Do Countertop Dishwashers Save Water? [Find Out NOW]

Originally Created on: March 23, 2023 @ 10:02 am

The introduction of countertop dishwashers has changed the lives of many people. And it can change yours too, especially if your kitchen is small.

But, do countertop dishwashers save water? You may have been thinking about purchasing a countertop dishwasher but aren’t sure about its water usage. Well, you have come to the right place.

This article helps you determine how much water a countertop dishwasher uses and whether it is efficient.

A countertop dishwasher is similar to the standard dishwashers found in most homes. The only unique features are that it is small and sits on the kitchen counter or anywhere you find convenient and easy to access.

This unit draws water from the kitchen faucet and drains it via the kitchen sink. So, it does the same cleaning job as a full-size dishwasher, only that it is more compact and uses less water.

Table of Content

Do Countertop Dishwashers Save Water?

Most manufacturers design these units to use approximately two gallons of water per cycle. So compared to the full-size dishwasher, the countertop one uses less water. Therefore, you might use less water per gallon with this dishwasher type.

Regular-sized dishwashers use three gallons per cycle, so while one gallon may not seem a lot, it is concerning if you frequently use your dishwasher.

But you need to remember that while a countertop dishwasher will save you more water, you will have to do several loads. This unit is generally small, meaning it cannot fit many dishes.

Thus, if you have more dishes, you will have to put several loads on your machine. In the long run, you may not save as much water as you may be hoping.

Some people try to save water by overfilling their dishwashers. However, this compromises their quality, so your dishes may not come out as clean.

But if your family is small, and all your dishes can fit in one load, you will enjoy the water-saving capabilities of this unit.

It’s also worth noting that sometimes hand washing may be more effective at times than using a countertop dishwasher. Experts say that handwashing can use up to 27 gallons of water at a time.

Now, compared to the countertop dishwasher that uses only 2 gallons, this is a lot of water.

However, remember that you cannot wash large pots and pans on countertop dishwashers, and if you have many dishes, you will have to go for several loads, each consuming water.

Are Countertop Dishwashers Eco-friendly?

Compared to larger machines, countertops, and dishwashers are eco-friendlier. They use less energy and are more efficient than regular dishwashers. These units can help lower your energy consumption and save on utility bills.

Generally, countertop dishwashers are less expensive to run than other types. Bear in mind that they use less water, only 2 gallons of water per cycle instead of 3 gallons of water per cycle used by regular-sized dishwashers.

Additionally, they use half the electricity used by full-sized units. Countertop dishwashers use 1800 watts of electricity for every load, with energy star-rated models even using less even though they are more expensive.

Additionally, these units use less soap compared to handwashing. Even the most careful washers cannot beat the efficiency of these units, not to mention some units can heat water themselves, so users don’t have to use your water heater.

The electric and water-saving capabilities make these units eco-friendly. It means they don’t draw lots of resources from the environment, which is good for the environment.

So, we hope that answers the question: are countertop dishwashers eco-friendly?

Are Countertop Dishwashers Worth It?

A countertop dishwasher is a worthwhile investment, even though you’ll have to sacrifice your counter space. This is a small price to pay since these units offer various benefits that you can’t ignore. Countertop dishwashers are efficient compared to handwashing.

So, are countertop dishwashers worth it? Besides reducing your water intake, they also help save your energy; therefore, having one will lower your energy and water bills.

But while saving water is great, you will be amazed by how fast these units are. It only takes less than an hour to run an entire cycle, and a heavy cycle is not more than two hours, not to mention loading and unloading are pretty quick.

Another great thing about a countertop dishwasher is that it is gentle on your dishes.

Since you connect, it draws water directly from your kitchen faucet; it gives you control of the water temperature. You may not think this is a big deal, but it is since you can use it even on delicate items by making the conditions less aggressive for them.

Therefore, you can wash your warped cutting boards and faded mugs in the dishwasher using lukewarm water and less detergent than usual.

Do Portable Dishwashers Use Less Water Than Hand Washing?

According to research, using a dishwasher nightly can save 100 gallons of water compared to handwashing, which means you save 5000 gallons yearly.

But interestingly, some users believe a dishwasher uses more water than hand washing. Remember that you will have to clean your dishwasher with the same amount of water you will use for two minutes of handwashing.

Do portable dishwashers use less water than hand washing? The short answer is yes; the long answer is that it depends. When washing your dishes with your hands, you will use a sinkful of water, change the water frequently and even add more hot water to keep your dishes clean; you’ll also have to rinse your dishes with running water.

But when using a dishwasher, the water inside cleans and rinses the utensils without needing a change or top-up; plus, some models are designed to heat the water, ensuring that the dishes come out clean.

Handwashing can use approximately 27 gallons of water, while a portable dishwasher uses around three gallons. But the problem is not all dishes can be washed in a dishwasher, and some models are too small to accommodate many utensils.

Therefore, you have to wash some dishes by hand or do several loads, which could mean using more water.

Does a Portable Dishwasher Use More Water?

Portable dishwashers use more water compared to countertop dishwashers. The latter uses 2 gallons of water, while the first one uses 3 gallons of water per load. So, going with this information, a portable dishwasher uses more water.

However, it all depends on how many dishes you can wash. While you can save a gallon of water per load with a countertop dishwasher, it can only wash four place settings, making a portable dishwasher the best choice.

But, compared to an in-built dishwasher, the two units use the same amount of water, approximately 4.2 gallons per load. And when compared to handwashing which uses 27 gallons of water, a portable dishwasher uses less water. So does a portable dishwasher use more water?

The answer depends on what you are comparing it to. If you compare it to handwashing, then it uses less water. But if you compare it to a countertop dishwasher, it uses more water.

Conclusion

We hope we have answered the question: do countertop dishwashers save water? If saving water is your main priority, any dishwasher is better than no dishwasher.

We recommend buying a countertop dishwasher if your space is limited, your family is small, or you travel frequently.