Danby DDW621WDB Countertop Dishwasher with 6 Place Settings, 6 Wash Cycles and Silverware Basket, Energy Star-Rated with Low Water Consumption and Quiet Operation, White

These compact, "countertop" dishwashers are a strange beast. They are marketed as a solution for apartment-dwellers who lack space for a full-size dishwasher, but they are HUGE in terms of a countertop appliance, and not really portable given their size and bulk. They are a great option for specific uses such as in a tiny home or an RV, or maybe if you are renting a house without a dishwasher and can't install a full-size model. I purchased mine because I'm only one person and it would take me ages to fill up a regular dishwasher, I didn't want to give up any more storage space than I had to, and I have a bit of a bad back so I can use this without having to bend all the way to the floor to open and close the lip and access the lower rack.Though it is "plug and play" with the included hose, it's very simple to permanently install. I purchased a universal stainless steel dishwasher hose kit along with the unit for the water input. At Home Depot I purchased a branch tailpiece (see photo) with a 1/2" barbed pipe and a turnbuckle hose clamp. All I had to do is use the hose kit that comes with the dishwasher, cut off the part that connects to the faucet and plug that directly into the part I bought at home depot. It was snug enough I probably didn't need the hose clamp, but added it for good measure.Why I love this model:- It holds a ton. I can fit several pots and pans, dishes, glasses, cooking utensils, etc all at the same time. I basically run the thing once a day and it can hold all the cookware and dishes I've used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.- It's higher quality than low-end dishwashers. Lower-end dishwashers of a comparable price are all plastic inside and feel cheap and crappy. For the same price, this dishwasher is steel inside and feels robust and sturdy.- It's very quiet. Again, low-end dishwashers of a similar price are very loud. You'd have to spend double or triple to get a full-sized dishwasher as quiet as this one.- It just does everything well. I've been using it every day for two months now and I've never had anything come out that was spotted or cloudy or needed a second washing - and I only give things the quickest of rinses before putting them in.If you're comparing models of compact dishwashers - just buy this one and be happy, don't agonize over comparing other models. This one is the best.

In the past, I had always heard about how dishwashers were unsanitary/wasteful/expensive/etc, and I was adamant that I never needed one. For years, I did all my dishes by hand - sure, it took hours to do, every week, but at least I *knew* it was clean, right? Fast forward to when life made me unable to do it by hand for a month, and my wife finally convinced me to get a dishwasher. (Specifically, this one, since we don't have a place to hook up a full-sized one.)Now, if it were possible to legally adopt a dishwasher, I would.This thing isn't without its flaws - it's small, so I need to run it once every day or two in order to keep up, and it's not the most powerful thing, so I still rinse off everything before putting it in...but beyond that, little Danby has saved me a truly inordinate amount of time. I know some people have complained about it breaking down easily, but at least for me, it arrived undamaged and has been working for nearly a year, running every day, without a single problem. The dishes are just as clean, too. (They might even be cleaner, given the water's way hotter than I could stand handwashing with.)I've gone from cautiously giving it just the smallest amount of easily-cleaned ceramics, to throwing pots and pans in it daily. If it fits, it just...handles it. Even if you overcrowd the little guy, so long as you don't block the detergent release, he finds a way. (Do use powder, or at least gel, by the way - detergent packs are awful at actually doing their job, and not meant for a dishwasher this small anyways.) The only things I handwash any more are some wooden things, and I couldn't be happier with the time I've saved.If you're similarly cautious about dish washers but are considering this one, I'd say go for it. That said, given this one is small, there are a few things to keep in mind:For the love of everything, don't use detergent packs. They are awful for regular dishwashers and worse for this little guy. Powder's best, gel is acceptable.It's not that powerful, so rinse things before it gets to the washer. (So long as there's not visible soiling you should be fine.)Run the water for a minute to get it warm before turning this guy on - it has a heater in it, but it takes a while to kick in, and if you remember your middle school science classes, warmer liquids can dissolve more things in them. (That means more detergent in your water, and more grime off your plates.)Keep in mind that the jets are still strong enough to, say, knock a small dipping bowl around a bit, jamming the nozzle spraying arms. It wouldn't break the machine, but it would make you redo that load. Hypothetically speaking, of course. The loading tray is laid out poorly, but you should still respect it.