Tableware Tetris and flooding – I love my mini dishwasher

I admit I was very sceptical at first. I hesitated for weeks before I actually ordered it. Do I really need a countertop dishwasher just because I’m too lazy to do the dishes? The dishes being plates and cups for just one person? Hmmm... But the mountains of tableware in my kitchen sink convinced me that, in fact, that’s exactly what I need. So I decided to buy a small kitchen appliance that was to bring me great joy: «Dishy», as I affectionately call it. In other words: a dishwasher for people who don’t have space for a real dishwasher.

The thing with restricted space

I live in an old apartment in Hamburg. For those who don’t know what that means: my kitchen and bathroom are small – or, let’s face it, tiny. Especially the bathroom. There’s only one undermount slot with a water connection in my kitchen unit. And as I’m already stepping on my own toes in my tiny bathroom, the washing machine’s in the kitchen – occupying the aforementioned undermount slot. There’s no space left for a standard-sized dishwasher with a width of 60 or 45 centimetres.

The solution: Dishy

At 46 × 42 × 43 centimetres, my lifesaver’s as large as a medium-sized Galaxus parcel and sits on the kitchen counter. It fits perfectly in an unused niche and isn’t in the way at all. The mini dishwasher doesn’t need a water connection or drain. It’s equipped with a five-litre tank that I fill with cold water before each wash cycle. The dirty water flows through a hose into the sink. Once the machine’s finished, I simply stick the hose to the wall tiles with a suction cup. My countertop dishwasher offers six programmes – from a quick cycle for glass to intensive cycle for burnt-in food. After the wash cycle, Dishy dries the dishes. It’s simple and does exactly what I need it to.

The exact countertop dishwasher I have isn’t available on Galaxus, but plenty of similar models by other manufacturers are.

Dishwashers

Medion MD 37217 table dishwasher, energy efficiency class

16

Dishwashers

Daan Tech Bob

Dishwashers

Daan Tech Bob white/silver dishwasher

10

Dishwashers

Medion MD 37217 table dishwasher, energy efficiency class

16

Dishwashers

Daan Tech Bob

Dishwashers

Daan Tech Bob white/silver dishwasher

10

Tableware Tetris at its best

There’s a sticker on the dishwasher that indicates how to load it. Spoiler alert – that way doesn’t work for my dishes. The cutlery basket’s in the way and my coffee mugs are too tall. I’ve developed my own loading technique, which is a bit like playing tableware Tetris. With my technique, Dishy fits more dishes than expected. Tupperware and small glasses sit on top of bowls; lids squeeze in on the sides. As long as the door can be closed, everything’s fine. And despite illegal freestyle stacking, all the dishes come out clean.

(Risk of) flooding

Let’s move on to a less pleasing feature: the drain hose. Or more precisely, my lack of remembering to put it away where it belongs. If I forget to guide it into the sink, which has happened twice, the waste water floods my kitchen tops. Trust me, it’s a huge mess. Imagine five litres of greasy dirty water pouring over the countertop and into all drawers and cupboards. On the bright side, that forces me to give everything a thorough clean from time to time. But it’s annoying nonetheless.

Liquid dishwasher detergent

As a mini dishwasher is, of course, smaller than a full-sized one, it also requires less detergent. Unfortunately, the industry’s been ignoring this gap in the market so far. In the beginning, I tried to cut regular tabs in half, which often ended in a crumbly mess. Then I discovered liquid dishwashing detergent. A blessing for Dishy! It’s easy to dose and guaranteed to dissolve during the wash cycle – something tabs never did. I use a detergent by Somat. It’s effective and requires no additional rinse aid or salt. On top, I only need very little of it, so one bottle easily lasts me four months.

Dishwashing detergents

Somat Excellence

Gel

5

Dishwashing detergents

Somat Excellence

Gel

5

Underfloor wash

Just like its larger siblings, the mini dishwasher’s equipped with a sieve and a grate that catch larger bits of food. I give these two parts a thorough clean every few weeks to keep them from smelling. All I need to do is remove and wash them off. I also wipe the inside walls of the dishwasher with kitchen cleaner from time to time. This might not be necessary, but it’s a sign of appreciation towards my beloved Dishy.

Energy consumption

Get ready for some bad news. Of course, a mini dishwasher is anything but energy efficient. My appliance has energy class G – the worst one. Shame on me. Nevertheless, I think I’m saving water by no longer washing up by hand once or twice a day and not pre-rinsing the dishes. And my water bill confirms this: it’s lowered from 70 Euro to 40 Euro per year since I got my little kitchen helper. This might be a coincidence, but it might not. In addition, the hot water in my apartment runs via a flow heater (remember, it’s an old building). In other words, washing up by hand requires electricity, too. As you can see, you can talk yourself into anything if your love is big enough.

My verdict? I like my countertop dishwasher, even though it wasn’t love at first sight. But with a little time and patience, we warmed to each other. And now I wouldn’t want to go without it, that’s for sure.

What’s the dishwasher situation like in your kitchen? Would you buy a Dishy? Let me know in the comments!