Lyndsy Adams on April 15, 2015 27 Comments Table of Contents FAQs About Portable Dishwashers Glossary & Terms to Know Factors to Consider While Shopping Installation and Maintenance Tips A countertop dishwasher, also referred to as a compact or portable dishwasher, is small dishwasher that sits on top of a counter or any other flat surface. It has a lot of the same capabilities as a full size dishwasher but is much more compact, portable, and uses less energy. Generally, these dishwashers use a quick connect adapter that connect to a standard sink faucet for water intake. They have a drain hose in the back of the unit that allows for drainage to run directly into a sink. Frequently Asked Questions Everyday we get asked questions about our portable and countertop dishwashers. Below we have listed out the most frequently asked questions we receive. Please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-297-6076 if you have any other questions, or would like more details on one listed below. 1. Why should I get a countertop dishwasher? Countertop dishwashers are extremely versatile units. Whether you need one as your primary dishwasher or for supplemental use, these units can adapt to your needs. If you live in a small house lacking the space for a built-in unit, or are renting an apartment without a dishwasher, a portable dishwasher can be life saver. From office coffee mugs to baby bottles, RV road trips to college students, people are discovering that countertop dishwashers are super helpful in a variety of applications. 2. Does a countertop dishwasher produce different results than a normal dishwasher? Countertop dishwashers clean just as efficiently as full-size models. Although, as you might expect, portable dishwashers use considerably less water and detergent than their full-sized rivals. This doesn’t mean they don’t clean as thoroughly, they just don’t need as many resources to achieve the same level of cleanliness. 3. Can I install my countertop dishwasher permanently? Yes, some countertop models can indeed be installed permanently. However, no models are specifically designed for permanent installation so it’s not recommended to do so. Improper use and installation could void the warranty. We recommend you keep the unit portable and follow all instructions. 4. Can I put this unit under my sink, draining to my garbage disposal? Yes, some models of countertop dishwashers can indeed be installed to your main water line. However, there are no portable units specifically designed for this type of permanent installation, so it’s not advised to do so. Please check with the manufacturer of the countertop dishwasher prior to attempting this to ensure that it is safe to do. 5. I don’t have a lot of counter space, how much room does it take up? Another advantage of countertop dishwashers is the compact size. They usually take up no more room than microwaves and sit on top of any flat surface. Most models can even fit directly underneath the cabinets making it perfect for small spaces. The inconspicuous size means when the dishwasher is not in use, it can be tucked away in a cabinet or rolled away on a kitchen cart. 6. How will a countertop dishwasher affect my utility bills? Countertop dishwashers are extremely economical and efficient, they use substantially less water than manually washing dishes or a traditional full-sized dishwasher. Each wash cycle, which holds 4-6 place settings, uses about 3 gallons of water. Read More: 8 Tips to Increase Dishwasher Efficiency & Save Money 7. Are there specific wash cycles? Many countertop dishwashers offer the same features as a full size dishwasher including different wash cycles. They usually include heavy, normal, light, glass, speed and soak options. Portable dishwashers may also offer automatic detergent and rinse aid dispenser. Glossary & Terms You Should Know: To help you find the best countertop dishwasher for your unique situation or lifestyle, it is recommended that you learn a few key terms that you will likely come across during your search. Quick Connect Adapter An easy and convent way to connect the hoses to a sink, it should fit most standard faucets. Cutlery Basket The basket inside the dishwasher designed to hold forks, knives, spoons and other cutlery. When loading your silverware, be sure that none of the prongs are poking through so the spray arm can move freely and clean properly. Dish Basket The interior of the dishwasher set up to hold anywhere from 4-6 place settings. Check out the owner’s manual for ways to load the dishes that will optimize the compact space. Rinse Aid Dispenser A container that dispenses rinse aid, which can help dry your dishes and eliminate water spots. If you notice your dishes are coming out with unwashed residue or a cloudy appearance, then you may want to consider using a rinse aid. Factors To Consider to Find the Best Countertop Dishwasher Dimensions: Make a careful note of the exact dimensions you can use to accommodate a countertop dishwasher. Take special note of the distance between the top of your counter and the bottom of your cabinet. Capacity: You definitely want to consider how much you can put into your dishwasher. Most countertop dishwasher models will accept up to 6 place settings, but it may vary from model to model. Interior Composition: Countertop dishwashers with stainless steel interiors will be more durable and should last longer than models with plastic interiors. Dry Cycle: If it is important to you to have a dry cycle, look for a model that includes this feature. Pump: If the water draining out of the countertop dishwasher needs to go above the level of the countertop dishwasher (as it would if you placed the unit below the level of the drain) you need a model with a pump. You can avoid this problem by knowing beforehand where your portable unit will be placed. Water Heater: Most countertop dishwashers come with water heaters of varying power. Those dishwashers that have water heaters also usually have two or more settings to vary the power of the heater. Number of Different Cycles: Different portable dishwasher models vary in their number of cycles. So, think about what is important for you and your family, and buy accordingly. Energy and Water Efficiency: Check the water and energy usage of the countertop dishwashers to find one that meets your needs. If you have any further questions, please feel free to give us a call at 1.800.297.6076 or leave us a comment down below. Installation and Maintenance: Using a countertop dishwasher couldn’t be simpler! Most units come with everything you need to quickly set it up. First you’ll need to find a level surface to place the countertop dishwasher on. There are two hoses, an inlet and drain hose. On the back of the dishwasher there are two ports for each hose to be screwed in. Place the quick connect adapter to your sink faucet and connect both hoses to it. Plug the unit into an electrical outlet and begin your wash cycle. When the wash cycle is finished, you can unplug all of hoses and put it away until next time. There are no tools required, making it an easy and convenient appliance to set up and operate. To maintain your countertop dishwasher be sure not to overload the dishwasher and that no dishes or cutlery is obstructing the spray arm. Rinse off any excess food or residue before starting a wash cycle. With proper care, your countertop dishwasher can save you from years of time consuming hand washing.
bob says September 17, 2015 at 12:19 pm Very well researched article about diswhashers, espectially for small apartments! I believe every question was answered before it was asked. Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:43 am I have read many articles on countertop dishwashers. This by far is the best. The statements are true and the advice is the best given. Reply
TootsNYC says March 2, 2016 at 8:17 pm How does it do with pots and pans? Wish there was a picture w/ the pots and pans in it. Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:31 am It does well with pot and pans. The problem would be not enough room for everything else. You only have one rack. Reply
jim says September 11, 2016 at 12:42 am What countertop models have pumps? I need it to be in a cabinet below but the cabinet is not wide enough for a “DishDrawer Dishwasher” which does have a pump but is 24″ wide. You mentioned (above) that some countertop (compact) dishwashers do have pumps, right? Reply
Dirk van Schalkwyk says September 18, 2019 at 5:44 am Hi A circulation pump is always needed to supply the nozzles/impellers and the drain pump is separate. (A single pump can be used in combination with solenoid valves to either circulate, or drain the water, but different pump duties may require an inverter, so two pumps may be the best option.) In my experience (dishwashers and washing machines), the water outlet from the machine is open to atmosphere so an above operating water level inverted U drainpipe configuration is required to prevent continuous draining of the water. This means that the countertop dishwasher can be installed above, or below the wastewater connection Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 4:41 am All countertop dishwashers have pumps. Actually they have 2. One for washing and the other is for water discharge (draining). Reply
Nan Roberts says September 29, 2016 at 3:58 pm I have 11″ diameter dinner plates. Will they fit? How can I find out which models will hold these? Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:35 am I know for sure it fits a 10 1/2. I also found out by turning the plate sideways it will fit a slightly larger plate. Reply
Andy says January 7, 2017 at 12:35 pm Can you tell us which models have a pump? We want to mount it under the counter so we will need one. So far all that I have looked at don’t specify a pump? Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:04 am They all have pumps. The dishwasher uses a pump to drain the water. Remember, it is not recommended to install this dishwasher permanently. Reply
maureen colasessano says February 28, 2017 at 11:23 pm long ago I had a countertop dishwasher that was a gift…boy I wish I still had it….it was round, plastic & had clear plastic top..for 1 person it was great..My question is where can I find something like this..I am sure it was inexpensive even at that time..where oh where can I find something like this please e mail me & find one thank you Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:07 am You will love this countertop dishwasher just as much. I have not seen a round one before. Reply
Herry Hermawan says March 27, 2017 at 12:10 pm Yes, countertop dishwasher suitable for small apartments or small kitchen since it does not require much place, easy to use and maintenance is not difficult. Reply
Cynthia Helsel says June 22, 2017 at 1:35 am You can fit like one good size pot or pan in but they clean very well. Reply
Don Hoyte says September 5, 2017 at 6:35 pm I am in the process of permanently installing an SPT countertop unit under the counter. It presents some challenges. First of all I haven’t found any manufacturers that sell a “conversion kit.” The brands I looked at all said this was possible but not recommended. Which means they are not about to sell you a conversion kit–big liability, don’t you know. So you are going to have to make your own. The first problem that you will run into is that the water supply and waste hoses don’t really match any of the “normal” plumbing fittings. The threads on the parts that screw into the washer and then attach to the sink faucet aren’t anything known to a normal plumber—which may be an oxymoron. So here’s what I did. For the water supply hose, cut off the end that attaches to the sink faucet. Cut it 6 inches or so from that end. Then go to your handy home hardware store and buy a hose barb adaptor. It’s about 2 inches long, mine was brass and one end (with the “barbs”) gets inserted into the hose with the connector to the back of the dishwasher. You also put a hose clamp on it. The size I got was 1/2 inch ID for the barb (meaning the Inside Diameter of the hose is 1/2 inch) and the threaded end of the coupler (male thread) is 3/8 inch MIP outside diameter (OD). There may be others you can use but that fit the hose that came with my unit and I was trying to hook this up to a 3/8 inch threaded water supply. The next problem is you can’t hook up MIP threads to the water supply under the sink. Those are generally either 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch FIP threads. And MIP is not FIP. So I got a coupling that screwed on to the 3/8 inch MIP threads of the barbed hose connector and converted that coupling to a 3/8 inch FIP male threads. Again I got that coupling at the home fix-it store. So I now had a water-supply hose that on one end would connect to the back of the dishwasher and the other end would connect to a 3/8 inch end of one the stainless steel hoses that is used to connect the water supply to “normal” dishwasher under-sink shut-off valves (hot side). They sell those stainless steel hoses at the home fix-it store in various lengths but the end of the stainless steel one has to match the diameter of the FIP threads at the end of the hose you just created. The other end of the stainless steel hose should connect directly to the hot water supply fixture under your sink. It will likely be either 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch FIP. That solved the water supply issue. The waste hose issue is easier. There are flexible dishwater waster tube couplers sold at home stores that are used to attach “normal” dishwasher waste hoses either to the disposal under your sink, or if you don’t have one of those, directly to the drain between the sink and the p-trap. So all I had to do was to again cut of the end of the waste tube that came with my dishwasher (cut the end that connects to the kitchen faucet adaptor) and attach one of the flexible connectors from your favorite home store —again using hose clamps to make everything snug. A word of caution, however. The waste hose coming from my tabletop dishwasher was a tad bit smaller than the “typical” dishwasher waste hose. There was one (popular) brand of flexible dishwasher waster hose connector that proved to large for the hose in my model, so you may have to look around at different home stores. I found one that worked just fine even with a hose of a little bit smaller diameter than the typical dishwasher waste hose. But once you have one that is the right size, insert the cut end of the waste tube, crank down in the hose clamp, then attach the bigger end of the connector to the drain/disposal, tighten up the hose clamp for that one, and you should be good to go. Reply
Sybil says September 23, 2017 at 5:37 pm How long is the wash cycle? Why do commercials machines have wash cycles that are only a minute or so verses home models that take an hour? Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:14 am There are 6 different cycles. The time can range from 30 min to 2 hrs. Reply
HELEN says November 16, 2017 at 4:30 am My faucet is a mixer (hot and cold water come out of one single outlet) Will any table top dishwashers be suitable for this type of faucet? Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:09 am Yes. As long as the hose can connect to your faucet it will work. Reply
cindy says April 9, 2018 at 6:27 am I bought a table top dishwasher but I want to know if the drain host must be higher than the dishwasher or at the same level or can we put the host running down into a bucket or bottle. I dont want air bubbles to form. Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 6:32 am This unit does not use gravity to drain water. It has a pump. If it has to pump water up hill, it will but it is not designed to do this. Doing so will reduce the life expectancy of the dishwasher. Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:17 am There are no pipes. Just hoses and yes it will connect to old faucets (American Standard Faucet). Reply
Barbara says May 22, 2018 at 7:24 pm If the two hoses that go to the sink adapter are kinked up (not enough room to have them straight) will that cause the dish washer from Workin properly? Reply
Curt mueller says November 25, 2019 at 5:22 am The hose is capable of curling around. I don’t think it will kink for that reason. The hose is firm but flexible. Reply
J says November 16, 2018 at 12:22 am Thanks for this article! My boyfriend and I live in Austin too, and found a rental property we like that has no dishwasher. This answered a lot of questions I had and it’s so nice to be able to seriously consider the property again. Reply
