I live in an apartment that has no dishwasher. Building was built in the early 60s when dishwashers weren't standard, and in spite of renovations, the kitchen layout doesn't accommodate a built-in.
After three years, and encroaching arthritis attacking my hands, I dreaded dishwashing about ten times more than I ever did. Thus, for the first time in my life, dishes stacked up in the sink. Drove me insane to have dirty dishes, but the pain of doing them was too overwhelming sometimes.
You can do plastic/paper to an extent, and then again I don't want to keep contributing to the landfills with disposable stuff.
After a LOT of research on counter top dishwashers, and reading a ton of reviews, I hit "purchase" on this one. The brand is solid, and then again namely because of it's water reservoir option. You can attach a hose to the faucet, if you want. But that reservoir option was what tipped me to the purchase. I just couldn't imagine my poor elderly hands trying to attach and unattach that hose to the faucet with every cycle.
I have not regretted it one bit. I've been using it about two months now and I'm still excited about it lol
It's also very quiet (unless you stack dishes wrong and one rattles around in there lol). I love love love the light feature (that goes out after a few minutes) because it helps you see if you stacked things correctly to get maximum water attack! I have mine just to the right of the kitchen sink and it fits perfectly. I can't stress enough to measure measure measure. Mine has left about 1" gap at the top, so if I had not measured three or four times, I might have been trying to figure out another option in the placement, and there aren't a lot of options in my tiny kitchen.
You do have to make sure you have access to that "hole" in the top if you want to use the reservoir. If you are putting it under a cupboard, this is particularly important. What I did was turn mine sideways, so the front of it is facing the sink. This way I have access to the 'hole' for adding water.
I'm 66 year old lady with arthritis and I was able to lift it to my kitchen counter. That surprised me!
The instructions are perfectly clear, no engineering degree required! It's pretty danged simple to figure out :D
So here is how it goes: Because it is a small counter top appliance, you plan out how you are going to load what needs washing. It has a "silverware" tray that hovers near the roof, and I found it not a good option for more than four pieces of silverware. I just put the silver on the bottom, careful to place it where it won't slide through the rack during the cycle. Everything is rinsed well before putting it in.
It holds surprising amount of dishes! I'm single, so not generating a bunch of dishes. I've even been able to do large colanders, cutting boards, a number of my pots/pans, air fryer basket, my Ninja blender container/parts, and all kinds of casserole dishes, cake pans, pie plates etc. Not all at the same time, silly lol
So, it's loaded. Put detergent in, close the lid. TURN IT ON (this is important lol!) As the manufacturer says, I unplug it in between uses, so I have to plug it in and turn it on. Oh, and the manufacturer does not recommend detergent pods, and I can tell you it's because they may not dissolve all the way. Bummer.
One other bit: I assumed the dishwasher would come with a sample size of detergent. It did not. So my first use, I'm looking for my expected sample, and nada. So I had to run to the store to get some. You will be using about a tablespoon of liquid (use liquid, not powder) each cycle, so no need for Costco sizes lol
There is a supplied pitcher for the water, and while instructions state it is three containers in the reservoir, I've had to use four each time. So, take the plug off the top and fill the container with water, and pour it in the hole on top. The machine will give a happy little beep! beep! when you reach the capacity needed. That beep made me smile the first time lol. What can I say, easily entertained :D. It's also why you need to make sure it's ON before adding water. Otherwise, the beep will be silenced I think.
Hit start. Now right here was where I had a panic moment when I used it the first two times. The interior light comes on, but there is no water. WHAT?? Where is the water?? Oh no, it doesn't work and I have to ship this back???
No. It's fine. It takes one to two minutes for the water to go from the reservoir you poured into, into the parts and sprayers the machine needs. So while it may appear to not work, after one to two minutes, it gives a delightful little gurgle, with the light still on, and off it goes! Yay!! With the little bluish light, you get to see all the action going on in there! I admit, I watched it the first few times lol.
There is a bigger sprayer arm on the bottom, and it gets serious. There is a lot of power in that arm! It hits the roof and all the dishes in between! There is also a tiny rotating sprayer on the roof, and it seems to be mostly for the silverware tray that is up there in that neighborhood. But it doesn't really reach much except the first two pieces. This is the ONLY thing I don't like about this machine, is the little---not even a sprayer. it's like a little disk that just spins (not every time) and has water that spurts out. No real dishwashing action happening there, most of it is from the bottom sprayer. So make sure your dishes are facing that bottom direction for maximum squeaky clean!
FYI, you cannot stop the machine by opening the door if you forget something. I mean, you can, if you hit the right button sequence at the right moment. But don't do it. Just wait till the next go-round to wash that one coffee cup you left in the bathroom yesterday. It confuses the machine if you do that and you want a happy, stress free, appliance. Right? You do, right? Don't interrupt the cycle. The machine gets anxiety if you do and may decide it doesn't like you anymore. Don't do it.
Or do it anyway, what the heck! You can buy a new one!
It has a few functions, and the one that cracks me up is "Fruit" lmao. It provides a colander type bowl that you are expected to put your fruit into, and put it in the dishwasher. Huh? Who, I beg of you, WHO puts fruit in the dishwasher??? Well, I recently saw a YouTube video of someone who was cleaning their toilet seats (yes,toilet seats) in the dishwasher, so I imagine someone is fruiting the dishwasher somewhere lol. I tossed the fruit bowl. Over and done. But the fruit function is short 20 minute cycle, so if you have something you want done fairly quickly (more sterilization), use the "Fruit" button lol.
It has an "air refresh" button that is meant to dry the interior, to keep moist at bay and prevent mildew I guess. I haven't used it. I have a small magnet I put between the door and the frame that leaves it cracked about 1/4 " and that allows it air refreshing and dries the interior just fine.
It has a quick wash button, and a normal wash button. I use the normal wash generally. When you use that button the display will show how much time it will take to finish. It's approx two hours. Works for me!
I have the hose draining into my kitchen sink. Originally I had it going into a bucket below the dishwasher because the hose was very stiff and not easy to handle. But after a half dozen cycles, it was nice and soft, and I could move it to drain in the sink. When the cycle is done, you do want to pick that hose up and make sure the last quarter cup or so of water has drained out. Mildew and all.
It's a delightful machine, super easy to use, takes up very little space and has been majorly life enhancing for me! I had mostly stopped cooking due to not dealing with dishes, and was eating way too many things like canned soup and other prepared foods. With this doing the dishes for me, I'm back to cooking whenever I want! I'm also making smoothies almost daily now I don't have to try and wash that Ninja with it's blades and top with more crevices than Mt Everest. Way over-engineered for maximum annoyance, when you don't have a dishwasher!
Love love love this little powerhouse machine! Do it! Buy it! You won't regret it! And you don't have to hook it to the faucet! Major bonus feature!
| Form Factor | Countertop |
|---|---|
| Handle Type | Integrated |
| Model Name | 5-Liter Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher |
| Item Weight | 36.38 Pounds |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Cycle Options | Normal, Rapid |
| Recommended Uses For Product | small kitchens, apartments, RVs, boats, camping trips, cleaning dishes, baby bottles, glassware, fruits and vegetables |
| Style | 2-Place Setting |
| Display Type | LED |
| Energy Consumption | 1.3E+2 Kilowatt Hours |
| Number of settings | 5 |
| Water Consumption | 5 Liters |
| Option Cycles | 5 |
| Operating Frequency | 60 Hz |
| Inner Material | Plastic |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00815658024489 |
| Manufacturer | Farberware |
| Dishwasher Basket Material | Plastic |
| Dishwasher Rack Material | Plastic |
| UPC | 815658024489 |
| Brand Name | Farberware |
| Model Info | FDW05ASBWHA |
| Item Weight | 36.4 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 17.3 x 16.5 x 17.3 inches |
| Item model number | FDW05ASBWHA |
| Annual Energy Consumption | 130 Kilowatt Hours |
| Part Number | FDW05ASBWHA |
| Special Features | Built In Water Tank |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Inner Material Type | Plastic |
| Batteries Required? | No |
