Danby DDW631SDB Countertop Dishwasher, Stainless Steel

I researched many countertop dishwashers before purchasing and settled on this model. We are a household of 3 and have been very pleased and using it since Jan 5, 2021. It was very easy to set up. Everything I needed to set it up was included in the box. FYI I had ordered the pod type dishwasher detergent at the same time I ordered the the dishwasher but when I received the dishwasher the instructions recommend either the powder or the liquid as the smaller dishwashers require less cleansers than a full size dishwasher and a pod detergent may not dissolve completely. (I don't know why I didn't think of that.) So I had to return the pods and purchase powder dish detergent. We initially ran the first two loads on the regular wash which was great. Dishes were clean, cycle was quiet. We opted for the ECO cycle next to see if the time (1 hr 20 min) made a difference. Dishes were still clean! I then noticed in the manual a Party setting of a 20 min wash and wanted to try that. The load was the same - dishes just rinsed off, same as the regular load and ECO load and the dishes came out clean, just like the regular and ECO loads. So we've been using the Party setting ever since. Maybe 1 out of 5 loads we will get a dish or two with a little stuck on food but for a 20 minute wash cycle, I will take it. UPDATE: It has been over a year and the dishwasher has been great. We still use the Party setting on occasion, but have switched to the 45 min setting for most washes. We will use the ECO setting also and the normal setting as well. If we have a lot of dishes we will use the Pots and Pans setting. We haven’t had any mechanical issues. On a couple of occasions the hose has become loose in the back and has leaked water while running a cycle. We attribute this to winding and unwinding the hose, so now we check on that connection once in a while. For the rinse aid, I mix about a 1/2 t of white vinegar with 1/3 c water and add it to the rinse aid dispenser and it works great. This has been a really great purchase.

EDIT: 90 day update. Still going strong and zero issues aside from some detergent packs that just didn't dissolve properly. One of these was a dishwasher cleaner pack and the other was just a normal Finish pack. I'm not sure why there was a problem. Cascade Platinum packs doubled in price to 50 cents each so I have moved to using the much cheaper Cascade powder detergent most of the time and it always works fine. Original review below: This is the first dishwasher machine my family has ever had since I was a kid so I have nothing to compare it to. However, the results I'm getting are amazing. Incredible, even. Every single thing is coming out squeaky clean. Maybe all dishwashers are like this and I don't know any better, but I don't care. I absolutely love what this one is doing for me and wish I'd gotten it years ago. Pros: Gets stuff clean. Does what it claims to do. Very quiet. Uses only 570 watts at peak and that's quite reasonable for an appliance. Good build quality and materials. Mine had no dents from shipping. The Danby name is not exactly a household name in the US but it is a major brand in Canada and it's a real company, not just a brand conjured up out of nowhere. Cons: It's small but takes up a huge amount of the counterspace in my tiny apartment. To be fair, it's not a lot wider than my old dish rack and drip mat. But it's a solid cube. The machine does not have a top sprayer bar. My dishes are still getting clean just fine but it would be nice to have that feature. It also lacks a drying cycle. Damp dishes are going to air-dry slowly. The faucet hookup works but it's probably my only frustration point. Using this machine means I cannot use my faucet-mount water filter while dishes are running, and then everything has to be unscrewed and swapped out of the faucet end. There's apparently no way around this. Nobody seems to make a Y splitter to let a faucet have two devices hooked up at once. Or at least, I'm still trying to find one. Other thoughts: I'm using a one-two punch of Cascade powder for prewash and Cascade Platinum pods for the regular wash, along with rinse aid from Lidl. If you don't know why prewash is vital, please see Technology Connections on Youtube for his outstanding video on how dishwashers work and how they should be used. The combined cost of detergent and electricity to run one load, for me, is about 40 cents. The water use is so little, I can't even count that as a cost. It's only a couple gallons and much less than I'd use washing by hand. But with 100% less back pain from standing at the sink. Worth every penny!

UPDATE 9/2/20: almost 3 years in and I STILL LOVE my Danby! I run him daily now, especially since we are home more due to Corona. Mostly 1-2 cycles per day. Still using the powder packs. Very rarely do I have a dissolving issue. I use Target or BJs brand and I don’t have to puncture the pack to ensure it dissolves. Must be different casing. Sometimes dishes come out dirty but that’s usually if I overload it and the water can’t get to it. Even though it doesn’t have a heater For drying, it will melt/warp cheap plastic, like some take out/grocery containers. I run them through so there’s no food residue in my recycling bags. Be careful with labels. They will breakdown in the wash as well. I generally use the pots/pans or eco wash cycles with or without the extra wash cycle. I’ve gotten comfortable leaving the machine running. Mainly I run in the morning after breakfast or at bedtime and leave the water engaged overnight and turn it off in the morning and have no Leak problems. All my comments below still stand. I’m truly satisfied with my unit! I LOVE my new dishwasher. I haven’t had one since I left home about 20 yrs ago and don’t know how I’ve lived without it, especially since becoming a mom. I can’t believe I didn’t think to get this sooner! It’s a biggun, no doubt and heavy! I have a small galley kitchen and it takes up an entire section of counter, but it’s worth it. Installation was a breeze. I hooked it up within a few minutes and that was because I watched a couple of YouTube videos prior to receiving it so I knew what to do. It’s great that it comes with all of the equipment and the faucet adaptor and tubing were already assembled. I’ve had it for under a month but use it about every other day. I’ve washed everyday dishes and pots and pans. My nonstick cookware is not dishwasher safe and I realized that after I ran it through a cycle and saw the bottom of the pots/pans on the outside were discoloring and one has the interior coating wearing away. I’m willing to live with that for the convenience of not having to wash my dishes! But check your items before putting them in case you care about them. I’ve been experimenting with detergent. I find the gel leaves water spots even with the rinse aid, however the power packs rinse/dry better. The manual says do not use the packs because they don’t always dissolve and they’re right. The first time tried I had a pack casing at the bottom of the dishwasher with detergent still inside. But because it cleans/rinses/dries better than the gel in my opinion I’ve taken to puncturing the casing to help the dissolving issue. A small slit across the powered side and I haven’t had any dissolving issues since! I wonder if the powder is too abrasive on my nonstick pots. The gel also seems to work for cleaning, but I don’t like the water spots. I’ve cleaned pots with rice residue stuck on the, crusty residue from seared meats, dried macaroni and cheese, etc. only a couple of times have items come out dirty. So they just go back in for another cycle. I can’t tell if the rinse agent dispense is filled. My kitchen is dark and the machine has no interior light. The hole is small and hard to tell if it’s changing colors/size of the indicator because it just looks black. The clear indicator is the panel indicator light that tells you when it’s needed. It doesn’t seem to take a lot: 1-2 tablespoons, maybe? I find loading the tray a bit difficult. The spindles don’t flex and are placed really close together. Maybe it’s he shape of my dishes, but I manage to get them in there. I have differs dishe sets and sizes so I make it work. It would be easier to load if the tray had more clearance from the unit, but ultimately that just means taking it out of the machine, loading it and putting back in and hoping everything fits. The LCD dashboard is cool. I like having the cycle countdown. I’m not fully comfortable leaving the unit unattended with the water supply on all day yet so the countdown lets me know how long a cycle will run for and how long is left so I can my departure or returns back home. Thankfully so far no water leaks or otherwise issues. I bought this particular model because it’s silver and I wanted it to match my appliances. If not for that I might have brought a different model or even brand. I think the quirks I’ve identified may be addressed in other higher rated brands, but for me they weren’t dealbreakers. This unit didn’t come with an extended warranty option on Amazon, but you can get one from the manufacturer for $20-50 after you register the machine online. Bottom line is it does a very good job at what I want/need it to do - get dirty dishes out of my sink and wash them for me. I couldn’t ask for more!

Works great!

When I bought this product, I was shipped a used product. It was clearly used as the hoses were old/slimy, the interior lacked any documentation, and it was wet - and not just new-from-factory wet, it was REAL wet. I complained, they sent me a replacement relatively quickly. I shipped the old one back and marked "USED" all over the packaging. Someone got hoodwinked but hopefully that made it so it wouldn't happen again. Unboxed the new one and was impressed. It looked sleek, the packaging was all in place, I could tell this was actually NEW. Used it for a few months and immediately had some concerns. Water began spilling out underneath of it infrequently. After some online research I found the issue was a styrofoam piece under the dishwasher - I had to remove some screws to get to it - but I was able to fix it myself. It hasn't leaked since then, but any new dishwasher shouldn't have this kind of trouble. For the better part of a year, we were OK - no issues with the unit, seemed everything worked itself out. Then, the hinge on the door started SCREAMING when opening/closing the door. I found it to be awful for a couple days, then it seemed to work itself out, then it was awful again. I don't know what brought this on but it was still within the warranty period. I scoped out some somewhat-local repair shops to anticipate how far I may need to ship (or bring) the unit for repairs and once I had a good idea, I contacted Danby to report the issue and see what we could do to remedy it. To my surprise, Danby decided to replace the unit. This baffles me - surely it would be cheaper to replace a simple door hinge, whether I bring it somewhere or they send a repair man out? Danby did not want to entertain that idea, and although I offered to bring it somewhere, I didn't argue with them. If they wanted to replace rather than repair, I would agree to that. This is where the trouble began. According to Danby warranty policy, in order to get a replacement unit, you have to send them a photo of the Serial # and model (easy to do), then you have to REMOVE THAT STICKER (what?) AND CUT THE POWER CORD (WHAT??) before throwing it away. So not only do they NOT want the defective unit so they can repair and resell/replace, they wanted ME to destroy its usage and throw it away. I was incredibly frustrated by this process. I ultimately worked with Danby to find an amicable solution - the sticker is gone, the cord will be cut WHEN I get my replacement - but the hoops I had to jump through for their "warranty policy" is a bit ridiculous. Does it do its job? Yes. Are there strings attached if ANYTHING goes wrong? Also yes. Because Danby was willing to work with me, I'm not tanking this review, but I can't give them a 5 star review at all. If the warranty process went smoother I'd have given a 4 star, despite the initial troubles, but the average person buying this product isn't going to be equipped with the know-how or ability to handle the challenges that came with this. I wouldn't rank this dead last in my priority list, but I will be cautious about buying any Danby product moving forward. I'm not scared away as a customer but now I have some serious trust issues. Buyer beware. EDIT: I am updating my review and changing from 3 stars to 1 star. The replaced Danby unit has, within a few months, utterly failed. It leaked everywhere and then the unit refused to turn on. I've been troubleshooting with Danby for a week - they keep asking the SAME QUESTIONS - and we are going nowhere. I'm convinced I'm either talking to an AI robot or someone who isn't actually checking the notes of my case in between their replies. Why else would I be asked the same questions over and over again? Of course, it's always possible that they don't want to actually service their customers. My real advice to you: The price has dropped on these units by almost $100 since I purchased mine, Danby customer service is awful, and a local appliance store *that actually sells this product* refused to work with me on servicing it (even if I paid them for it!) because, and I quote, "It's not worth the time, money, and energy". They didn't even suggest I work with Danby for a warranty repair/replacement. IMAGINE THAT? A store that SELLS the product, literally saying "Don't buy this, it's not worth the effort". I'm seeing what they are talking about now. The first Danby unit was used. The second Danby unit had a bad door hinge but at least I could still USE it until it was replaced. This third Danby unit, having it for only a couple months, has totally fried AND Danby wants me to try to find someone who might repair it. HELLO? The last one just had a door hinge problem, and Danby wanted to replace it? This one has a fried electrical problem, and Danby wants to repair it? None of this adds up. This is an awful product by an awful company with awful customer service and an awful reputation. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. RUN AWAY. RUN VERY FAR AWAY.

Don't let the size of this machine fool you! It's a great little dishwasher!! I rent a small house and the kitchen is not very cook-friendly, it has about 4 linear feet of counter space and a medium-sizes single bowl sink. Keeping up with dishes was bad enough when it was just me, but now I have a live-in fiancee who has a bad habit of just chucking stuff in the sink when he's done eating... I've put some of the science projects I found in this dishwasher and they come out absolutely spotless!! And it does not melt plastic ware so far. I was shopping around for a full size portable dishwasher, but the average price of one brand new is about twice what a built-in costs (again, not enough space to build in here), not to mention trying to navigate a clunky machine around the kitchen, the man and the 4 nosy cats!! When I discovered/realized that countertop dishwashers existed and the price of them, I researched performance and cost thoroughly before I settled on this one... Even though it doesn't have a heated dry cycle (not a major factor for me personally), this was the best value and best working machine I found! If you're concerned about drying without spots, etc., use a rinsing/drying agent. Works wonders.

Buyer beware if you have a one of those pull down gooseneck faucets with the sprung steel coiling around the hose, the adaptor will not fit your sprayer threads as they are neither standard threaded nor the same thread length as the intended application to get a good tight seal between the fitting and the hose. I had to purchase a similar style faucet with a secondary filler faucet that had the right threaded aerator to hook up the supply line quick disconnect to. Also, One thing that caught me off guard was the height of the overall unite. I guess I didn't measure properly but its much taller than I expected. Once you figure out your own adaptor situation the dishwasher works great. Nice and quiet and the party setting is super quick to wash with (20 minutes) and is all you need for 99% of your loads. Overall very happy to not wash dishes by hand any more. Do be aware though some larger dishes only fit in the back of the rack so keep that in mind if you have larger than normal place settings.

***Update - August 9, 2021: I have now had this machine for over a year. I have encountered zero problems. The machine continues to do a great job as long as I treat it properly. I run it 2 -3 times per week.*** First off, this machine is super easy to install if you have a regular sized faucet spout. In fact, I could even hook this up to my bathroom sink if I wanted to hand wash larger items while the machine is running. I had this Danby machine installed in less than 10 minutes. Second, this machine is very *LIGHT*. Don't be fooled by the listed weight. Shipping weight was listed as 53 lbs. However, when I unpacked it and lifted it to counter height, the machine only *felt* like 10 lbs! What a pleasant surprise. Often any object of these dimensions will feel heavier than its listed weight. That was not the case with this Danby. I was very happy that I did not need to struggle while lifting a machine of this size. One disappointing factor: There is only 9 3/4 inches of clearance from the bottom of the rack. I thought I had researched this before purchasing, but maybe I misread. This meant that I could not fit my plates inside during a full load. That does *not* meant that I cannot use the machine to wash them. It just means that I need to run a smaller load where the plates lie flat rather than standing on edge. So, for some items, you may need to be a little creative. Next, I was impressed by how *quiet* the wash cycle is. Sitting 10 feet away, I almost could not hear it. But....then it discharged water. The discharge cycle is VERY loud. In fact, it spooked me at first, causing me to think the hose had sprung a leak. I immediately checked everything, and all was fine. It simply sounded like a geyser! That's not all. The discharge pump hums loudly when it kicks on too, which first had me believing it wasn't receiving enough power even though it was plugged into its own 20 amp outlet. Truth is, there's just not enough "meat" to this machine to provide sufficient sound dampening for the discharge pump. Nothing is wrong with the machine. It just could use better soundproofing around the pump. So, keep that in mind. Despite how quiet the wash cycle is, the discharge cycle is still loud enough that even neighboring apartments might be able to hear it. Lastly, I was impressed by how well it cleaned everything. Granted, I use a rinse aid, but everything came out clear and sparkling. Much better than if I had hand-washed and hand-dried. Plus, even though I felt I had done a good job of rinsing dishes prior to loading the machine, there was still a fair amount of food particles caught by my drain screen during discharge. Mind you, the machine has its own filter basket too, but it won't catch everything. I actually find it reassuring that the machine removed so much that I myself had missed. Overall, I'm happy with the machine. I have no regrets. If you're still on the fence about buying one, here's why I chose to... I'm not just tired of washing dishes by hand (working in restaurant kitchen for 10 years can do that to a person). Truth is, my kitchen sink was installed wrong. The edge of the basin is nearly 10 inches from the edge of the counter. That means the faucet itself is nearly 20 inches from the edge of the counter. Also, there is no sprayer hose. If I was over 6 ft tall, that would not be a problem. But at 5 ft 6 in, it means I have to lean over the counter rather than standing straight. Not only does this place strain on my back, but it causes water to splash much more than if the sink were set closer. So I'm constantly getting soaked. It also makes it more difficult to handle dishes slick with soap. More than once, I dropped a plate while trying to get it under the faucet for rinsing. Thus far, I've been lucky. Nothing chipped or broken. But I knew it was only a matter of time. Because of this, purchasing a countertop dishwasher is a substantial quality of life upgrade for me. I did my research first, and Danby consistently receives high marks. I opted for the 631 model over the 621 because some people had difficulty figuring out the controls on the 621. I like to keep things simple. So I spent the extra money to buy the 631. Also, you have very limited counter space like I do, here's a tip -- buy a utility cart (like those used in factories, restaurants, and cleaning crews) to set the machine on. Not only does it make moving the machine easier between uses. It means you don't need to waste substantial counter space while the machine is running. Plus, if the machine should ever spring a leak, the lip of the cart will prevent the kitchen from being flooded. Don't worry about being able to open the machine. The door is set high enough that it will still clear the edge of the cart. Depending on where and what you buy, one of these carts will cost anywhere from $50 - $140. It may seem like a lot to spend, but it might save you a lot of aggravation - and perhaps even money - in the long run. I hope that helps, and good luck!

Lo coloqué debajo del lavadero en un departamento pequeño, cumple cabalmente, limpia perfecto, eficiente para un máximo de 4 personas

Living in a cozy apartment in an old building has its charm—creaky hardwood floors, vintage fixtures, and a beautiful view of the city. But as anyone in an older apartment knows, conveniences like built-in dishwashers often don't make the cut. For my partner and me, dishes had become the dreaded nightly chore. After a full day of work and trying to squeeze in quality time, scrubbing away at a never-ending pile of plates felt like such a waste. At first glance, I was skeptical. Could something so compact really handle our needs? But it’s been a game changer. It barely needs to be set up. With just a quick connection to our sink, we were ready to go. No drilling, no complicated plumbing, and no stress. In minutes, it was seamlessly integrated into our daily routine. With a six place settings and a clever silverware basket, this dishwasher fits perfectly on our small countertop, leaving enough room for other essentials. Surprisingly, it even accommodates our regular pots and pans—a lifesaver for someone who loves cooking but not the cleanup. The second-level rack is a genius addition, letting us load even more dishes in a single cycle. It’s so efficient that when friends come over, there’s no panic about a mountain of dirty dishes piling up. And oh, the joy of free time! With the Danby humming quietly in the background, we can now focus on things that truly matter—whether that’s an evening walk, working on passion projects, or just relaxing with a good movie. Over 90% of the time, our dishes come out sparkling clean. Glasses glisten, plates shine, and even our stubborn coffee mugs no longer cling to those annoying tea stains. But, as much as I love this machine, it’s not perfect. The exterior feels fragile, like it’s wrapped in a protective film that’s far too delicate. Long nails or even an accidental brush against it can leave marks, which makes me extra cautious during setup or cleaning. It’s a minor frustration, but one that stands out when everything else about the appliance works so well. Overall, it has transformed our daily routine. It’s reliable, convenient, and a godsend for anyone in a small space looking to save time and energy. If it weren’t for the delicate exterior, I’d call it perfect. Even so, it’s been worth every penny for the time and peace of mind it’s given us.

Excelente producto con suficiente espacio para los platos grandes. No gasta mucha agua y en definitiva nos encanto la recomendamos.

Ok, I'm not sure how silent people expect a dishwasher to be, but I don't understand the complaints about how loud it is. I honestly cannot hear it running from more than half a step away. Pods aren't recommended for it, but they appear to work fine so far. I'm just using up the ones I have left from my old dishwasher. It cleans better than most full sized dishwashers I've used. Gross dried up pasta and cheese plates that roommates have forgotten in their bedroom for a week come totally clean on the regular cycle without soaking or rinsing. The largest plate that will fit in it is a corelle dinner plate, with maybe 1/4" to spare. If your dishes are bigger than that, this isn't the machine for you. It holds a surprising amount of dishes. Plates can be put in really close together and still come clean. Bowls are a little trickier, but they still fit ok. It comes with all the attachments needed to hook it up to the kitchen faucet, and only uses about half a sinkful of water in total. My only complaints are that there's no eco-dry option where you can skip the heat drying cycle, and that it does take up a sizeable chunk of my limited counter space. Aside from that, it's a wonderful little machine for a small family.

Overall this is the best countertop dishwasher I have found, not very easy to load with the cage design , cleans very well in 1 hr or so and definitely not for a family. 1. The utensils cage should be located the opposite direction in the back, with this cage in the way , you can’t easily load items in. 2.this is very powerful and will surely clean anything if it fits. 4.use power/gel dishwasher. The pod types break open a bit late. 5.if you have a pan with a handle thats not detachable, your pan will take at least 30% of all space available, now if you have a pot as well to wash, you will barely be able to fit anything else. this is mainly the fault of cage design and not so much the machines size. 6.The pre rinse does not use any dishwasher, but its ok because things come out clean anyway. (Many dishwashers use a small amount of detergent for this pre rinse cycle which helps the main washing cycle a lot) 7.make sure to run hot water before running the machine because most dishwashers increase water temperature very slowly. This helps the machines cleaning ability. 8.the easiest installation ever, it took me 20 mins to install and then press run. 9.claims to use 11 liters of water which is very good and makes this a good purchase overall.