Just because you have a small kitchen with limited space and you can’t install a built in standard dishwasher that doesn’t mean you should continue to wash all your dirty plates and bowls by hand.
Having to stand over the kitchen sink on a daily basis washing heavy pile of dishes is not easy task as it not only takes your time but it is also a good way of wasting water and washing detergent which eventually adds up to more cost for you.
You have a better option in getting a portable countertop dishwasher for your small kitchen which is not only very efficient in washing dishes clean but it also reduce the consumption of water, detergent and electricity helping you save money.
There are so many countertop dishwashers available out there in the market and in this detailed article we shall talk about some of the best countertop dishwashers that are not only affordable but are also very reliable and efficient to handle all your washing needs.
We shall also highlight some key points that you need to look for in a dishwasher before you buy one so as to get the best features and best value for your money.
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Our top countertop dishwashers recommendations:
A portable countertop dishwasher is more versatile than the built in dishwasher and it is also very efficient at cleaning.
As mentioned before the countertop dishwasher can save you a lot of space in your kitchen and they are known to be energy star compliant more than the standard dishwasher, they are easy to connect and easy to use.
If you are looking to get a new countertop dishwasher for your home you can start by taking a look at some of the best countertop dishwashers listed below that we researched on amazon for you to save time.
These are the dishwashers that are offering the best features, efficacy and value for money.
HAVA Portable Dishwashers with 5 L Built-in Water Tank:
This unit can hold up to 4 place settings and can accommodate dishes up to 12 inch in diameter and it comes with a storage rack a cutlery basket for loading knifes, spoons and forks.
It has 5 washing cycles for you to choose from which includes heavy, speed, ECO, normal/baby care and fruit wash.
There is also an extra dry mode that provides 60 minutes of hot air that dries your dishes and 72 hours of hot air ventilation inside the dishwasher to prevent bad smell and keep dishes clean and fresh.
One great feature of this countertop dishwasher is that it can help you to reduce water consumption by 75% and it can help conserve power usage to the minimal. This unit supports dual water supply mode.
You can connect the dishwasher directly to your kitchen tap with a faucet or you can just simply fill in the built in 5 liter water tank with water.
The compact design makes this countertop dishwasher a great choice for small apartment dwellers or for small family use.
This unit operates very quietly as it comes with a decibel sound level of 50db. It can also heat its own water to a temperature of 167 F which help to dissolve grease and help to get rid of tough stains from kitchen utensils.
At this temperature your dishes are free from harmful germs and bacteria making them safe and healthy to use.
The HAVA Countertop Dishwasher is designed to thoroughly wash dishes and give a clean finish.
AIRMSEN AE-TDQR03 Portable Countertop Dishwasher
This unit will heat its own water to a washing temperature as high as 167℉ which help to thoroughly dissolve grease, messy dishes and burnt food stains.
It also offers the option of dual water supply mode, you either use the faucet mode or you use the water tank mode.
The water tank has a capacity of 1.3 gallons of water which will help you to reduce your water consumption by 80% thereby saving you money.
The water tank is a great option if you intend using the dishwasher outside the house or you are having difficulty connecting the dishwasher hose to the kitchen tap.
Electricity consumption by this portable dishwasher is only at 0.135-0.439 kWh per wash cycle so it won’t affect your power consumption.
This unit can fit in a variety of dishes up to 12 inches in diameter and can hold up to 4 standard place settings in one wash including a dish rack, cutlery basket, cup shelve and fruit basket.
It gives you the option of 5 washing cycles to choose from to perform your wash, and they are normal, glass, speed [29 min], baby care, and fruit wash cycle.
It uses air drying method to dry dishes by blowing hot air of 60 minutes to help completely dry plates and bowls.
There is steam cleaning that is generated by the hot water and it is ideal for washing baby bottles, baby toys and heavily soiled dishes giving them a clean and sparkling finish.
The noise level is 50db which is very quiet and won’t disturb anyone in the house making this dishwasher the perfect choice for small sized houses and apartments.
Farberware Professional FCD06ABBWHA countertop Dishwasher:
It has a capacity of 6 place settings and it can fit in variety of dishes up to 10 inches in diameter and it includes a folding down rack and a cutlery basket.
This unit has a child lock feature which allows you to lock all the buttons on the control panel so that children cannot start the machine accidentally.
This compact size dishwasher offers 7 wash cycles to choose from which are heavy, normal, baby care, light, glass, speed 45 min, and self-clean.
This low noise countertop dishwasher is ideal for use in small apartments, condo and even camper RV.
The interior tub of this machine is made of stainless steel material which not only makes the dishwasher last longer but it also means the dishwasher can withstand everyday use.
This unit can also heat its own water to a temperature as high as 120 degrees to help you wash away all food stains and greasy remains from your plates and bowls.
It washes pots and pans, plates and bowls, and glassware from 30 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes and the dishes are always clean. It will save you money on water and electricity as it is energy efficient.
NOVETE Compact Dishwasher with 5-Liter Built-in Water Tank:
It offers 5 washing programs-normal, speed, ECO, baby care/heavy, and fruit wash.
This unit also has an upper and lower spray arms that rotates at 360 degrees to ensure your dishes gets a thorough and an all-round clean finish.
The washing temperature of the water can get as high as 167 °F giving your tableware and cutlery a complete streak-free deep cleaning.
This countertop dishwasher gives you the option of using the faucet mode or the water tank mode to supply water to the machine for the wash cycle so there is no need for installation.
You can save up to 75% of water usage in your home by using this 5 liter capacity dishwasher which is ¼ of the amount of water used when hand washing dishes.
It also runs on very low power consumption helping you to save cost on your electricity bills. There is the dry mode of 60 minutes of hot air which can be used to keep your dishes clean and dry.
Also an automatic ventilation of 72 hours to keep the inside of the dishwasher and tableware stored inside well sanitize and free from any bad odor. The noise level of this unit is quite low.
So if you want to solve dish dilemmas in your kitchen and stop piling up dishes in your sink then we highly recommend this dishwasher to set your hands free!
Aikoper Portable Compact Dishwasher with 6L Built-in Water Tank:
It comes with 5 wash cycles to choose from-normal, hygiene, fruit, glass and rapid wash cycle.
This countertop dishwasher is able to wash tough to reach corners of your plates and bowls as it has rotating upper and lower spray arms that ensure dishes are sparkling clean always.
The hygiene mode of this dishwasher is able to heat up the water to a temperature of up to 162℉ so that oil and stubborn stains can be easily washed clean.
This unit is able to hold up to 3 place settings and can fit in variety of plates and pots as large as 12 inches in diameter.
It has a child lock feature which help prevent children from accidentally starting the machine.
You can prevent the accumulation of bad smell from inside the dishwasher with the automatic 72 hours ventilation that circulates throughout the dishwasher to keep dishes stored there smelling fresh and clean.
This portable dishwasher measures 17.13×16.54×18.42inches and weighs 41.23lb and it can balance your daily dish washing need and space-saving demands, thus it is suitable and ideal for a small-sized kitchen and apartment.
Danby DDW631SDB Countertop Dishwasher:
The danby countertop dishwasher is energy star compliant as it uses just 3.1 gallons of water for a normal wash cycle to help you save money.
The annual electricity consumption of this countertop dishwasher is just 203 kilowatt hours per year.
It features 8 wash cycles you can choose from which are- heavy, normal, rinse, rapid, glass and soak, Eco, and baby bottle wash cycle.
This dishwasher has durable and reliable stainless steel tub which ensures the machine will last longer and can stand heavy daily use.
There is a delay start option which you can use to schedule the machine to begin its wash cycle anytime of your choice in advance.
It is easy to operate this unit as it has electronic controls with LED display to see the progress of your wash cycle.
This dishwasher runs very quietly at 54 db so you won’t be disturbing anyone. It is also very easy to connect to most kitchen faucet.
There is an auto detergent and rinse aid dispenser for your convenience and this sleek dishwashing unit is designed to fit under just about any type of kitchen cabinet. It also comes with a 12-month warranty on parts and labor.
BLACK+DECKER BCD6W Compact Countertop Dishwasher:
There is no need for direct plumbing or permanent installation with the countertop dishwasher as it features a quick connect assembly which allows you to easily hookup to your faucet.
This portable dishwasher can fit up to 6 place settings at one time. Plates, bowls, saucers, mugs, cups, wine glasses and utensils can be safely and securely loaded into the machine for a wash cycle of your choice.
This unit also has child lock feature to prevent children from accidentally starting the machine in case there are children in the house.
It has an easy to grip handle that makes loading and unloading dishes very easy and the interior of this dishwasher is made of durable stainless steel material that guarantees maximum cleaning results every time and anywhere.
The dimension of this countertop dishwasher is 19.6 x 21.7 x 17 inches and it weighs 46.2 pounds so it can easily be placed anywhere in the kitchen making it ideal for small spaces.
This unit has built in hot water heater that ensures dishes get spotless and free from germs and bacteria.
It runs very quietly the only noise you will really hear is the water being discharged during wash and rinse cycles Other than that it is very quiet.
This energy star appliance with high temperature and heated dry options can clean far more dishes at once than you ever could by hand give your hands a break.
Comfee Countertop Dishwasher with 5-Liter Built-in Water Tank:
It has a faucet mode for you to connect the water hose to the tap and also a built in 5 liters water tank that can be easily filled with water manually from the top.
The ultra-compact design of this countertop dishwasher allows you to load up to 30 plus items at a time and with plates of 10.5 inches in diameter.
There are 5 washing programs to choose from for your washing convenience which includes- normal, rapid, steam, fruit, and glass wash cycle.
This unit is able to provide deep sparkling cleaning and hygiene with its high washing temperature that can be as high as 192 ℉.
This high steam wash is very good especially for washing baby feeding items and baby toys to help sanitize and keep them free from harmful germs and bacteria.
Using this dishwasher is quite easy with its intuitive LED digital display and the transparent glass door you can monitor the progress of your wash cycle. Loading and unloading this countertop dishwasher is a breeze with its pull out dish drawer and cutlery rack.
It is made of durable stainless steel and plastic material to ensure the machine can stand up to everyday wash.
Also energy star compliant with low water consumption ability and it only requires 125 kilowatt hours per year of electricity helping you save money.
Clean your dishes with less effort and time by using this Eco friendly dishwasher.
Homelabs Digital Countertop Dishwasher with 6 Place Settings:
It has 7 wash cycles to select from when washing your dishes which are- heavy, normal, Eco, high temp, quick wash, glass, and rinse wash.
This unit comes with a pull out dish rack including a removable cutlery basket and cup shelve that makes loading easy and with a capacity of 6 place settings that can fit plates up to 10 inches in diameter.
There is no streak cleaning with this countertop dishwasher as it has a built in rinse aid dispenser that ensures dishes are spotless without any streak and it helps dishes dry better.
It is very water efficient while washing and cleaning your mugs, plates, bowls, and utensils it only use less water for a full wash load. It is energy star compliant as it uses less energy and can help reduce your power bills.
The interior tub of this dishwasher is made of stainless steel material which makes cleanup a breeze. It will also heat its own water from any source so tough stains and grease are easily washed clean.
Easy to operate with a digital LED user friendly interface that runs very quietly with a decibel rating of 50db you can run the dishwasher at night.
This is the perfect size for a dorm room, condo unit, small apartment, or any space-challenged kitchen.
Hermitlux Portable Dishwasher With 5-Liter Built-in Water Tank:
It offers 5 washing programs to choose from when washing your dishes.
The high water pressure spray arms of this machine ensure that your dishes all come out sparkling clean.
This dishwasher can clean fruits and vegetables and can be eaten directly from the dishwasher.
it help sanitize dishes with high water temperature which is ideal for washing baby bottles and toys and it makes it easy to wash oily tableware giving them a clean finish.
With this dishwasher you also have the option of either using the faucet mode to connect the machine to your kitchen tap or you can easily fill in the 5 liters water tank that comes with the unit no need for installation.
The machine is energy star rated as it only uses 174 Kilowatt hours per year helping save cost on power bill. It runs quietly with a sound level of 50db which won’t disturb anyone in the house.
It has dual spray arm up and down that rotates in 360° with high washing temperature to give your bowls and plates an all-round cleaning so that all area get washed.
It has a unique glass door that allows you to see the progress of your wash cycle and it is safe for washing plastic dishes and cups, the maximum temperature inside the dishwasher while running is 75 degrees.
KAPAS Countertop Dishwasher Built-in 3-Cups Water Tank:
With this dishwasher you have the advantage of portability and storage because when it comes to water supply you have the option of using the built in water tank or using the water supply hose which is included with your purchase.
It comes with multi washing programs to select from which include-standard, quick, strong, ECO, fruit and dry cycle.
This convenient dishwasher can also accommodate variety of dishes up to 12 inched in diameter loaded at an angle into the machine.
This dishwasher has a lower spray arm that is super strong and effective, it even gets dirt off items placed at the top of the dishwasher.
You can put pots at the bottom and spoon and other cutlery at the top rack of the machine and they all still come out clean.
This unit features a water tank that has a capacity of just 5 liters of water so you can wash your dishes anywhere and whenever.
It is energy efficient as it uses very low power to operate saving you money on electricity.
It heats its own water to a higher washing temperature which is good for handling tougher grease, burnt food remains and to also sanitize your dishes.
The benefits of a countertop dishwasher:
Compact dishwashers are compact and portable which makes it the ideal cleaning appliance when you need to constantly wash plates and cutleries on a daily basis.
The countertop dishwasher is equally capable of handling dirty dishes just like the standard size dishwasher but we shall list some benefits and advantages a countertop dishwasher has over the standard 24 inch dishwasher.
One: The first benefits of using a countertop dishwasher is that countertop dishwashers use less water and electricity because of its compact size unlike a full size dishwasher.
Countertop dishwashers can wash small loads of dishes unlike the standard built in unit that has a very large capacity to handle a larger load.
Two: Countertop dishwashers are also very cheap and it can be afforded by most families unlike the full size dishwasher that is very expensive.
This makes it an ideal choice for many people living in small apartments or for those that have limited space in their kitchen.
Three: One great benefit of a countertop dishwasher is that they are very portable which means they can be moved or taken with you anywhere.
You may decide to move to another house or apartment in the future so you can move with your dish washing machine.
The 24 inch full size built in dishwasher normally remains with the house as it is a permanent installation.
There are even countertop dishwashers that have built in water tank with them which means you don’t need to connect to the kitchen faucet.
Four: There is no need for any direct plumbing or permanent installation as some countertop dishwashers come with built in water tank that only needs to be filled with water whenever you want to wash your dishes.
So with this feature the countertop dishwasher can be placed anywhere in your kitchen.
What to lookout for when choosing a countertop dishwasher for your kitchen:
Now when it comes to choosing a countertop dishwasher there are some important factors that you need to lookout for in order to get the most efficient appliance.
Countertop dishwashers just like other home appliances are not created equally with the same feature and material and so you need to know the best features to checkout in the dishwasher and the quality of machine.
Here we shall list some of the best and important product characteristic and features that you need to look for in a countertop dishwasher.
Material of dishwasher:
Manufacturers of countertop dishwashers make use of various materials when constructing the dishwasher.
Some parts of the dishwasher can be made with durable plastic or stainless steel while other dishwasher manufacturers can even use a combination of both materials.
The most important part of the dishwasher that you need to focus on is the material that is used for the interior tub:
Plastic tubs are cheaper and very durable as they can outlive other parts of the dishwasher itself like the internal parts that can last up to 10-12 years but plastic also has some drawbacks like being unable to withstand very high washing temperature which may lead to dishes not drying completely.
Plastic tub dishwasher if not cleaned properly often will develop a bad smells due to oil stains and other food remains, so regular cleaning is a must for plastic tubs.
Stainless steel tub on the other hand will be more expensive because it is more durable material that can handle very high washing temperature and it helps your dishes to dry faster and better.
Also stainless steel tub dishwasher will consume less power to heat up water inside the machine as it is able to retain heat better.
Stainless steel doesn’t allow stains from food debris and it is very easy to clean and maintain thereby there will be no bad odor.
Capacity:
The next aspect that you need to consider in a countertop dishwasher is the capacity of the machine. This however will be dependent on the size of your family.
Countertop dishwashers capacities are measured in place setting which means the number of plates and bowls that the machine can hold per wash cycle.
Countertop dishwashers normally have between 2 to 8 place settings capacity which is ideal and enough to handle the wash load of a small family.
It is always better to go for a countertop dishwasher with a higher capacity.
Energy efficiency:
This is one of the most important factors that people are keen about because a dishwasher that uses less water to wash dirty dishes and that also draws little electricity to operate will mean more savings for the user in the long run.
Although most of the new models of dishwasher that are produced these days are mostly energy efficient but you still have to do your due diligence by picking one that is best energy rated.
Washing cycles:
Countertop dishwashers come with different washing cycles and with each selection of any of the wash cycle the intensity and spray power of the spray arms increases or decreases depending on your washing needs.
Most countertop dishwasher will come with the basic washing cycles that is commonly used and needed by most family washing needs.
However there are some dishwashers that have additional wash cycles for other washing needs like washing pots and pans, or a sanitize cycle.
Make sure the dishwasher has the basic wash cycles that you will need and with any other features that best match your needs.
Noise level:
Newer models of portable dishwashers are being made to be more and more quieter when it is in operation than the older dishwashers.
This is an important feature in a dishwasher that should not be ignored because you will want to keep the noise level in your apartment to as low as possible and a loud dishwasher will not do.
Some people also like running their dishwashers at night time so that they can wake up to clean dishes in the morning.
And so a noisy dishwasher with high decibel rating will be disturbance for people trying to sleep.
Countertop dishwasher with decibel ratings of 60 upward is considered a bit noisy. So choose a dishwasher with the lowest decibel rating.
FAQ About Countertop Dishwasher:
Do countertop dishwashers have heating elements?
Answer: Countertop dishwashers don’t have heating element at the bottom of the dishwasher like the conventional dishwashers do.
Instead most countertop dishwasher uses a water heater that is hidden mostly inside of the dishwasher and it consumes far less electricity than the heating element.
This is why most modern dishwasher manufacturers have ditched the use of heating element in the dishwasher.
How does a countertop dishwasher drain?
Answer: It is quite simple a countertop dishwasher uses two water hose that connects to the kitchen faucet for direct water intake.
The other water hose is connected from the back of the countertop dishwasher to the kitchen sink which allows the dirty water to run directly into the sink.
There is a water pump inside the dishwasher that pumps out the water from the dishwasher draining it completely from the machine.
How long do portable dishwashers last?
Answer: Portable countertop dishwashers can last on average 12 years. But depending on how you use and maintain your dishwasher it can last up to 16 years before you begin to think of getting a new one.
Despite the dishwasher being a cleaning machine you should adhere strictly to a cleaning routine for the machine itself so that it is performing at its optimal level all the time which will eventually make the machine to last longer for you.
Do portable dishwashers need plumbing?
Answer: There are many portable countertop dishwashers that don’t require any hookup or any plumbing because they have built in water tank and the dishwasher comes with water hose to connect directly to the tap so no plumbing needed.
