Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
If you don’t have the budget or space for a full-size dishwasher but still don’t want to spend a lot of time scrubbing dirty dishes, you may want to buy a countertop dishwasher. While they look tiny, they can actually fit up to six place settings (where one place setting includes a plate, a bowl, a glass, a fork, a knife, and a spoon) and generally don’t require any additional plumbing other than access to your kitchen faucet.
After our U.S. counterparts tested a bunch of countertop dishwashers to find out which one is the best, we identified four popular models that are readily available in Canada.
1. Danby DDW631SDB
Out of all of the countertop dishwashers we tested, the Danby DDW631SDB had the best cleaning performance, hands down. While we noticed spinach redeposit on some of the dishes, the DDW631SDB’s stain removal was comparable (or better than) some of the full-size dishwashers we’ve tested. The Normal cycle time clocked in at about 100 minutes, which was similar to cycle times we saw on other countertop dishwashers.
We also liked that this Danby had eight cycles to choose from: Heavy, Normal, BabyCare, Eco, Glass, Speed, Rinse, and Mini Party. (We guess you can only have a mini party with a mini dishwasher?) With an extra drying option, a digital display, and a sleek-looking exterior, the Danby DDW631SDB is the best choice for a countertop dishwasher that will get the job done right the first time.
Get the Danby DDW631SDB at Amazon Canada for $391.52
2. Danby DDW621WDB
The Danby DDW621WDB is the model that’s one step down from our favourite countertop dishwasher, the Danby DDW631SDB. As such, it’s not surprising that the dish cleaning performance was pretty good, but not quite as good as that of the DDW631SDB.
This countertop dishwasher has six cycles: Heavy, Normal, Light, Glass, Speed, and Rinse. With its simple white plastic finish and button-operated control panel, the Danby DDW621WDB is a great option for those who don’t need the bells and whistles of more expensive countertop dishwasher models.
Get the Danby DDW621WDB at Amazon Canada for $399.99
3. Magic Chef MCSCD6W5
The cleaning performance of the Magic Chef is fine; while it struggled a bit with some of the tougher stains in our tests (such as spinach), it will be able to tackle most dirty dishes without breaking a sweat. The Magic Chef countertop dishwasher has six cycles (Heavy, Normal, Light, Speed, Glass, and Rinse).
While the other countertop dishwashers on this list have delay options of 2, 4, or 6 hours, the delay option on this Magic Chef runs from 1 to 24 hours and can be set in 1-hour increments. This allows you to set dishwasher cycles to start at a later time either for the sake of convenience or to save money by not using electricity at high-demand times, like after dinner. If that kind of time flexibility appeals to you, then the Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 is the right countertop dishwasher for you.
Get the Magic Chef MCSCD6W5 from Walmart Canada for $414.99
4. Black & Decker BCD6W
Finally, a product from a brand you recognize! Again, the cleaning performance for this countertop dishwasher was pretty comparable to that of the others on this list, although we noticed that the spinach redeposits left some dishes a bit dirtier than we expected. In addition to the same six cycles that most of the countertop dishwashers on this list have, the BCD6W also has a 90-minute BabyCare cycle. Like the Magic Chef, the Black & Decker also has a 1- to 24-hour delay feature.
One aspect that separates the Black & Decker countertop dishwasher from the competition is its looks—with its stainless steel handle finish and its touchscreen user interface, it’s easily the best-looking dishwasher on this list. If you have a more modern-looking kitchen and don’t want a white box on your countertop to ruin its visual appeal, you won’t regret choosing the Black & Decker countertop dishwasher.
Get the Black & Decker BCD6W from Wayfair Canada for $469.99