Tired of the endless pile of dishes in your sink? Imagine finishing dinner and having a sparkling clean kitchen without ever touching a sponge. That sounds great, right? Many people dream of this, especially those living in apartments or homes without built-in dishwashers. Choosing the perfect portable dishwasher can feel overwhelming, though. You face a confusing maze of sizes, features, and prices. Which one fits your space? Which one actually cleans well?
Don’t let dish duty steal your free time! This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down everything you need to know about portable dishwashers. You will learn exactly what features matter most for your lifestyle. By the end, you will feel confident choosing the best machine for your needs.
Ready to reclaim your counter space and enjoy spotless dishes with minimal effort? Let’s dive in and find the perfect portable partner for your kitchen cleanup!
Top Portable Dishwashers Recommendations
Bestseller No. 1
EUHOMY Countertop Dishwasher Portable with 6 Programs, 5L Built-in Water Tank for Apartments & RV, 167℉ High-Temp, No Hookup Needed, Mini Dishwasher with Baby Care, Air Dry/Quick/ECO/Fruit/Normal Mode
- 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Euhomy Portable Countertop Dishwasher: Compact yet powerful, measuring just 16.83 x 16.73 x 18.03 inches. Its spacious interior efficiently cleans over 30 items at once, including plates up to 10.25 inches. Holds: 4 Plates, 4 Small Plates, 4 Small Cups, 4 Bowls, 2 Glasses, and 7 sets of Forks, Knives, and Spoons. Includes added convenience with a dedicated cutlery holder, a fruit basket, and a kettle. The perfect space-saving solution for homes, apartments, dorms, boats, and RVs
- 𝐍𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝: Our Euhomy countertop dishwasher offers two water supply options: tank mode and faucet mode. In Tank Mode, simply fill the built-in 5L (1.32-Gallon) reservoir—the automatic water level indicator tells you when it's perfectly filled and ready to clean. Use Faucet Mode by attaching the included inlet hose directly to your kitchen tap for a continuous supply of water. With dual modes, this compact dishwasher offers effortless operation and adapts to any kitchen setup—no permanent installation required
- 𝟔 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬: The Euhomy compact dishwasher boasts 6 programs for your family: Normal, Quick, ECO, Baby Care/Heavy Duty, and Fruit, Dry. The Quick offers a 29 minutes fast wash. While the Baby Care/ Strong mode of our mini dishwasher operates at a scorching 167°F, ensuring baby products and greasy dishes are thoroughly rinsed. The dishwasher also features a dual spray arm system that provides 360° cleaning, ensuring thorough washing of accessories—even pet bowls, collars, leashes, and more. Customized cleaning is easy with this versatile dishwasher
- 𝟑-𝐢𝐧-𝟏 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Not just a sideboard and compact dishwasher, but also a dish dryer. The Euhomy dishwasher provides 60 minutes of hot air drying followed by 73 hours of automatic ventilation after each wash, keeping your dishes free from unpleasant odors. *The drying mode can be used with any wash cycle except Fruit mode, and it can also operate independently
- 𝐄𝐜𝐨-𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: This compact dishwasher saves up to 80% water compared to handwashing. Its 5L (1.32-gallon) water tank can handle multiple cleaning operations. Certified by ETL and DOE for safety, quality, and energy-saving performance, it also comes with a 1-year warranty. We're always here to help with any questions!
Bestseller No. 2
NOVETE Portable Countertop Dishwashers, Compact Dishwashers with 5L Built-in Water Tank & Inlet Hose, 5 Washing Programs, Baby Care, Air-Dry Function and LED Light for Small Apartments
- 【SMALL SIZE, LARGE CAPACITY】This portable dishwasher only measures 16.9 x 16.8 x 18.1 inches, but holds 4 full place settings and fits up to 12" dishes loaded at an angle, easily meeting daily needs for a family of 3-4; the double-layer design offers enough space for 4 x serving bowls, 4 x cups, 4 x small plates, 4 x dinner plates, 7 x spoons, 7 x forks and 7 x knives; perfect for small-sized houses, apartments, dorms, boats, and campers/RVs
- 【NO INSTALLATION NEEDED】This countertop dishwasher supports 2 water supply modes, including a faucet mode and water tank mode; a built-in 5 L water tank allows instant use when fully filled. The automatic water level indicator lets you know when the correct water level has been reached; to use the faucet mode, simply connect the water inlet hose to the machine and faucet
- 【BABY CARE MODE】This compact dishwasher offers 5 wash cycles - Normal, Speed, Soft, Baby Care/Heavy, and Fruit; the Baby Care/Heavy mode with 167 °F washing temperature is suitable for baby products and oily tableware, which rinses them thoroughly and gives glassware a sparkling clean finish
- 【3-IN-1 FUNCTION】Featuring a Dry mode, this machine is equipped with the features of a dishwasher, dryer, and cabinet, making taking care of your dishes and glassware a breeze; 60 minutes of hot air drying will automatically start after the wash cycle is finished, keeping your dishes dry and odorless; 72 hours of automatic ventilation stores your tableware in sanitary condition, providing clean dishes whenever you need them
- 【FULLY EQUIPPED】The storage rack and cutlery basket make it easy to clean ''top rack only'' dishwasher safe items such as knives, forks, and spoons, leaving more space for dishes and small pots; lower and upper spray arms give dishes a streak-free deep cleaning, and the included fruit basket stores fruits and vegetables neatly and cleans them
Bestseller No. 3
COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher, Energy Star Portable Dishwasher, 6 Place Settings & 8 Washing Programs, Speed, Baby-Care, ECO& Glass, Dish Washer for Dorm, RV& Apartment, Black
- 6 Place Setting- A perfect size (H17.2″×W21.6″×D19.7″) for 2-3 people, COMFEE’ compact dishwasher is suitable for dorms, RVs, and apartments. This countertop dishwasher can fit up to 70 pieces of tableware and has a plate size of up to 10 inches in diameter. Note: COMFEE dishwashers are tested at the factory before they are shipped. If your new dishwasher has some water inside, this is normal.
- Simple Installation- COMFEE' portable dishwasher can be connected to faucet directly (Suitable adaptor needed). Depending on your needs, it can be flexibly placed on the table or fitted in the cupboard.
- 8 Washing Cycles- Most of the cleaning cycles, including Heavy, Normal, Baby-Care, ECO, Glass, and Speed, helped with extra-drying function, and deliver sparklingly cleaned and dried dishes. Three more cleaning options, including Speed, Mini-party, and Rinse, are designed for COMFEE' compact dishwasher, providing high flexibility for you to choose in different situations.
- Heavy Program- Heavily soiled dishes are cleaned evenly with 12 washing nozzles, accompanied with 360° spiral spray wash to ensure complete washing of all the dishes from all angles. Also, high water temperature, which is up to 154℉, together with high water pressure, offer you the best cleaning towards the most stubborn stains.
- Speed Program- Only takes you 45 minutes to get all dishes cleaned, perfect for hurry-up situations, like holding a multi-round party. Accompanied with Energy Star compliant, water consumption can be as low as 2.77 gallons of water, which greatly saves your costs.
Bestseller No. 4
COMFEE' Portable Mini Dishwasher Countertop with 5L Built-in Water Tank for Apartments& RVs, No Hookup Needed, 6 Programs, 360° Dual Spray, 162℉ High-Temp& Air-Dry Function
- Please make sure the distance between your countertop and wall cupboard is more than 19.6" 【No installation needed】: Adding water manually in the 5L built-in water tank, you can put the dishwasher in any suitable place without connecting to tap water. Or it can be hooked to the kitchen faucet directly with the included water hose (Adapter included).Water pressure : 0.04 - 1.0MPa.
- [ Ultra-compact Design]: The ultra-compact design allows the dishwasher to wash 30+ items（Max to 9.5-inch plates) at a time while occupying a small area, which is ideal for small houses, apartments, dorms, boats, and campers/RVs.
- [ 6 Program Options ]: NORMAL, RAPID, STEAM, FRUIT, GLASS washing programs, and AIR REFRESH extra drying mode meet all your daily needs. Note: Use the standard dishwasher powders or detergents because regular liquid dish soap will cause dishwasher problems. (No detergent is needed for the FRUIT program, and RAPID just needs half of the standard quantity. )
- [ 192 ℉ HIGH-TEMP HYGIENE ]: The HYGIENE wash cycle boosts water temperature to 162 ℉ Rinsing and Max to 192 ℉ which can tackle even the heaviest soiled dishes and is also suitable for cleaning baby bottles and children’s dinner sets.
- [ Extra Drying & Stay Fresh ]: Circulation of AIR REFRESH removes moisture and odor, keeping your plates and machine dry and fresh for a long time. The function is enabled by default and you can also inactivate the function if unnecessary.
Bestseller No. 5
Dishwasher Tabletop dishwasher Portable Small fully automatic dishwasher with four wash modes plus drying and sterilizing modes Can be connected to the tap and filled manually
- The countertop dishwasher makes your life more convenient. The fully automatic dishwasher saves you the trouble of washing dirty dishes by hand every day. As long as there is at least 19.88 inches (about 49 centimeters) of space between the countertop and the upper cabinet, it can be easily placed in any small kitchen. It is suitable for various scenarios such as apartments, RVs, restaurants and offices.
- This portable dishwasher measures 16.14*18.11*18.11 inches (width×depth×height) and can hold 8 sets of tableware, 8 plates and 8 bowls. While washing chopsticks and dishes, it can also clean coffee cups, small pots, bowls, and other utensils, offering diverse functions.
- This mini dishwasher offers 4 washing programs and drying function: Quick Wash (29 minutes), Standard Wash (70 minutes), Heavy Wash (120 minutes), Fruit and Vegetable Wash (15 minutes, no heating required), and Drying and Disinfection (120 minutes). The dual high-pressure spray arms ensure that the tableware is thoroughly cleaned in a 360-degree all-round manner.
- This dishwasher can not only clean tableware, but also wash fruits and vegetables. After cleaning, you can use the drying function to keep the tableware dry and odor-free. The high temperature and PTC hot air are suitable for cleaning baby products and greasy tableware, making the tableware as shiny as new.
- This compact dishwasher does not require installation and supports two water supply methods. The first method is to connect to the faucet. Just connect the machine to the faucet, turn on the faucet, and it will automatically fill and drain water. The second method is to use the included small bucket to pour in 5000 milliliters of water, and it will automatically start cleaning.
Bestseller No. 6
SD-9263SSC: 18″ Portable Dishwasher with ENERGY STAR – Stainless Steel
- Capacity: 8 place setting
- 6 Wash programs: Heavy, Normal, Eco, Glass, 90 Min, Rapid
- Rinse Aid Warning Indicator: refill reminder on rinse aid
- Stainless Steel Interior
- Time Delay Feature: allows you to program operation at a later start time (1-24 hours)
Bestseller No. 7
SPT SD-9263SS 18″ Wide Portable Stainless Steel Dishwasher with ENERGY STAR, 6 Wash Programs, 8 Place Settings and Stainless Steel Tub
- package height : 111.76 cm
- package length : 91.44 cm
- package width : 91.44 cm
- Product type : DISHWASHER
- Sunpentown offers hundreds of products in a wide range of categories: air quality, refrigeration, lighting, sanitary, massage and dishwasher
Bestseller No. 8
BLACK+DECKER 18” Portable Dishwasher, Compact Dish Washer with 8-Place Setting Capacity, Stainless Steel Tub, 6 Wash Programs, Worktop Space, Mobile Dishwasher with Casters, Faucet Connect, White
- IMPRESSIVE CAPACITY: This 18” portable dishwasher thoroughly cleans up to 8 place settings in each wash cycle. Your dinner plates, cups, saucers, bowls and utensils will stay dirt-free and sparkling thanks to this durable stainless steel (16.3” x 20.5” x 26.15”) tub. Silverware basket included so your forks, knives and spoons remain immaculate. This portable dishwasher on wheels does the scrubbing for you with an adjustable top rack to accommodate taller dishes.
- EASY SETUP: No need for direct plumbing or permanent installation with this portable dishwashing machine. The Quick Connect assembly links right to your faucet with a 59” hose. Interior spray arms located in the upper and lower part of small dishwasher with a hot water temperature of 140° Fahrenheit. Child lock guarantees optimal safety when dishwasher machine is on.
- MULTIPLE WASH CYCLES: This BLACK+DECKER portable dish washer comes with 6 superior wash cycles: Heavy, Normal, ECO, Glass, 90-min & Rapid. An easy-to-read LED display with trouble-free push button allows you to begin cleaning in no time. Fully equipped with detergent dispenser and low rise aid indicator. Delay Start function allows you to wash plates, utensils, bowls and cups with the touch of your fingertips and on your own schedule.
- WORKTOP VERSATILITY: When your dish washer isn’t scrubbing your favorite dishes, it can double as a trendy kitchen island and worktop counter. When not in use, make the most of this stainless steel dishwasher by utilizing it to store kitchen appliances or even as a culinary work station.
- WORKTOP VERSATILITY: When your dish washer isn’t scrubbing your favorite dishes, it can double as a trendy kitchen island and worktop counter. When not in use, make the most of this stainless steel dishwasher by utilizing it to store kitchen appliances or even as a culinary work station.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Portable Dishwashers
Portable dishwashers offer a great solution for apartments, RVs, or homes without built-in plumbing. Choosing the right one makes dish duty much easier. This guide helps you find the perfect machine for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, focus on these important features. They make a big difference in how well your dishwasher works.
Capacity and Size
- Place Settings: Check how many dishes it holds. Smaller units hold 4-6 place settings, good for one or two people. Larger ones hold 8-10, better for small families.
- Footprint: Measure your counter space. Make sure the unit fits neatly without blocking your sink access.
Cleaning Power and Cycles
- Wash Cycles: Look for at least three cycles: Normal, Heavy (for baked-on food), and Quick (for lightly soiled items).
- Water Temperature: Higher temperatures clean better. Some models offer a sanitize cycle, which is great for baby bottles.
Connection Types
- Faucet Connection: Most portable models connect directly to your kitchen faucet using an adapter. Ensure the adapter fits your faucet style.
- Water Inlet/Drain Hoses: Check the length of the hoses. Longer hoses give you more flexibility on where you place the unit.
Noise Level
Dishwashers make noise. Look for models rated under 60 decibels (dB). Lower numbers mean quieter operation. This is important if you have an open-concept living space.
Important Materials and Durability
The materials used affect how long your dishwasher lasts and how well it cleans.
Interior Tub Material
- Stainless Steel: This material lasts a long time. It handles high heat well and resists staining. It is often found in higher-quality machines.
- Plastic: Plastic tubs are lighter and cheaper. They work fine, but they might not last as long as steel tubs.
Spray Arms
Better dishwashers use strong spray arms, often made of stainless steel or durable plastic. These arms must spray water effectively into every corner of the tub. Poorly made arms break easily or clog up.
Factors Affecting Quality and Performance
Some things make a dishwasher perform better, while others reduce its quality.
Factors That Improve Quality:
- Drying Method: Models using heat or condensation drying clean better than those using only air drying.
- Filtration System: Good filters catch large food particles. This keeps the spray nozzles from clogging. You must clean the filter regularly, though.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Water Pressure Dependence: If the machine relies too much on your home’s water pressure, cleaning results will vary wildly.
- Cheap Plastic Components: Thin plastic parts break down faster, especially when exposed to hot water and detergent.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about where and how you will use the dishwasher.
Ideal Use Cases:
- Apartment Living: Perfect for renters who cannot install a permanent machine.
- Small Gatherings: Great for quickly cleaning dishes after hosting a small dinner party.
- Supplemental Cleaning: Some people use them alongside a full-sized unit to handle overflow during holidays.
Ease of Use:
Loading the racks should be intuitive. Can you easily fit plates, bowls, and silverware? Also, check the control panel. Simple buttons and clear indicators make operation much smoother.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Portable Dishwashers
Q: How does a portable dishwasher connect to the sink?
A: You attach a quick-connect adapter onto your kitchen faucet spout. Then, you snap the inlet hose from the dishwasher onto that adapter before starting the cycle. The drain hose usually hangs over the sink edge.
Q: Do I need special plumbing for these units?
A: No. That is the main benefit! They use your existing faucet for water intake and drain directly into the sink basin.
Q: Are portable dishwashers energy efficient?
A: Generally, yes. They use less water per load than handwashing the same amount of dishes. Look for Energy Star ratings if efficiency is a top concern.
Q: How much counter space does a portable unit take up?
A: Most standard models are about 22 inches wide. They need enough countertop space to sit flush against the wall or backsplash.
Q: Can I use regular dishwasher detergent?
A: Yes, you should use standard dishwasher detergent, either pods, powder, or gel. Do not use dish soap meant for handwashing, as it creates too many suds.
Q: Will a portable dishwasher clean tough, baked-on food?
A: Good models with heavy-duty cycles and high-temperature options will clean most baked-on messes. However, heavily soiled pots might still need a little pre-scraping.
Q: How often do I need to drain the water manually?
A: You never drain them manually. The machine pumps the dirty water out automatically through the drain hose into your sink.
Q: Are these machines noisy?
A: Noise varies a lot. Look for models under 60 dB for quiet operation. Very cheap models can be quite loud during the wash and drain cycles.
Q: Can I store the hoses when the dishwasher is not in use?
A: Most units are designed so you can roll up the hoses and store them behind or on top of the unit when it is parked against the wall.
Q: Do portable dishwashers have internal water heaters?
A: Some larger, more expensive portable models have small internal heaters. Many standard models rely on the hot water coming from your kitchen tap to reach the correct washing temperature.