Bosch SPS4HMI13E freestanding dishwasher, 45 cm, 10 place settings, class D

Forty-five centimetres is the slim dishwasher format, designed for smaller kitchens, flats and summer houses. The SPS4HMI13E is a freestanding machine that does not have to be built into kitchen units: you can place it next to the worktop or in a free corner with a water supply and drain. The machine is 45 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 85 cm high, and weighs 39.7 kg.

A capacity of 10 place settings suits a smaller household: one load handles a day of dishes for a couple or a small family, or the tableware after a small dinner with guests. The third basket is meant for cutlery and small items, so the lower basket has more room for plates and pots, and spoons and forks come out cleaner.

The machine has six programmes, so you can choose the wash to suit the size of the load and how dirty it is. The selected programme is clearly shown on the display, and the controls are electronic. The delay start of up to 24 hours lets you time a wash for the night or for when nobody is at home. According to the manufacturer's data, there is no separate quick wash function on this model.

The noise level is 44 dB, noise class B on the A–D scale, which matters in a small flat where the kitchen and living room are often one space. Wi-Fi lets you connect the machine to your home network. The child lock stops small children from changing the programme or interrupting a wash in progress. On the EU energy label scale from A to G the machine is rated class D, and the Eco programme uses 67 kWh per 100 cycles.

AquaStop protects the kitchen from water damage: if a leak occurs in the machine or the inlet hose, the system cuts off the water supply. This matters for a freestanding machine too, especially in an apartment building, where a leak can damage the ceiling of the neighbours below. That makes it easier to leave the machine running when you are out of the kitchen or away from home.

The SPS4HMI13E suits a single person, a couple or a small family whose kitchen has no room for a 60 cm machine, or whose kitchen units have no dishwasher niche. A freestanding machine can move house with you, and 10 place settings, a third basket, AquaStop and Wi-Fi bring the convenience of a full dishwasher in a slim format.