Tabletop Dishwasher Worth It
Late last year, I moved into my first apartment without a dishwasher, and it quickly became clear that my precious little dishwashing system wasn’t up to the task. However, I have stubbornly resisted buying a desktop dishwasher for several months. What, I wondered, could I get from parking the appliance next to the sink on a permanent basis?
A lot, as it turns out. Every argument against portable dishwashers is laughable compared to the arguments in favor of them. Sure, a miniature dishwasher can’t wash every single dish you have in one go, but neither can you. (And, frankly, a machine will do a better job of it.) That’s why those stupid little contraptions aren’t so stupid after all—and are more than worth the counter space.
Portable dishwashers are efficient
Dishwashers use significantly less water than hand washing. This is non-negotiable . If you currently wash all your dishes by hand, installing literally any dishwasher in your kitchen, even a very small one, will cut down on water usage. Whether you pay for water or not, using less water for everyday tasks like washing dishes is definitely a good thing.
Portable dishwashers run fast
Using less water is great, but what I personally like the most about my small dishwasher is its speed. A full “normal” wash cycle takes less than an hour, and a “heavy” one takes less than two; Better yet, loading and unloading is reduced to seconds. (Unloading the dishwasher is my least favorite job in the kitchen, and even I can’t find an excuse to put it off if it takes less than a minute.)
Of course, the reason small dishwashers run so fast is that small loads take less time (and water) to wash than large ones. Depending on how much utensils get dirty in your kitchen each day, you may need multiple loads to keep up with demand. While this is definitely a disadvantage, loading and unloading a small capacity machine several times a day is certainly better than hand washing every single dish each time.
Dishwashers are more gentle on your dishes
Many small dishwashers plug directly into the kitchen faucet, allowing you to control the temperature of the water. It may not seem like such a big deal, but think about it: why can’t you wash delicate items in a regular dishwasher? It is a combination of extremely high temperatures and an abrasive dish detergent. When your dishwasher is using water straight from the tap, you can make the wash conditions less aggressive by simply lowering the temperature.
This opens up whole new worlds of dishwasher-safe dishes. To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you break your new countertop dishwasher by washing all your family china. (Dishes are like laundry: really fragile items should still be washed by hand.) But if you’re fed up with warped cutting boards and faded mugs, for example, try running the faucet on warm water and using even less detergent than usual.
What to look for in a portable dishwasher
When shopping for a desktop or portable dishwasher, there are only two real questions you need to ask yourself:
- Does it fit a sink with open and closed lid?
- Does it allow you to use the sink while it is running?
Everything else is a matter of personal preference, with the exception of detergent. Dishwasher capsules contain too much product for small machines, so be sure to use liquid or loose powder instead – and use even less than you think you need. Small dishwashers use very little water and don’t need a lot of detergent to get the job done. It’s just one more thing to love them for.