Best Small Tiny House Dishwashers

A dishwasher makes everyday cleanup after meals faster and far easier. You no longer have to concern yourself with scrubbing all that oil and grime away from your dishes by hand. However, for tiny house owners, dishwashers often feel like nothing more than a pipe dream. That’s because dishwashers are, well… usually pretty big.

Appliances are always a tough issue to tackle with tiny house ownership. Being able to fit all of the necessary equipment into a limited space can present a whole host of logistical issues. That is why it is always crucial to find appliances that can work well, and fit within the restrictions of a tiny house.

Luckily, in the case of dishwashers, that can be a possibility with countertop tiny house dishwashers. Below we will take a look at how to find and choose a small dishwasher for tiny house use.

But first, let’s discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of a countertop dishwasher for tiny houses.

The Pros and Cons of Countertop Dishwashers

As a general rule, countertop dishwashers can make tiny house ownership a whole lot easier. This is because many tiny house owners forgot dishwashers entirely due to their bulk and lack of real necessity. However, that doesn’t mean that tiny house owners should have to sacrifice luxury and comfort in the name of saving on space.

Countertop dishwashers for tiny houses are a great solution to this problem. They are generally cost effective, compact, and they can fit into virtually any tiny living space. This alone makes them well worth the cost investment for many tiny house owners.

The only main drawback for countertop dishwashers is the fact that they have a very small load capacity. In general, you are only going to be able to fit one or maybe two meals worth of dishes into them per load–depending on size of course. For many this can be a bit of a bummer, especially for those who feed families as opposed to just themselves.

However, that tiny drawback is still rather insignificant when you consider how fast they can make cleanup after meals.

One great advantage for countertop dishwashers is their portability. They can be positioned almost anywhere within a tiny house, and they can be permanently installed if you so choose. Some of them have permanent water hookups, and some of them connect to a kitchen or bathroom faucet. Some even have water tanks that allow you to fill them before a load as you see fit.

This optionality and versatility allows homeowners to get whatever they want out of their countertop dishwasher. If they want it to be a permanent fixture in the kitchen counter space, that is doable. If they wish to store it away when not in use, that can be done too. The choices are yours, and can be as flexible as you are.

The Best Small Dishwashers

Let’s take a quick look at some unique options for tiny house owners in the small dishwasher department. Below are just a few different models that can give you an idea about what options, designs, and features are possible with small dishwashers.

SPT SD-2225DW Compact Tiny House Dishwasher

The SPT compact countertop dishwasher is the quintessential countertop dishwasher in many ways. With its sleek design and simple interface, it resembles a full sized dishwasher in mini form. This is a great opinion for those who still value the aesthetics of their appliances, and want something that won’t look like an eyesore on the counter.

Some of the notable features are:

• Time delayed start, which allows you to determine when you want your dishwasher to begin its cycle
• LED display
• Iron chassis
• Indicator features that display water levels, and rinse cycles

Danby DDW621WDB Tiny House Dishwasher

Danby is a well known and well respected home appliance manufacturer. With decades in the business, you can be sure to get a great product with their countertop dishwasher. This small dishwasher has a surprisingly large inner cavity that can hold a decent sized load when compared to the competition. Pair that with the sleek all white design, and you have yourself a little dishwasher that can meet all of your needs, no problem!

Some of the notable features are:

• 6 wash cycle settings which include normal, glass, rapid, economy, soak, and intensive
• Spacious silverware basket and 6 place settings in the drawer
• LED display

BLACK+DECKER BCD6W Tiny House Dishwasher

BLACK+ DECKER doesn’t only make hand drills and power tools. They are well regarded for their home appliances as well. Their small dishwasher is a gorgeous appliance that comes with tons of amazing features that make it stand out.

However, one of the main reasons why tiny house owners love this little dishwasher is the design. The gorgeous black and white design makes this dishwasher look modern, sleek, and luxurious on any countertop.

Some of the notable features are:

• 7 wash cycle settings which include normal, glass, 90 minute, intensive, rapid, soak, and eco
• Child lock for safety
• LED display paired with electronic touch control panel

Farberware Professional FCD06ABBWHA Tiny House Dishwasher

The Farberware professional compact countertop dishwasher is a unique little dishwasher. It stands out on this list as something completely different, mainly because of its multi functional use.

It comes with a 5L tank which can be filled before each load, or it can be permanently installed via the water hookups. This means that this little dishwasher can be perfect for any tiny house, even mobile tiny houses. It doesn’t need running water constantly to make it work and clean!

Some of the notable features are:

• Lightweight and portable design
• 5L tank capacity
• Cutlery rack
• Child safety locks
• Ultra quiet washing cycle

Farberware FDW05ASBWHA Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher

Here is another slightly different take on the small dishwasher design. This portable dishwasher by Farberware actually offers a bit of flexibility to consumers that the others might not have. The unit itself gives you the choice to fill the built-in tank so you don’t need a water hookup. Water hose is included for a direct water hookup to kitchen faucet. This sleek little dishwasher is the smallest in capacity on this list, but still comes in an incredibly compact chassis for tiny house living.

Some of the notable features are:

• Baby Care cleaning cycle can be used to sanitize baby bottle
• The Rapid cycle lets you get items clean in only 40 minutes 
• Nice, modern design
• Fruit basket is included so fruit and vegetables can be cleaned
• Energy efficient annual 130 kW/hours power setting

What To Know When Buying A Small Dishwasher

Now that we have had the chance to take a look at some various small dishwasher models, let’s talk about what you need to know before buying. Every tiny house owner’s needs and situation will be different. That is why it is important to note the key features and aspects of portable dishwashers by model.

Tiny house owners who value portability and storage will need to consider the capability of their dishwasher to do just that. For example, smaller models such as the Farberware can be placed or installed inside of a cabinet. This will save on counter space and cut down on clutter.

In addition, larger models can be installed into cabinets as well, but in a more permanent way.

Aside from portability and size, countertop dishwashers aren’t much different from standard dishwashers. They can be run overnight or set on time delays, they can last for years if properly maintained, and they can clean off some of the most stubborn food gunk and crust.

The best part about small dishwashers is that you don’t have to feel like you are sacrificing anything–aside from size–when you buy one.

However, before buying, you will still need to decide what you expect the dishwasher to do for you. You should weigh how valuable portability, design, features, and functionality are to you. Each dishwasher mentioned above brings something unique to the table (or counter), and can fit into different and niche needs. Much like being a tiny house owner is unique in and of itself, your dishwasher should also be unique and specific to you.

Final Thoughts

Tiny house living might be about downsizing and living simply, but that doesn’t mean that you have to live without basic luxuries. If you have decided that having a dishwasher is a must for you, then you can rest assured knowing that you have tons of options for your tiny house kitchen.

Small countertop dishwashers are mighty cleaners with small bodies. Much like your tiny house, they can fit a lot of efficiency and power inside them!