Two Dishwashers Worth Talking About

Let’s be honest: dishes pile up fast. Whether it’s after dinner with the family or just your own leftovers from lunch, it doesn’t take long before the sink starts looking like a mini mountain range of plates and pans. That’s why having a dishwasher feels like one of those little everyday luxuries that just makes life easier—especially if you’re short on time or energy (and who isn’t these days?).

Depending on your space and how many dishes you deal with on a regular basis, the kind of dishwasher you need can vary quite a bit. There are the bigger, built-in models that live under your counter, and then there are more compact, portable ones you can pop on your kitchen counter. Both do the same job—just at different scales.

Midea MDF18A1AST Built-in Dishwasher with 8 Place Settings, 6 Washing Programs, Stainless Steel Tub, Heated Dry, Energy Star

If you’ve got a bit of space to work with, the Midea MDF18A1AST built-in dishwasher might be your style. It’s on the slimmer side (just 18 inches wide), so it fits in smaller kitchens or apartments without taking over the whole place. Still, it fits up to 8 place settings and has a bunch of wash options—Heavy, Normal, ECO, Delicate, Quick, and Rinse—so you can match the cycle to whatever you’ve got in the machine. It also has some nice extras like a sanitize mode and heated dry, which definitely come in handy. Plus, it's quiet (52 dB isn’t bad at all) and it doesn’t burn through electricity thanks to its Energy Star rating.

COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher, Energy Star Portable Dishwasher, 6 Place Settings & 8 Washing Programs, Speed, Baby-Care, ECO& Glass, Dish Washer for Dorm, RV& Apartment, Black

Now, if you’re living in a dorm, renting a place without a dishwasher hookup, or just don’t have the cabinet space, the COMFEE’ Countertop Dishwasher is a solid little alternative. It’s small enough to sit on your counter but still manages to fit 6 place settings inside. It’s also surprisingly versatile—there are 8 different wash programs, including ones for baby bottles, glassware, and even a quick cycle if you’re in a rush. It’s easy to install (just connect it to your faucet), and it’s really water-efficient—only about 2.77 gallons per cycle, which is great if you’re trying to save on bills or be a bit more eco-conscious. It runs quietly too, so you can have it on while watching a show and not even notice.

What People Are Saying

People who’ve used the COMFEE’ seem to love how easy it is to set up and how well it cleans despite its small size. It’s especially popular among those in smaller living spaces where a full dishwasher just isn’t an option. The Midea, on the other hand, gets a thumbs-up for being compact without cutting corners—it feels like a full-size dishwasher in a smaller package, and it handles everyday dish loads without a fuss.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it’s all about what works for your space and routine. If you’ve got room for a built-in and want something that blends into your kitchen, the Midea is a great pick. But if you’re tight on space or need something you can move around or set up temporarily, the COMFEE’ is a surprisingly capable little workhorse.

Either way, both make that dreaded after-dinner cleanup a whole lot easier—and that’s a win in any kitchen.