In a small kitchen, start by checking your water supply, drainage and available space. A mini dishwasher with a water tank avoids a permanent water connection, but you’ll need to fill it by hand and arrange drainage. A 6-place-setting countertop model can handle a larger load if you can connect it to the water supply and have enough worktop space. A slimline 45 cm dishwasher needs a floor-standing or under-counter space. If no installation option leaves you enough room to prepare food, washing up by hand is still an option.
A model with a water tank can avoid the need for a permanent water connection. However, you’ll need to fill it yourself and have a practical way to drain the water. Daan Tech describes both water-supply options for Bob, but also requires you to connect its drain hose.
If washing up tends to pile up, a 6-place-setting countertop dishwasher is worth considering. The Candy CP 6E51LS, for example, measures 550 × 501 × 443 mm according to Candy France and needs a direct water supply connection. Check how much room it would leave you for cooking.
If a countertop model doesn’t have enough capacity, consider slimline dishwashers too. Bosch says its 45 cm-wide freestanding models are about 84.5 cm high. They need a suitable floor space, not just a spot on the worktop.
Start by checking the water supply, drainage and space the appliance will take up. Then compare its stated capacity with the dishes you actually use.
| Consideration | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Water supply and drainage | Check whether you have a suitable water supply or need a model that can be filled by hand. Find out where the drain hose will empty and how to secure it. According to Daan Tech, Bob’s water tank doesn’t remove the need for this step. | I can’t connect the appliance to the tap, but I can fill a tank and arrange a way to drain the dirty water. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the place-setting capacity and loading guidance for the exact model with your plates, glasses and pans. Daan Tech states that Bob holds 3 standard place settings, while Candy France lists 6 place settings for the Candy CP 6E51LS. | Our dishes build up over several meals, so I want to check they’ll fit in one load without having to run several cycles. |
| Available space | Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the clearance in front of the door. Don’t forget access to the hoses and socket. Candy France gives the CP 6E51LS dimensions as 550 × 501 × 443 mm; Bosch distinguishes between countertop appliances and slimline 45 cm models designed for a floor-standing space. | I still need enough usable worktop space to prepare meals. |
| Programmes and drying | Check the programmes and drying options on the product details for the model you’re considering. To compare programme times or energy use, look at the same type of programme and its conditions, rather than just one quick setting. | If I put the dishes away as soon as the cycle ends, I want to know what drying options are available for the items I usually wash. |
| Going without a dishwasher | Check whether the installation would leave you with food-preparation space and a safe way to drain the water. UFC-Que Choisir notes that a dishwasher isn’t essential if washing and drying the dishes after each meal takes less than 15 minutes. | I don’t have many dishes and would rather keep my worktop space if there’s no suitable place for an appliance. |
Filling the appliance by hand avoids a permanent water supply connection, but you’ll still need to drain the dirty water. For Bob, Daan Tech says to connect the drain hose or direct it into a suitable drain.
Before choosing a model, work out the hose route to the sink or trap, and check the instructions for its length and how to secure it.
The standard capacity doesn’t tell you on its own whether your large plates and pans will fit in the same load.
Gather the dishes you’d typically use in a day, then compare their dimensions with the limits and loading examples for the exact model.
A countertop appliance also takes up space in depth, and you’ll need room to open the door and access the connections. The Candy CP 6E51LS is 501 mm deep according to Candy France.
Measure the whole space and check that the appliance won’t block the sink or your only food-preparation area.
The duration of a quick programme and the drying options relate to different uses. They aren’t enough to compare the Eco programmes of different models.
For each appliance you’re considering, check the timings, energy use and drying information for the programme you expect to use.
With Bob, Daan Tech offers a compact countertop dishwasher that can use either a water tank or a mains water connection, according to its product details.
Candy’s range includes 6-place-setting countertop dishwashers, designed in particular for smaller kitchens.
Bosch’s guidance helps you tell the difference between a compact countertop dishwasher and a slimline floor-standing model.
These options include compact countertop models for smaller loads, as well as a countertop appliance listed for 6 place settings. Before choosing a size, compare their water-supply and drainage requirements with your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a countertop appliance with a water tank rather than a permanent water connection. The product name lists a built-in 5 L tank and 5+1 wash cycles. Check where the water will drain and whether you have a suitable container to collect it.
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This countertop model may suit a household looking to avoid a permanent connection to the tap, provided you confirm how it needs to be installed. Its product name lists 7 programmes and automatic door opening. Check whether its usable capacity suits your dishes and how the water drains.
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The stated capacity of 6 place settings may suit you if you save dishes from several meals and have a space that can be connected to the water supply. The product name lists 7 programmes and a stated noise level of 47 dB. Measure your available space and check access to the water supply and drain.
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Its stated width of 34 cm is worth comparing with your available space if you have a narrow worktop. Daan Tech lists a 3.9 L water tank and capacity for 3 standard place settings for Bob. Check the water-supply requirements for the version you’ll receive, and remember that you’ll need to arrange drainage in any case.
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Worth considering for a small load of dishes if you can make room for it on your worktop. The product name lists 3 place settings and washing, drying and storage functions. Before buying, check the exact model’s dimensions, water-supply requirements and drainage arrangements.
Yes, if the model has a water tank you can fill by hand. Daan Tech says Bob has this option, with a 3.9 L tank. However, you’ll still need to install its drain hose to remove the dirty water.
Not in every kitchen. A countertop model takes up worktop space, while the slimline 45 cm freestanding format described by Bosch is about 84.5 cm high and needs a floor-standing space. Compare your available space and the number of dishes you need to wash before choosing.
Measure the width, depth and height of the space, then check there’s enough clearance to open the door and route the hoses. Also make sure the surface is flat, stable and suitable for the weight of the appliance when loaded, as noted in Joybuy’s product details for Bob.
France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition says electrical appliances can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a retailer or given to a social and solidarity economy organisation. Check the arrangements at your chosen location before transporting it.