Can Dishwashers Open From Left to Right?

Under-Counter Washers

• Most homes have small-capacity, under-counter dishwasher appliances. Since the appliance became popular in homes, the standard for these types of washers is a horizontal bottom hinge. The door opens from the top to the bottom, in most cases revealing two racks. The racks can slide out horizontally, allowing the user to fill them with dishes, replace them, close the door and run the machine. Doors that open from left to right may be difficult or even impossible to find in these types of machines. Such a design could create space problems due to the horizontal design of the dish racks.

Industrial Washers

• In restaurants and large eating centers, designs for dishwashers are quite different. A door-type dishwasher is often used, which is designed to fit between a loading table and a discharge table. Since these dishwashers require horizontal racks of dishes, they often open horizontally as well. Water may spray through nozzles around the dish rack. A conveyor rack type of washer is used for even larger applications. The rack runs through a cycle on a conveyor and goes through a wash and rinse cycle. Loading these machines often occurs from left to right but does not use the same style of door typical in domestic machines. In some models, cabinets opening from left to right do exist, often for storage or maintenance of the machine.

Drawer Washers

• Innovations in dishwasher design have resulted in what is sometimes called a dishdrawer. Drawer-style dishwashers make it easier to load your appliance without stooping repeatedly. Instead of working with a hinge that opens like a door, they roll straight out like a drawer. They may be designed with one drawer or two. The double drawer designs allow for two types of loads at once, such as crystal and pots and pans.

Dishwasher Spacing

• The type of drawer on your dishwasher is important when you're trying to fit the appliance in a tight space. The door on standard dishwashers is large and needs extensive clearance to open fully. Although a horizontal hinge does not require clearances on the right or left sides of the dishwasher, it requires clearance in front of the appliance. One solution to this problem is offered by horizontal dishwashers. These are longer appliances that are shorter in stature, so their doors require less clearance to open. This design is a useful solution for kitchens with limited space.