anyone use a portable / countertop dishwasher?

[nageov3t]

I've been thinking about getting one -- for someone like me who wants to cook, washing dishes are the bane of my existence. it's not uncommon for me just to get take-out because I don't feel like having to hand-wash a bunch of pots, pans, and utensils.

which leads me to thinking about getting a portable dishwasher (I live in an apartment -- even if getting a built-in dishwasher was an option, I don't see a reason to spend the money when I only see myself living here for another year or two). I get that the input hooks up to the faucet, but I can't figure out where the dirty water goes. is there a second hose or something that gets dropped into the sink?

(also, anyone have any recommendations? it's just me in the apartment, more often than not, so I don't have a *ton* of dishes, but I'd like something at least big enough to fit a cookie sheet or large pan inside... though really, I'd probably be satisfied if I just never had to wash another cup or utensil again)

 

[Kaido]

My friends had one in their townhouse. Seemed to work okay, plus they could move it around when they needed to free up some space.

As far as hand-washing dishes...get yourself a Wok, some paper plates, and a box of plastic utensils. Fast 5-10 minute cooking + throw-away silverware/plates

 

[ViviTheMage]

you could probably let that dirty water go into the sink...our built in dishwasher is hooked up to that plumbing anyways.

 

[Jeff7]

If you find a cheap one, do post it here.

I found a regular in-counter dishwasher for as low as $200, but I think the portable ones started at $350 or so.

 

[JDMnAR1]

The one I used to have had a dual-purpose fitting - both the inlet and outlet hose were terminated at the same fitting, with one side being what you connected to the faucet, and the other side was where the dirty water flowed back into your sink.

 

[nageov3t]

looking at http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02211122000P ATM

not exactly cheap and probably a little more than I need, but I can at least get a year with no-interest and $100/month payments won't bust my budget.

 

[Steve]

My dad sells appliances at Sears, and he says most if not all of the countertop ones are crap.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Steve
My dad sells appliances at Sears, and he says most if not all of the countertop ones are crap.

does he have any opinions on which ones are the least crappy?

 

[PingSpike]

My parents have always had one. And I owned a small danby one when I lived in an apartment for a little while.

As mentioned by another poster, they use a fitting with two hoses...the water supply line attaches to the facet and the bottom of the fitting expels the bad water from the seperate drain hose into the sink.

I'm not sure why one would say the portable units are crap...AFAIK, they're the same things as the built in units except they have a set of wheels, a counter top and a different fitting system. On the inside...its the same thing. My built in unit just dumps drain water into the same drain pipe as the sink anyway. They are more expensive though, I think the cheapest one that we bought was $300-350...and it wasn't a full size dishwasher.

The fittings don't always match up perfect...ours had a leak and my parents has always leaked...but the small amount of water just gets dumped in the sink as its over the sink anyways.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: Steve
My dad sells appliances at Sears, and he says most if not all of the countertop ones are crap.

does he have any opinions on which ones are the least crappy?

I'll ask him about those, and about portables. I might get one too if there's a good one.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I've been thinking about getting one -- for someone like me who wants to cook, washing dishes are the bane of my existence. it's not uncommon for me just to get take-out because I don't feel like having to hand-wash a bunch of pots, pans, and utensils.

which leads me to thinking about getting a portable dishwasher (I live in an apartment -- even if getting a built-in dishwasher was an option, I don't see a reason to spend the money when I only see myself living here for another year or two). I get that the input hooks up to the faucet, but I can't figure out where the dirty water goes. is there a second hose or something that gets dropped into the sink?

(also, anyone have any recommendations? it's just me in the apartment, more often than not, so I don't have a *ton* of dishes, but I'd like something at least big enough to fit a cookie sheet or large pan inside... though really, I'd probably be satisfied if I just never had to wash another cup or utensil again)

I've only owned one and got it for the same reason as you. I loved it and kept it for years before selling it after buring a house with one built in.

The discharge water was put back into the sink. The unit I had came with two hoses (attached to one piece at the end). The first hose was the water in and the second hose was the water out.

Loved it....