Countertop Dishwasher Buying Guide


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Difference between countertop and others

There are mini dishwashers or small dishwashers, portable dishwashers and countertop dishwashers to choose from. But it is important to understand what your requirement really is before making a financial commitment. You will first need to inspect your home before buying a new dishwasher.

 
A portable dishwasher is different from the countertop. They both can connect to a sink faucet temporarily but one goes on the countertop and the other needs to be stored by rolling it into a corner when not in use or storing it in the pantry.

 
The major difference between portable and countertop dishwashers is the amount of dishes they can wash at a time. A countertop dishwasher is only able to wash a few at a time. A portable dishwasher can wash the same amount of dishes but it is also able to handle large pans and pots.

 
Another difference lies in the water consumption. A countertop dishwasher uses only about 2 gallons of water but a portable dishwasher uses upto 3 gallons of water. This is per load. Note that hand washing often uses almost 27 gallons of water.

 
A countertop dishwasher is probably your best choice if you have no space to store a portable dishwasher. If you have little counter space, it isn’t a good choice for you. Make sure that you have enough counter space right next to the sink. The dishwasher needs a sink close by in order to function.

 

How to choose the right countertop dishwasher

Consider the dimensions

Before you invest in a new dishwasher, you need to make note of the dimensions your counter can accommodate. You will need to note down the distance between the bottom of the cabinet and the top of the counter.

 

Capacity

How much do you want to put in your dishwasher at a time? A countertop dishwasher can handle up to 6 place settings at a time but this could vary from one model to the next.

 

Durability

Remember that a countertop dishwasher that has stainless steel interiors is much more durable and can last much longer than models that have plastic interiors.

 

Dry Cycle

If you think you absolutely need a dry cycle then you need to be sure that the model you’re buying includes this feature.

 

Pump

If you have placed your dishwasher below the level of the counter you will need to ensure this model has a pump to push the drain water back up and out.

 
Finally, note that you are aware of the number of different cycles that comes with the dishwasher. How energy and water efficient is it? Apart from all of this, you need to consider whether your want a small dishwasher or a mini dishwasher. They are stored rather easily but note that they cannot handle a huge load.

 

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