The 7 Best Portable Dishwashers of 2023
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By some stroke of luck, you’ve done it: You’ve found a Pinterest-worthy dream home. It has his and her closets, floor-to-ceiling windows for days and a 100-year-old fireplace that basically begs you to curl up nearby and read a book. The only problem? It’s missing a dishwasher. A few years ago, this would probably be agonizing. But thanks to today’s slew of portable dishwashers, you can have your dream home cake and eat it, too. They’re better than ever, too. Metin Ozkuzey, President of Designer Appliances, says, “You can move them around easily, unlike built-in best dishwasher models, which are stationary…It makes sense to invest in a portable dishwasher in your apartment, your vacation home or RV has a small kitchen. You will not only have one less chore to attend to but also save valuable storage space in your cabinets.” So below, find Ozkuzey’s breakdown of everything you need to know about selecting the right portable dishwasher, plus seven of the best models money can buy.
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The Best Portable Dishwashers at a Glance
Meet The Expert
Metin Ozkuzey is the President of Designer Appliances, an appliance retailer based out of Bedminster, NJ. He has a degree in Civil Engineering with over 10+ years of experience in the industry.
What is a Portable Dishwasher?
Basically, portable dishwashers work exactly like regular ones (but with a smaller footprint). They draw water from the faucet through an intake tube, heat it up, wash your dishes—and there’s even an outlet tube that empties dirty water back into your sink. “Portable dishwashers use standard 110-volt electricity. However, they need to be connected to a faucet to get water in and need a drain line that safely discharges the dirty water,” Ozkuzey explains. (More on that below.)
How We Chose The Best Portable Dishwashers
Based on Ozkuzey’s criteria, we vetted the top-rated portable dishwashers to make sure they a) were at least 22 inches wide and 20 inches deep, b) had a silence rating that was less than 65dB and c) included sensor wash, program cycles and drying features (bonus points if it has a third rack).
1. GE GPT145SSLSS 18-Inch Portable Dishwasher
First up: An ultra-portable dishwasher (peep the wheels!!) that will leave your dishes looking sparkling, time after time. With the three-level wash and ‘Heavy Wash’ mode it can tackle even the toughest stains—and thanks to the ‘Piranha’ hard food disposer, food particles are pulverized at a rotation of 3,600 RPM. The Autosense Cycle adapts to soil levels and water temperature, optimizing the ideal cycle time, while its sanitize option can reduce 99.999 percent of bacteria on dishes (per the manufacturer). Plus, with the delayed start feature, you can choose the perfect time to begin the washing cycle.
Bonus: If you’re looking for something ultra-quiet, this guy’s 55 dB silence rating is just the ticket. One reviewer even writes, “It is very quiet—I sleep with my bedroom door open and the dishwasher location is less than 10 feet from my bedroom, I barely hear it!” It’s also designed with convenience with four swiveling caster wheels and an adjustable top rack—all encased in a durable stainless steel tub, ensuring it’ll year after year.
2. EdgeStar DWP62SV Countertop Dishwasher
Don’t let this guy’s compact size fool you: It can wash up to six standard place settings right on your countertop. But of course, this is a great option for small spaces where the dishwasher stands just over 17 inches tall and can easily fit under most cabinets. With a digital control panel and LED display, you’ll also have full control, including a child lock function, seven wash cycle programs—including heavy, normal, light, glass, baby care, speed and rinse—and a delayed start feature for customized dishwashing. Plus, setting it up is a breeze with the quick connect faucet adapter and five-foot hose for easy hook-up to almost any faucet. It also promises an ultra-quiet operation with a 52dB noise output. Oh, and did we mention that it comes in silver, black and white?
That said, it’s also worth mentioning one reviewer’s warning: “The detergent dispenser has two chambers…Putting in rinse agent in the opposite dispenser can be a bit of a challenge as the instructions do not explain how to know when the dispenser is full. While carefully and slowly pouring in the agent, watch the little sight glass to the right of the cup—when it suddenly turns ‘dark,’ the dispenser has had enough. You will get about three runs out of each fill of the rinse agent dispenser. It is important to know that using a rinse agent helps to reduce the lime build-up in hard water areas, so it will also help preserve your machine insides a little longer as well as remove water spots on your dinnerware.”
3. Farberware FDW05ASBWHA Portable Countertop Dishwasher
With a 4.4 out of 5-star rating and more than 3,300 reviews, we had to see why people were raving over this design-friendly dishwasher. The answer is ten-fold, starting with the LED digital controls provide easy operation and the automatic water level indicator ensures the correct water level is reached. With no water hookup needed, you can choose between the built-in water tank or a quick faucet hookup for ultimate portability. Still, it offers the power of a full-sized dishwasher with five wash programs, including normal, rapid, fruit wash, baby care and glass.
The dishwasher's lower and upper spray arms also ensure streak-free deep cleaning—and the steam generated during the ‘baby care’ cycle can sanitize baby bottles and give glassware a sparkling finish. The rapid cycle will then leave dishes spotless in 40 minutes or less, while the automatic air circulation helps dry dishes efficiently. You can even clean fruits and vegetables with the included fruit basket, ready to serve directly from the dishwasher. The cherry on top? To prevent odors, the air exchange function works with any washing program.
4. GE GPT225SSLSS Portable Dishwasher
If you’re looking for a mac-daddy version of GE's 18-inch dishwasher (number one on this list), the brand created a 24-inch version that looks and operates like a built-in. It can accommodate a whopping 12 place settings while offering three wash cycles, which includes a delay start function for up to 12 hours. The auto-sense cycle also adjusts to the ideal time by measuring soil levels and water temperature—and it has the same, “Piranha” hard food disposer with a stainless steel blade that rotates at 3,600 RPM. Plus, just like the smaller version, it operates at just 54dB, so it’ll be virtually noiseless when sanitizing a full load.
5. Whirlpool WDP370PAHW Heavy-Duty Dishwasher
Aside from its four caster wheels and butcher-block design, this dishwasher was constructed with flexibility in mind. First, it allows you to clean dishes quickly (aka in under 60 minutes) or set a four-hour delay to match up with your schedule. The front electronic controls make operation a breeze, while the recessed handle adds a sleek touch to its design. As for the interior, it offers ample space with two vinyl racks and a silverware basket at the bottom rack. The high-temperature wash feature uses heated water for extra cleaning and sanitizing—perfect for glassware and baby bottles—while the heated dry option ensures everything comes out clean and dry. It also has various wash cycles, including the Normal cycle for everyday messes, the one-hour wash cycle for quick cleaning, and the Heavy cycle for heavily soiled dishes. The soil sensor will determine the level of dirtiness and adjusts the normal cycle accordingly, guaranteeing spotless results.
6. Comfee’ Portable Dishwasher
Requiring just five liters of water for a normal cycle for its built-in tank, this countertop dishwasher was built with small-space living in mind. (And it can be hooked to the kitchen faucet directly with the included water hose, too.) Still, its ultra-compact design packs a punch—you can wash more than 30 items at a time—while the adjustable shelves and sliding racks make it easy to load this guy to the brim. It has six program options, including normal, rapid, steam, fruit and glass washing—plus a ‘Hygiene’ program that boosts water temperature up to 192 degrees Fahrenheit to deep-clean heavily soiled dishes and baby bottles. Then, it also has an Air Refresh function, which helps to remove excess moisture and odor after washing.
7. Novette Countertop Dishwasher
With a solid 50dB noise level, this is about as quiet as it gets when it comes to portable dishwashers. That said, its virtually noiseless operation is one of just many features that makes this guy a winner. First, it’s fully equipped with a storage rack, cutlery basket and fruit basket, and the lower/upper spray arms provide streak-free deep cleaning. It then has two water supply modes; faucet mode and water tank mode, where the built-in water tank accommodates up to five liters (and has an automatic water level indicator to ensure the correct water level is reached). You can choose from five wash cycles, including the baby care/heavy mode—a 167-degree Fahrenheit washing temperature that leaves glassware and baby bottles sparkling clean—and the speed mode, which cleans dishes in just 29 minutes. Not to mention that this one also has dry mode with 60 minutes of hot air drying after the wash cycle.
What Is The Standard Size for a Portable Dishwasher?
Ozkuzey says, “It is always a good idea to start by measuring your designated space. Consider the spot [where] you are going to park the dishwasher—as well as where you intend to keep it when it is operational—particularly when you are loading/unloading it (think of opening the drop-down door to pull out the shelves).”
To that end, he adds, “A typical portable dishwasher is 24 to 25 inches wide and 27 inches deep…Most of these dishwashers have black or wood/butcher block tops to give you extra counter space.” It’s also worth mentioning that there are portable countertop dishwashers, which are better suited for smaller spaces: “These dishwashers are typically 22 inches wide, 20 inches deep, and 17½ inches high.”
How Do I Connect a Portable Dishwasher?
“Before purchasing a new portable dishwasher, please make sure you have a proper faucet with an internal or external threaded nozzle. Installation instructions for each manufacturer may vary slightly. Please check the installation manual of your product,” Ozkuzey warns. However, once you have your specifications fleshed out, he has a step-by-step guide for installing:
What Features Should I Look for In a Portable Dishwasher?
According to Ozkuzey, there are a few key features to keep in mind before you click ‘add to cart.’ These include…
How to Clean a Dishwasher in 3 Easy Ways
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