After much debate and almost going with a Kenmore 17" portable for my small apartment (which would have cost nearly $600.00 new with shipping), I decided on this. It was the least expensive portable dishwasher I could find - paid $215.00 here on Amazon.
***Important to consider in purchasing a portable dishwasher***
KITCHEN FAUCET ADAPTER - the adapters that come with these portable washers (dish and laundry) are meant to easily connect to a standard kitchen faucet only. Some of the designer faucets will not accommodate these adapters without modification, if at all. You can buy adapters fairly cheap from hardware stores, so you may want to buy one of these first just to make sure it will work with your sink - thereby not blowing a bunch of money and/or necessitating the unpleasant chore of re-boxing the product and returning and paying a restocking fee.
COUNTERTOP VS LARGER FLOOR MODEL - keep in mind that the countertop will consume a great deal of valuable counter space. It is almost better for a larger kitchen ironically for this very reason. The counter space on either side of my sink was not sufficient for this dishwasher to fit. My solution was (thanks to another customer review) to purchase this utility cart for $89.95:
http://www.amazon.com/Seville-Classics-Stainless-Professional-Kitchen/dp/B000GWED7I/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1453738622&sr=8-5&keywords=seville+utility+cart
This seemed a better option for me because I'm single and didn't really need a larger portable dishwasher, and plus the bottom shelves of the utility cart can be used for storage.
The flip side is this dishwasher will only hold so much at one time. It will accommodate even my largest stock pot, but that won't leave room for too much else. So for more than 2 people and/or for someone who cooks all the time and generates alot of dishes every day, this will not be adequate unless you want to run multiple loads with it.
If you can accommodate or prefer a larger portable dishwasher, I recommend checking on Craigslist especially if you live in a city. You can sometimes find great buys on good quality appliances. But as the larger washers are very heavy you will need the right vehicle and help to get into your home, and there is the risk of buying from a stranger a product with no warranty.
DANBY DISHWASHER ITSELF:
It arrived by UPS extremely well packaged from this supplier on Amazon - absolutely could not have been better. The dishwasher box was in a larger Danby box with styrofoam sheets around it, and then the Danby box also had plenty of cushion. This contrasts with an other larger floor portable dishwasher item I purchased some time ago from Walmart that arrived damaged and non-working and thus had to be returned.
Assembly was very easy and intuitive, but I found the product manual online first to read up on it. Absolutely one of the best and most thorough product manuals I've ever read especially for these smaller, cheaper appliances.
Modifications I had to make:
The grids over the silverware basket did not allow my larger-handled silverware to fit. I was pleased to see they were removable and then I just loaded my silverware normally.
Dishwasher operation and performance:
The unit operates unbelievably quietly, so quiet in fact that I took advantage of the pause feature periodically on the first run to make sure it was doing anything.
I had a stock pot (10 in deep x 8 in diameter) that I really didn't expect to fit but it did. It had food dried on the bottom that could not easily be scrubbed off even by hand without alot of soaking. I was astounded that when I pulled it out it was absolutely spotless, if anything cleaner than it would have been in some built-in dishwashers. Everything I have washed in it, from plates to skillets to silverware has come out very clean. My water is of less hardness than some places but not exactly soft.
***PROBLEMS SO FAR***
FAUCET ADAPTER LEAKS - as the manual disclosed, the faucet adapter did leak when I snapped on the unicoupler and turned on the faucet. I wrapped the threads of the adapter with plumber's (teflon) tape, and initially the leaks stop but it started again. My taping job was not the best, and I've ordered a new product I found. If this stops it I will edit this review accordingly, but so far this is the only real problem I've had.
PLASTIC DISHES DIFFICULT TO HOLD IN PLACE - Think of this dishwasher as the bottom half of a large built-in dishwasher and what happens if you put lighter items in the bottom. The spray arm is so powerful that some lightweight plastic dishes will get blasted out of place by it. Items small enough to fall through the grid will then block the spray arm from turning. I put my gladware up on the cup shelf which helped some.
As others have noted, thicker stoneware dishes do not work well in this. Standard Corelle dinner plates will fit fine, but I cannot fit 6 matching salad bowls in as the loading diagram would indicate.
Larger silverware, spatulas, etc are too tall for standing in the silverware basket. I simply laid mine atop the cup shelf and they came out fine.
DURABILITY OVER TIME?
I did take note of comments by people who have had to purchase several of these over the years because they wear out relatively quickly vs the larger, more expensive brand-name portables. Then again, I read reviews that indicated the quality of those models is not what it used to be either. I will come back to report if/when this thing wears out or starts giving me trouble.
Initial satisfaction - good.
I bought this month ago, I've used it about 40 times now. Its been a good dishwasher and I have only a couple suggestions for someone who is looking to purchase this Dishwasher.
To my knowledge none of the counter top dishwashers have a heat element to dry your dishes. The Trick is you open up the washer right after its finished, leave it open a couple inches and let all the steam out while everything is still hot and they dry nicely. Make sure there is no standing water on top of things other wise that will come back and get you.
This is a compact washer. Large dishes are hard to fit! I use it every night cause I can only fit about 4 glasses, 3-4 medium plates, the silverware and maybe a small pot. So keep that in mind.
Pre wash your dishes a bit, if its dried on to the plate or pan its probably not going to come off. It will on a second cycle most of the time from what I've experienced. Works best when you clear the table and put everything straight into the dishwasher and use it right then.
Other than that, its been a good little dishwasher and I would recommend it to a friend.
I have a small apartment with no dishwasher or sink garbage disposal: I ordered this because I am a lousy dishwasher and like my dishes Very Clean. The unit is a bit on the heavy side (50lbs) to be expected: so it is a two person job to unpack and pickup. My neighbor was helpful because she wanted to see how it worked so she could buy one.
I placed on my counter (it fix perfectly under my low cabinets 17.5" Clearance) - see photo on product page. The hoses were already put together. Added the nozzle to the sink, plugged in and it works great! I load the dishwasher and run a 10 minute rinse at night and when full - run on pots and pans 1.25 hr. As I said I have a small apartment with commons walls, so it was great to realize it runs on the quiet side. 'Swish, Swish'. Particles are trapped in a mesh bottom so no worries if you don't have a disposal in your sink. Dishes are squeaky clean! Use the jet dry or just open door to air dry when done. Best investment this year so far.
The previous review were kinda a crap shoot because some ppl loved this and some did not. I went ahead and purchased because the money was right and I desperately needed a dishwasher. First it came packed in double boxes and extra packaging which I have never seen before and I do a lot of online shopping! It actually took a little time to get it out of the box!
Once out of the box, the instructions were clear and concise. It was true to size on the dimensions and fit the space I bought it for perfectly. I have an older house so I had to use some extra Teflon tape on the faucet but other than that, hookup was a breeze. It also came with a manufacturer warranty which is an added bonus also.
I use the little soap packets with no problem and I've used it with and without the rinse agent. However I did find that without the rinse agent, it doesn't fully dry.
Honestly I am so very pleased with my purchase and love this dishwasher! I run it every day for baby bottles and can even put small bottle pieces into the silverware basket!
(UPDATED TIME LINE) Purchased 30 months ago and still happy with the purchase.
I bought the Danby Danby DDW611WLED Countertop Dishwasher through Amazon Prime a year and a half ago.
Considering the size, it does the trick for my small family. Can't really use it for pots or pans because you'd only fit one or two inside and expect them to be cleaned. I handwash my pots and pans.
Small, but effective cleaning. Handles six or so plates, five or so glasses, four bowls, and silverware if you practice decent space management.
Fits on my countertop. Good job cleaning. Easy to hook up to a sink. I also run my sink water to hot before I start just to save wear on the internal heater. I use regular Quantum Max sealed packets for the detergent. In rare instances, I have to send something through a second time.
If there is one caution, it's to remember things can slip during wash. If this happens, it can impeded the washer arm. Also, ensure when packing dishes in to keep the area around the soap packet clear of obstruction.
I delayed my review, because I wanted to see how it lasted.
Feature Product
- Energy Star countertop electronic dishwasher fits under most kitchen cabinets (6 place-setting capacity)
- Quick connect to any kitchen tap with low water consumption (3.17 gallons during normal cycle)
- Convenient automatic detergent and rinse agent dispenser
- Electronic controls with LED display (6 wash cycles)
- Durable stainless steel interior
Description
DDW611WLED Features: -6 Place setting counter-top dishwasher. -Energy Star rated. -Low water consumption. -3.17 Gallons (12 litres) during normal cycle. -Quick connect to any kitchen tap. -6 Wash cycles: normal, heavy, light, speed, soak, glass. -Durable stainless steel interior. -Convenient automatic detergent and rinse agent dispenser. -Electronic controls with LED display. -Fits under most kitchen cabinets. -Unit dimensions: 21.63" W x 19.69" D x 17.25" H. Energy Guide
This machine has been a huge hit for me. Believe or not this is my very first dishwasher machine! I have always heard that dishwasher machine does not do a good job so I always ignored it when I could buy one. Also, most of my adult life I have lived in an rented apartment with no dishwasher and of course you cannot have one until I found this one. I did know that countertop dishwasher machine existed!
We are a family of 4 and it does a great job for us. I'm so impressed how helpful this machine has been for me. I like to clean and keep things clean in my apartment which was a bit difficult, being a full time worker, mom and wife and washing dishes is my least favorite thing to do. Indeed I have always hated washing dishes and my daughters too because I never had help. My kitchen has never looked so clean and organized before! I now don't care when my daughters use so many dishes and cups. I used to buy disposable plates and cup but not anymore! This machine cleans the dishes way, way more better that me! So shiny and sparkle dishes, yes they shine and I'm so impressed.
I run it once everyday. At first I was using the 45 minutes cycle but it is better the one of 1 hour and 10 minutes because it does dry your dishes! I don't put pan on it. Just having the help of washing all the plates, cutlery and cups is more that enough or great help for me.
It is a bit tricky fitting dishes on the machine, so you might have to buy plates or bowls that are suitable for the machine like flat plates and not so deep bowls or too big.
Overall good machine. Make sure to read the manual. I was able to setup up mine in 15 minutes with no help. I use Cascade Platinum dishwasher detergent which is the best one I have tried and hot water. If you leave in an apartment don't miss the opportunity to buy one; you will be very happy! My hands look great and my nails are now growing!
I like that it's a little taller than older models - my dishes fit better and I can cram more in. I also like that the fill nozzle attaches to the sink faucet (a special aerator-thingy comes with the washer to replace the aerator already on the faucet) - no special tools, spigots, or equipment needed to install the washer! I wish I had more control over the cycles, though - I'd prefer a button for an extra rinse and to make heated drying an *option*, rather than a built-in function for all cycles but one. As it is, I only use the "speed" cycle. Once it's done, I put the wet dishes in my old drying rack (back from the days when I still hand-washed *shudder*) and load the washer up with more dirty dishes. It's great at getting gunk off but it doesn't seem to be as good at rinsing all the detergent off. I only fill the dispenser halfway now and haven't had any more problems with residue.
I purchased this dishwasher based in part from the amount of positive reviews and I am here to add my own! The first time I turned it on, it leaked everywhere. It was gushing water from the back connecting hoses and I was so disappointed. BUT after reading Amazon reviews I realized I had the unit pushed way too close to the wall and it was squishing the hoses. As soon as I moved it further from the wall, I ran it again and have never had another issue with leaking. I find that the dishes need to be rinsed off before loading them in the dishwasher. Any large food particles will clog it and it won't do as good of a job cleaning. I do use the cascade pouches which do a great job. Make sure you don't put it in before you're ready to run the dishwasher or it can start to disintegrate before you turn on the washer. Overall, this is a great product, couldn't be happier so far and HIGHLY recommend making the switch from hand washing every dish to getting the Danby and getting part of your life back!! Worth every penny.
I placed it on a small microwave cart so it can be rolled aside when not in use. It does a great job, better than I expected truly. Since I live alone, I never minded not having a dishwasher... until I became disabled. Now, it is a huge help to have around. I lease a lovely 110 year old farmhouse so installing a built-in was not really an option for me. This was a perfect solution. I was surprised at how many dishes fit in it for as little room as it takes, so it is designed well in that regard. I use ultra pods in it and the dishes come out sparkling clean. My aide can spend less time dealing with dishes and more time doing other tasks I really need handled. Very happy about this purchase.
Lovely little device. I've owned this for a full year and used it non-stop. I have had no problems whatsoever with it. It performs beautifully. Mine is connected to my washer hookup so I don't even have to worry with attaching it to the sink. I just put a splitter faucet on my washer hook-up faucet. The only issue is making sure that I don't run the washer and dishwasher at the same time--no big deal. The machine itself runs like a top and cleans my dishes. Even though there is a disposal in the machine, I am careful about making sure my dishes are wiped before loading. Initially, I used one of the higher settings on the machine. I now use the 45 minute cycle almost exclusively. This is a great product and priced reasonably as well.
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