New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- Dishwashers are often chosen to fit a kitchen cabinet rather than real household habits. On paper, many models look similar. In daily use, the differences become obvious very quickly. The most common regrets rarely involve brand names or headline features. They come from small, repeated frustrations that add up over time.

Many households only realise these issues after months of use, when changing the appliance is no longer practical. Understanding where buyers usually go wrong helps avoid those slow, irritating compromises that turn a convenience appliance into a chore.

One of the biggest misjudgements is assuming all racks work the same way. Place setting numbers look reassuring, but they do not explain how easil...