Child lock on dishwasher

child lock In the characteristics of modern dishwashers there is an interesting function with the telling name “Child Protection”. Why it is needed is clear from the name, but there are doubts about its real necessity. In this article we will determine the need for child protection in a dishwasher, tell you how it works, and we will also find out which PMM models have such protection.

Is such protection necessary?

Many mothers and fathers argue that there is no need to protect the dishwasher from children, saying they don’t show interest in it anyway, and even if they do, they won’t have the strength to open the door. Indeed, many PMM models are equipped with special locks that protect the door from opening during the implementation of the program. And the children themselves are not particularly keen on this technology, especially if it is built-in. And here we need to figure out which washing machines are capable of arousing interest in young children.

Freestanding PMM. Such machines stand separately from the furniture and often become an object of interest for children.
Partially built-in dishwashers. This technique will definitely interest a young child. Firstly, it is partially open to the baby’s gaze, and secondly, its control panel with seductively flickering lights is located above the door of the washing chamber, attracting the attention of the little researcher.

Some modern partially built-in PMMs have color displays that become the object of children's attention.

Fully built-in PMM. These machines are the most common. They hardly arouse interest among children and here’s why. Firstly, these washing machines are completely hidden from the child’s eyes behind the furniture facade.Secondly, due to being embedded in furniture, these machines make almost no sounds. Thirdly, their control panels are located at the end of the door, so the baby cannot see the display or flashing lights.

It turns out that the owners of fully built-in PMMs are right; their children do not show interest in “home assistants”, since they are hidden from prying eyes. Perhaps you shouldn’t bother buying a machine that has similar protection; maybe it’s just better to choose a fully built-in model? Although, of course, it's your choice.

In the event that the little tomboy nevertheless shows interest in the “home assistant”, you may regret that you did not buy a dishwasher with child protection. So, it’s probably better to study the issue in advance and prepare for possible troubles.

How does it work?

This kind of protection is divided into two types: mechanical and electronic. Mechanical protection? What is this? This is the most popular protection against baby interference. It is found in many PMM models, but owners do not even always know that their “home assistant” has such protection. Mechanical protection works very simply. Inside the door or next to it there is a special lock, a kind of latch. You can get to this valve through the groove using a special lever that plays the role of a key.

PMM door lock

After turning on the PMM, insert the lever into the groove and push it to the right. The valve will operate and after that the PMM door will not be able to be opened. As soon as the washing program has completed its work, insert the lever again and open the valve. It's simple.

Electronic protection works differently. The door lock is locked by pressing certain keys on the control panel. You can find out which buttons to press in the instructions. The electronic lock protects not only the washing chamber, but also the control panel itself. This is relevant for partially built-in PMMs. After activating the lock, the control panel stops responding. You won't even be able to turn off the dishwasher using the on/off button.

Both types of protection work well. Mechanical protection is found mainly on budget washing machines, and electronic protection on middle and premium washing machines.

Which models are equipped with it?

We just have to see which dishwashers are protected from curious kids. Let’s say right away that there are a lot of such models, so in our short review we will only give a few examples.

Hansa ZWM 475 WH. This narrow freestanding PMM with a basket capacity of 9 sets of dishes has electronic protection against child intervention. In our case, the protection blocks the control panel buttons. The model costs $241.
Korting KDF Also a narrow freestanding dishwasher with a body width of 44.8 cm. It holds 9 sets of dishes, has 6 washing programs and a bunch of useful functions, including child locking of the control panel. The washing machine is inexpensive - only $306.
Vestel VDWIT4514X. A partially built-in machine with a narrow body and a capacity of 10 place settings. Features electronic locking and stunning design. Costs about $314.
Schaub Lorenz SLG SW Narrow freestanding dishwasher with seven washing programs with capacity for 10 place settings. Its design is simple, but it has many useful functions. There is also electronic protection against child tampering. The average cost of the model is $330.
Daewoo Electronics DDW-M1411S.And this is no longer a small machine, but a full-size household dishwasher with increased capacity and a bunch of functions. The baskets of this machine can accommodate 14 sets of dishes, and the “arsenal”, among other functions, has an electronic lock. The model is inexpensive – $390.

There are no Bosch or Electrolux machines on our list. We deliberately did not mention them again, since many people already know these popular brands. What if you consider our publication an advertisement? We consider it our duty to remind you once again that our articles do not advertise the products of companies that produce dishwashers. Our publications are purely informational and are published only in the interests of consumers.

So, in general terms, we talked about the function that protects a working dishwasher from child intervention. If there is something still unclear to you, write comments and be active on the forum. We'd love to engage in a discussion with you!