milwaukeebuyer's Full Review: Danby DDW1805W Designer Series Portable Dishwasher
The Danby DDW1805W replaced a Haier countertop dishwasher I've owned for 5 years. My main reason for wanting a larger dishwasher was to be able to wash larger pots and pans which would not fit in the countertop unit. My small kitchen would need to be remodeled in order to install a built-in dishwasher, so the Danby DDW1805W is the perfect solution.
Appearance: The unit only comes in white, stands counter height, and rolls on four casters. One excellent feature is that the top of the unit is a countertop, so it doubles as a meal prep surface if it's stored next to your counter or stove. The power cord and hoses fit nicely into storage slots at the back of the unit, allowing you to store it flat against a wall.
The size is 2/3 as large as a full-size dishwasher in width, but the height and depth are the same as larger units, which means you can fit a lot of stuff in this machine. When it's next to my stove, it's the same depth and height.
The controls are located on the door of the unit. There's a rotary dial to select cycles, a rinse aid and softening salt light, a rapid button, a plus button, and a power button. I actually prefer the simple mechanical style of the controls to the more fancy electronic controls.
The interior is stainless steel, and it looks fantastic, just like higher-end full sized units. The top rack is adjustable so that you can fit taller items, but I've never had to lower it for anything I own. It's a great feature for people who have taller glasses.
The bottom rack has some really great features. For one, it comes with a silverware basket instead of having one of those in-door silverware trays which never really get things clean. The best feature of the lower rack is that two rows of tines fold completely flat so that you can fit larger pots and pans when you need to. This is exactly the reason I bought this unit.
There are two spray arms and even a stationary sprayer at the top of the interior. The detergent cup fills like a regular dishwasher and then snaps closed. There is a compartment for rinse-aid, which really helps with drying. At the bottom of the interior there's a three-stage food filter, and a slot to fill up with softening salt if you have really hard water. I don't use the salt, and everything comes out spot free.
Everything inside and out is just really well designed. All the details like the countertop, folding tines, and multiple spray points make this an awesome dishwasher that cleans just as well as more expensive built-in units.
Installation: The Danby 1805 is truly portable, and it's designed wonderfully in that regard. The best feature is the ability to store the hoses and power cord in their own slots in the back of the unit. Other portables do not have this feature, leaving you to stuff hoses into the washing tub when not in use.
When I'm ready to do dishes, I wheel the Danby over to the sink, snap the water hoses onto the sink with the built-in snap-on connector, plug it in, and turn it on. The unit comes with a new aerator for your faucet that simply screws on and allows you to snap the hoses on and off each time you use the dishwasher.
The connector even has a pressure release valve that you press after you turn off the hot water, and it releases any remaining pressure so that it's easy and splash free when you disconnect it. It's all made of plastic, so I'm careful when I connect/disconnect to avoid losing the ball bearing in the unit.
Cycles and Cleaning Performance: There are 7 separate cycles: Heavy, Normal, Economy, Glassware, Rinse and Hold, Quick Cycle, Warming.
In order to use the Heavy cycle, you select the normal cylce and hit the Plus button. This raises the rinse temperature and basically works as a sanitary wash; a great cycle for really dirty pots and pans.
The Glassware cycle runs at a lower temperature and is great for delicate wine glasses. If you press the Rapid button with this cycle, it's even shorter (about 30 minutes), and it's a great option for lightly soiled, delicate glassware.
Most of the time, I use the Economy cycle (1.5 hours) or the Normal cycle (2 hours). Though the cycles do take a while, everything comes out sparkling clean. Like any dishwasher, drying performance is so-so. Silverware and plates come out completely dry, but plastic items, and anything with a lip on the bottom (coffee cups) comes out with a puddle on top.
Overall: I love this dishwasher. It's well designed and cleans better than some full-sized units I've used. When I entertain (weekly), this machine saves me the stress of having to wash all the dishes and pots and pans that are generated. I've served 10 people and washed everything in one load.
8 Place Setting Capacity. Large Lower Dish Rack and Silverware Basket. Dish Rack accommodates plates 11'' diameter. Adjustable Upper Dish Rack. 7 Wash...More at AJ Madison
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