks like the front door cover has been made out of a cheaper plastic, feels cheap and flimsy, but still expensive !!
  And the current silver colour is nasty and cheap too, couldn't see a white one like mine.
  Plus it's not in many shops at all, I guess they're not selling many, too expensive compared to the full size models at the same price.
  
  I would need to buy this cosmetically nasty one if the current one broke.
  
  It's used every day and supplemented by hand washing.
  Regards

• vincent0 on 5th Feb 2007

  5th February 2007
  My Zanussi DCE5655 dishwasher is still going strong.
  Used every day, it washes fine, except it doesn't like dried on rice, which is too bad, as we eat lots of rice.
  
  Still no competition to it in the shops.
  
  Bye.

• vincent0 on 18th Apr 2007

  18th April 2007
  
  Machine still working fine.
  
  Still happy with this item.
  
  Bye