Best Countertop Dishwashers 2022
Nothing can make your kitchen look messier than dirty dishes piled up in the sink, and you may not want to wash your dirty dishes by hand. If you’re considering installing a dishwasher but have a small kitchen, you may not be able to get a built-in dishwasher.
A countertop dishwasher can be a perfect solution for your small kitchen with limited space. These mini machines have a smaller form than their full-size counterparts but deliver hands-off cleaning power to save time and energy for your glasses, plates, silverware, and more.
These appliances are positioned on the countertop close to your kitchen sink and connect to the faucet to get their water supply, though some models have built-in water tanks.
The best countertop dishwashers for you to choose from
- Best overall: Farberware Professional Dishwasher
- Best value: NOVETE Compact Dishwasher
- Best quiet: Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher
- Best budget: RCA RDW3208 Countertop Dishwasher
- Best portable: COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher
- Best design: BLACK+DECKER Countertop Dishwasher
Best Overall Countertop Dishwasher
Farberware Professional Dishwasher
This countertop dishwasher from Farberware is a great option for small apartments with limited space. For performance, this compact lightweight dishwasher features seven washing programs that give you all the kick of a full-size unit. It features a modern-day design known for its portability and uses in small spaces.
Its interior has a six-place setting capacity to wash various dishes, plus a cup shelf that can hold about 3 to 4 regular-size coffee cups. In addition, it includes a wash soap dispenser, a rinsing aid, and a cutlery basket.
Due to its compact size, it’s quite easy to install on your kitchen countertop or under a cabinet. This durable unit also has a child-lock function to prevent accidental operation.
What we love: It’s easy and quick to assemble with easy-to-connect adapters and accessories. It also has a compact design with child-lock safety features.
Things to consider: It may not dry dishes properly.
Best Value
NOVETE Compact Dishwasher
This versatile countertop dishwasher model offers two modes for water supply, including a 5-liter built-in water tank and a water hose for easy hookup to your faucet, so you can decide which works best for you.
It features five wash cycles, including baby care, high-speed, and produce modes with sufficient space for four place settings and can accommodate up to 12 inches in plate diameter. After each wash cycle, it uses hot air drying and adequate ventilation for the temporary storage of dishes.
What we love: It offers sanitary storage and dual options for water supply. It also offers high-speed wash modes and is lightweight and compact.
Things to consider: It may not completely dry your dishes.
Best Quiet
Hermitlux Countertop Dishwasher
This countertop dishwasher features six place settings that can fit up to a diameter of 12 inches for plates and bowls. It has five wash cycles, including fast, standard, fruit, Eco, and strong cleaning.
Its built-in 5-inch water tank offers an alternative to hooking it up to a faucet for water supply. This unit is heat sanitizing, which is safe for tableware, fruits and vegetables, toys, and baby products. There’s also a drying feature that frees your dishes from any after-wash taste.
What we love: It has a quiet operation while running and draining water from the outlet hose.
Things to consider: There’s no rinse-aid compartment.
Best Budget
RCA RDW3208 Countertop Dishwasher
This budget-friendly dishwasher option from RCA features simple controls and a basic appearance. Yet, it fulfills the main objective of cleaning your dishes with a quiet operation. Its main features include a stainless steel interior, a silverware basket, and six place settings.
It’s important to know that this countertop unit consumes more space than other models, as it measures about 22 inches in width and 17 inches in height. So you should consider the size as much as its affordability.
Though its spray arms are at the base of the wash tub, you can expect a solid performance if you load the dishwasher appropriately. It features three wash cycles – normal, speed, and heavy – which are sufficient for most homes.
What we love: It has a quiet operation, stainless steel interior, and a detachable silverware basket.
Things to consider: It has limited cycle options and a larger footprint.
Best Portable
COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher
Though countertop dishwashers are generally smaller than full-size dishwashers, their dimensions vary widely across different models. This mini portable dishwasher from Comfee’ features a compact design that makes it perfect for places with limited countertop space.
With a width of only 16.5 inches, this unit can save you around 5 inches of countertop space compared to larger models. It also features a built-in water tank that gives you more options for where to run the dishwasher.
However, its smaller size also limits its capacity, as you can only wash two place settings at a time. Yet, this mini dishwasher offers six wash cycles, including steam, glassware, and cleaning fruit.
What we love: It can be moved frequently or stored away when idle because of its lightweight and small size. It also comes with a water tank and a variety of wash cycles.
Things to consider: It can only hold two place settings.
Best Design
BLACK+DECKER Countertop Dishwasher
It can be difficult to hide a countertop dishwasher. Most times, these units are kept in plain sight. For this reason, you may want to go for a sleek design such as this. This dishwasher’s white housing and black face are complemented by its shiny stainless steel handle, making it resemble a mini oven.
However, the appeal of this dishwasher isn’t limited to its aesthetics. This appliance includes functional features like electronic touch controls on a fully incorporated LCD control panel for easy operation.
It also has seven wash functions, including specialty cycles like Eco and Glass, and up to six place settings for a convenient wash.
What we love: It has a modern and stylish exterior with an LCD control panel. It also comes with two folding cup shelves and a dedicated flatware basket.
Things to consider: Plate sizes are limited to 10 inches in diameter.
How Do Countertop Dishwashers Work?
Like portable washing machines, countertop dishwashers get water from a nearby faucet or built-in water tank and drain through their outlets into the sink. And just like a full-size dishwasher, the incoming water temperature should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the best cleaning results.
Most mini models have heaters to boost the water temperature, consuming about three gallons of water for every wash cycle. You’ll need to confirm the model’s faucet connections to ensure you have the parts required to hook up to your faucet. Note that they don’t connect to faucets that have pull-out sprayers.
The width of countertop dishwashers can range between 16-22 inches and height between 17-20 inches, so remember to measure your space before purchasing one so that you can be sure it’ll fit properly.
Due to their small capacities, they won’t fit a large pot or oversized platter. However, they are effective in saving time and energy. All models come with filters that can be cleaned by rinsing with regular vinegar to remove the buildup of minerals and deposits.
It’s advisable to wipe off or scrape excess food from your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. As for the types of detergents, countertop models can use tablets, packets, powders, and gels.
What to Look for in a Countertop Dishwasher
Size and Capacity
It’s important to consider the size when choosing a countertop dishwasher. Remember to measure your available counter space and check against the model’s height, width, and depth. It is important to note the height so that your model will fit between your countertop and upper cabinet.
The capacity of a countertop dishwasher is usually indicated by the number of place settings it holds. While most units claim to hold a capacity of up to six place settings, they can only accommodate dishes around 10-12 inches in diameter. Ensure your unit can handle the dishes you use more frequently.
Cycle Options
Like their full-size counterparts, countertop dishwashers typically offer various cycle settings. While they all have a standard wash cycle, they may include other options like an eco-friendly, fast, or glass cycle.
In addition, some countertop models will dry your dishes through an internal fan that circulates hot air to speed up the drying process.
Noise Level
Despite their compact designs, countertop models can be quite noisy as they run. Quieter models create less than 50 DB of noise, equivalent to a bird call or quiet conversation. Noisier models produce up to 60 DB of noise, which may not concern many people.
Energy Efficiency
All countertop dishwasher models come with yellow Energy Guide labels so that you can compare their yearly energy cost estimates. However, only some carry an Energy Star certification, which is the most efficient. We recommend purchasing an Energy Star-certified model.
Conclusion
Purchasing a countertop dishwasher for your kitchen is a great choice, as these appliances can help save you some energy and time. Using these appliances can help ensure your dishes are always kept clean while you use your time for something else.
This list of the best countertop dishwashers will help guide your decision. And the top of our list is the Farberware Professional Dishwasher. However, you can explore some of our other options based on your needs and preference.
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