3 Best Countertop Dishwashers for Small Apartments
Looking for the best countertop dishwashers to add to your small apartment kitchen?
While you might have had a dishwasher when you were growing up, not all affordable apartments come with one. Of course, you can always hand wash dishes (it’s pretty easy). But if you want kitchen cleanup to be a breeze, you might be considering something that can sit on the counter.
The best part of a countertop dishwasher is that you can use it without having specific water hookups. Some you can dump water right into the tank, while others connect to your sink. Either way, it’s a great solution if you want to get it more TV time before bed and spend less washing your dishes!
Check out the best countertop dishwashers (in our humble opinion) and see if you want to add one to your household.
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What is a countertop dishwasher?
Not all apartments or houses come with a standard under-the-counter dishwasher. But not everyone wants to handwash their dishes – that’s where a countertop dishwasher comes in.
Just like an under-the-counter dishwasher, a countertop one washes your dishes (go figure). However, unlike a standard dishwasher, these don’t have to be plumbed in, making them the ideal pick for the renter that doesn’t have one.
You set one of these bad boys on the kitchen counter, or a cart or shelf, and connect it to the kitchen faucet and sink drain. It doesn’t have to be connected all the time, just when you need it. It’s a smaller, portable way to save yourself time and avoid handwashing dishes.
Best countertop dishwashers
TOP PICK
1. Editor’s pick: Portable countertop dishwasher by Farberware
Brand: Farberware
Color(s): White, Black
Features: Portable, Compact, Built In Water Tank
Dimensions: 20.9″D x 21.9″W x 22.4″H
If your apartment’s overall appearance is important to you (we get it – you want it cute), then the Farberware portable dishwasher is for you. It has a sleek, modern look that will fit right into your overall kitchen look.
This particular device can hold up to 5 liters of water and the tallest dish is up to 12-inches. So, you might have to continue to handwash some of your bigger pots and pans. It’s a great device that’s perfect for small apartments, campers or even dorm rooms.
This little 24-inch dishwasher doesn’t require any hookups, you simply need to connect the machine to your kitchen faucet – note you’ll need to purchase the adapter separately. And you can access 5 different wash programs, including:
- Rapid
- Normal
- Fruit wash
- Glass
- Baby care
It’s the perfect choice if you want something that’s small and easy to use.
TOP PICK
2. Compact Countertop Dishwasher
Brand: Iagreea
Color(s): White/Gray, White/Black
Features: Faucet diverter, large capacity,
Dimensions: 16.5″D x 16.9″W x 16.9″H
The Iagreea is a compact, modern dishwasher that features a top instead of a front-load. I find this is a great option if you want to save a tad bit more space because you don’t have to make sure the front of the machine is also bare.
There are 3 different methods of installation for the mini dishwasher, but you aren’t required to have a separate hook up. Better yet, this countertop dishwasher has a seamless, anti-leak design that will help keep your space clean.
This can only fit a small amount of dishes, so it’s perfect for a one or two-person household. You’ll also probably need to run it after each meal to make your clean-up easier. However, it’s quick-and-easy to use.
It features 7 different wash cycles, including heavy, eco, speedy, normal, baby, fruit and glass. So you’ll get whatever you need clean with this bad boy. Finally, there’s a separate “store” mode to make sure you’re saving power when it’s not in use.
The LED on this guy is easy to use, and it’s recommended that you use detergent pods when you’re washing your dishes. It’s a practical and slightly less-expensive version you can pick up.
TOP PICK
3. Portable Countertop Dishwasher
Brand: Ecozy
Color(s): White
Features: Extra-Drying Function, glossy finish, compact
Dimensions: 16.85″D x 16.73″W x 18.03″H
Our last, highly-compact and modern choice is by Ecozy. This portable dishwasher is made to be a bit more eco-friendly and use less power than some of its counterpart brands. You can grab it, move it, and put it anywhere you want. It’ll make your household cleaning a piece of cake!
It features a 5 liter water tank. You can hook it up to a faucet for a direct supply of water, or you can fill up the tank – it all depends on what you have access too. Whether you need to wash heavily soiled dishes or gently clean baby bottles, this machine is a good pick for you.
This countertop dishwasher is super easy to use, and it provides a quick and convenient option for cleaning your dishes. There’s also an option to extra dry your dishes, so not only do you get to wash stuff but you dry as well!
I admit that this kind of looks like the Easy Bake Oven of dishwashers. But it’s the perfect option for the first-time renter that wants a way to easily clean their dishes… without having to do it manually.
How do you pick a countertop dishwasher
Budget
Your budget is almost always your biggest factor.
A countertop dishwasher is something that you can absolutely live without, but it can make your life a heck-of-a-lot easier. Don’t spend $500 if you don’t have it to spend, you could have long-term issues if you use credit when you don’t have it. Remember that you can hand wash dishes and dry them on a simple dish rack,
If you REALLY want one of these bad boys (who doesn’t), put together a fancy savings plan and pinch those pennies so you can get the right one.
Note this is NOT a purchase that requires your emergency fund, no matter how much you hate washing dishes.
Counter space
Not all apartments are going to have the extra kitchen counter space for a countertop dishwasher.
Of course you can take it out when you need it and put it away when you don’t, but it’s not exactly the lightest appliance. If you don’t have the counter space to dedicate to one of these bad boys, you can look into a kitchen cart where you can store it instead.
Remember that you will need counter space to work. If you don’t have an island (easily my favorite way to work in the kitchen) you can always consider adding a portable one as well!
Your dishes
Not every dish can be washed in a dishwasher — seriously, the things you learn when you try!
With that in mind, you’ll want to make sure that yours can BEFORE you order yourself a counter dishwasher. Otherwise you might end up with a hella fancy device that you simply can’t use. If you don’t have a set of dishes, make sure that you get dishwasher friendly ones — it’ll make your life easier in the long run.
Final thoughts: Best countertop dishwashers
Do you need a countertop dishwasher? No, of course not. Do you want one? Yeah, if you don’t have a dishwasher you probably do.
I’ll be honest, a countertop dishwasher isn’t in my kitchen essentials list, but it will make your apartment cleaning considerably easier. While hand washing dishes isn’t hard, at the end of the evening it’s the last thing you want to do.
This is a bit bigger of an investment, but the best news is you can carry it around with you to your new home. Unlike a regular ole built-in dishwasher, you’ll always have one in the future if you snag yourself one of these.
There are a number of things that will make your new adulting life easier, and these three best countertop dishwashers is just one of them. Happy shopping!
