Ultimate Food Guide
6 Best Dishwashers for Hard Water in 2021
Looking for a dishwasher that works well with hard water?
Hard water is known to damage the quality of dishes and if you’re using a dishwasher that doesn’t work well with hard water maybe it’s time to get a new one that works perfectly and keeps your dishes neat and clean.
How does hard water affect the dishwasher?
The white streaks on your glass and cutlery or dishwasher becoming rusty or not working properly are the signs that your dishwasher is victim to hard water challenges.
A high amount of minerals leave a cloudy and smudgy effect on your dishwasher interior and cutlery. Hard water can also affect different components of the dishwasher, such as the cleaning arm and interior tray. Thus hard water can drastically affect the cleaning efficiency of your dishwasher and increase the chances of rust.
A solution to all these problems is to use a dishwasher to manage the complicated water cleaning. In this dishwasher review, we will suggest the best dishwashers for hard water use that will resolve your smudgy rinsing issues. We will also discuss some tips and tricks that can help you remove the rigid water signs from your dishwasher.
Related: Best Dishwashers Under $500 in 2021
Things to consider
Using hard water in a dishwasher could be risky unless you take the following factors into notice. These tips will prevent the effects of hard water building up on your dishes and dishwasher interior:
Does hard water damage stainless steel?
If your dishwasher has a stainless-steel interior, the chances of getting corrosion or rust are meagre as stainless steel can withstand the mineral and salts of hard water. It also helps to rinse these white streaks without damaging the interior at all.
1. use rinse aids
Rinse aid can help to prevent the effects of hard water on your plates and dishes. If your cleaner has a rinse aid, make sure to fill up on it.
2. Use Hard Water Detergents
You can use detergents that are specially made to work in hard water by keeping the same cleaning effect on cutlery items.
Comparison of Best Dishwashers for hard water
- Portable design
- Built-in tank
- Warranty issue
- Built-in rinse agent
- Quiet operation at 52 decibels
- Delicate product
- Modern and stylish design
- Seven cleaning options
- Small detergent dispenser
- Five cleaning options
- Automatic drying functions
- Too small cleaning rack
- Built-in water tank
- High-temperature air drying
- Tall design hard to fit in
- Eight places capacity cleaning rack
- Multiple drying and cleaning options
- Too big for countertop
1. Farberware Professional Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher
A portable countertop dishwasher is covering all your cleaning needs with simple operation. The Farberware countertop dishwasher is suitable for kitchens with small places and apartments. The design is sleek looking yet durable with its quick and efficient cleaning power.
This dishwasher features three programs for cleaning options. You can choose from rising, standard, and heavy cleaning modes. The Baby Care functions ensure a hygienic clean for your baby products and glassware, giving a squeaky-clean finish. This dishwasher is suitable for all cleaning aids such as pods, liquid, or powdered detergents.
The dish rack is spacious enough to fit 12-inch dishes and hold small pots. The cleaning rack slides out once you pull open the magnetically latched door. The cutlery rack is durable and can withstand long cleaning cycles. Powerful Cleaning spray arms ensure streak-free cleaning. The digital touch control panel is easy to operate, and there are designated buttons for every cleaning mode. The quickest cleaning cycle runs for about 40 minutes which is quite impressive for a countertop dishwasher.
The standout feature of this dishwasher is that it includes a 5-litre water pitcher supporting its portability and compact design factor. This option makes the setup process of the dishwasher more convenient, reducing the water supply hookup. You can fill up the water pitcher or directly connect the water supply with the kitchen water faucet.
This dishwasher’s operation is noise-free at only 62 dB with a compact design and multiple cleaning options. Therefore you don’t have to worry about any background noises. You can take this dishwasher even on your camping trips with the built-in water tank and compact size factor.
- 5liter built-in water tank
- Countertop kitchen appliance
- Quite an operation
- Powerful cleaning
- Perfect for RV and small room places
- Warranty issues
- Error code for water leakage may appear
2. EdgeStar DWP62BL Portable Countertop Dishwasher
This sturdy-looking dishwasher can easily fit under your countertop and provide a convenient cleaning service like a pro. The EdgeStar dishwasher is loaded with features that offer the standard of energy saving by consuming little water.
The dishwasher features seven settings for cleaning your cutlery. You can easily choose from seven different cleaning modes depending on the items placed in the dishwasher. The digital display portrays the dishwasher state and Led indicators to keep you updated with any warnings. You can set the delay timer for your convenience as well.
The stainless-steel interior withstands the effects of hard water and gives you reliable service for years. The interior rack is spacious enough to hold 10 inches of diameter plates. The Interior rack is designed for six place settings featuring a cup shelf, cutlery basket, and dish holding rack.
The quick 45-minute wash gives you squeaky clean results in the nick of time. A built-in rinse agent avoids any hard water spots or dinner stains to remain on the plates.
The internal heating feature raises the water temperature for a thoroughly cleansed wash. The dishwasher operates quietly at only 52.3 dB sound level.
The dishwasher hose can easily fit in with any kitchen faucet and adapter for quick and easy setup. The direct water supply uses only 2.85 gallons of water on regular wash, saving energy on the EnergyStar standards. The dishwasher is not recommended for dish detergent or pods as it may cause overflow. Therefore it is recommended to use the liquid detergent for best results.
- Durable and sturdy
- Seven cleaning modes to select
- Easy to set up
- Built-in rinse agent
- Quiet operation at 52 decibels
- Using detergent pods may cause overflow or leakage
- Delicate parts (hose)
3. BLACK+DECKER BCD6W Compact Countertop Dishwasher
This countertop dishwasher gives the vibe of a modern kitchen appliance made for small kitchens, apartments, and RV kitchens. You can fit this dishwasher over your kitchen countertop or under the cabinet.
The dishwasher is programmed with seven wash cycles to choose from, which works the best for your dishes and cutlery. The setting features Normal, Intensive, Eco, Glass, 90 Minutes, Rapid & Soak options. You can also set a delay timer featuring start-stop options for the convenience of your washing cycles. The noise factor is as quiet as possible with this machine even when operating at intensive clean mode.
The icons featured on the control panel offer easy operation with just the touch of a button. Easy to read control panel features timer Led to state the delay timer set from the control panel. The panel also features a child lock option to keep it safe from nasty hands or unintentional touch.
The washing capacity of the internal rack is impressive for a countertop dishwasher. The 6-place setting allows you to place more in an organized manner. You can fit plates and dishes of 10-inch diameter along with your other cutlery items at a time. The rack slides out when the lid is opened and features a removable basket for easy loading.
The dishwasher saves you from the trouble of installation with an easy to fit hose with a kitchen faucet. The quick-connect options let you power the machine whenever you feel convenient to use. The bottom section has the detergent dispenser and removable filters to fill in and keep the cleaning procedure on the go.
- Stylish and modern design
- Seven cleaning modes and child lock
- Easy to fit hose
- Digital touch control panel
- Low noise production
- No drying or heating element
- May not hold ample cutlery
- Small soap dispenser
4. Portable Countertop Dishwashers, NOVETE Compact Dishwashers
The compact-looking tiny dishwasher would have your attention with what it has to offer. It’s a perfect alternative for doing your chores by hand. This small dishwasher would consume the least space on your countertop and work like a charm with its superb features.
The mini dishwasher features five washing cycles: Normal, Speed, Eco, Baby/heavy Mode, and fruit options. The cleaning time varies depending on the option you have selected for cleaning.
If you are in a hurry, select the automatic speed mode, which will clean and dry your cutlery in just 29 minutes. Although if you are looking for a more thorough cleaning, go for the Baby/Heavy option, which will increase the cleaning water temperature up to 167 Fahrenheit.
The installation procedure is as easy as it can get with this dishwasher. It features a built-in 5-litre water tank which can be filled in for the convenience of connection-free use. The hose can also be attached directly from the kitchen faucet for direct supply.
The dishwasher rack is designed to fit more in the upper and lower frame giving a designated cleaning experience. The upper and lower spray arms perform an obstruction-free cleaning to rinse the dishes thoroughly.
The tall design for the separate portion for plates and cups allows more items to fit in for a single go. The cleaning rack features a fruit basket for cleaning your fruits and vegetables with just a single option.
The unique 3 in 1 cleaning function is a standout option in this dishwasher. The dishwasher would automatically begin the hot air-drying cycle once it is done with the cleaning procedure. It would make the plates and dishes dry, leaving no water spots on them. The trays and containers can be stored for up to 72 hours with the automatic ventilation feature.
- Water-saving with the built-in water tank
- Dry mode for sanitized storage
- Automatic drying function
- Five cleaning options
- Easy to operate and install
- Speed wash cleaning in just 29 minutes
- Speed cleaning options may not dry dishes properly
- Too small for some items
5. Portable Countertop Dishwasher, 5 Washing Programs
The standout portable dishwasher is the perfect appliance for your kitchen countertop. The small-looking dishwasher can fit in more and serve the cleaning purpose responsibly with its unique and efficient features.
This dishwasher offers you a cleaning choice in Standard, Quick, Strong, ECO, Fruit, and DRY options with six cleaning modes. The washing arms perform simultaneously to give a thorough and streak-free cleaning. The tall design offers various items to fit in for cleaning, and it can fit up to 12 inches of plates in the holder. A separate fruit basket is included in the packaging for your fruits and veggies
The ideal feature of this dishwasher is that it has a two-way water supply. It features a built-in tank that can be filled with water for cleaning purposes. This feature supports the portability factor and lets you clean the dishes wherever and whenever. The hose attachment with the kitchen faucet is an optional feature convenient to set up as well.
The easy-to-operate Led control panel shows the electronic controls to choose the cleaning options from. The water level in the built-in tank is also mentioned on the Led panel, so it indicates when it requires a refill. The dishwasher supports all sorts of detergents and pods for cleaning aids. However, detergent tablets are only recommended for long cleaning cycles.
The high internal temperature heating thoroughly sanitizes your baby bottles properly, keeping the hygienic factor insight. The intense temperature also helps to dry the dishes and plates rapidly. The convenient countertop dishwasher is equipped with all the necessary features in a reasonable price range.
- Built-in water tank
- Six cleaning options
- High-temperature air drying
- Easy to use and setup
- Small and portable size
- Hard to fit in cabinets due to its tall design
- A bit loud
6. EdgeStar BIDW1802SS Built-In Dishwasher
A heavy-duty dishwasher with a sturdy-looking design can cover all your washing needs at once. This dishwasher is not just brilliant, but it also has all the necessary options for your cleaning aid.
The dishwasher features six washing cycles to choose from, including Heavy, Normal, Eco, Glass, Rapid, and Rinse programs. These options can be selected from the designated buttons on the control panel, depending on the cleaning.
After you’re done with the cleaning, you can also select the drying process from three different options: Sanitize, Hi-Temp, Heated Dry. The high temperature would allow cleaning the plates without any water smudges or spots behind, giving streak-free results.
The 8-place setting gives you generous space for your dishes and trays in the cleaning rack. It also features a silverware basket and cup tray for holding onto more items for cleaning.
The dishwasher also features a convenient safety feature which is a leakage sensor. It automatically detects if there is water leakage and is indicated to protect from any hazardous electric incident. The EnergyStar rating makes it an energy-saving and efficient product. However, the price factor could be a bit expensive on this due to features and manufacture.
- EnergyStar Certified
- Eight places setting
- Six cleaning cycles
- Dry heating and sanitize option
- Sturdy and durable
- Not portable for countertop machine
- May observe leakage
| Name | Dimensions | Capacity | Noise Level | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farberware Professional Complete Portable Countertop Dishwasher | 16.5 x 17 x 17.1 inches | 12-inches of diameter dishes | 62 dB | 35.3 Pounds | Plastic/Steel |
| EdgeStar DWP62BL Portable Countertop Dishwasher | 19.63 x 21.63 x 17.31 inches | Six place setting | 52.3 dB | 44 pounds | Stainless Steel |
| BLACK+DECKER BCD6W Compact Countertop Dishwasher | 21.5 x 21.7 x 17.2 inches | 4.25 Cubic Feet | 60 dB | 46.2 Pounds | Metal |
| Portable Countertop Dishwashers, NOVETE Compact Dishwashers | 16.86 x 16.75 x 18.05 inches | 4 Place Settings | 50 dB | 34 pounds | Plastic |
| Portable Countertop Dishwasher, 5 Washing Programs | 16x16x17.5(H) inch | 12-inches of diameter dishes | 60 dB | 26.4 pounds | Interior Stainless Steel |
| EdgeStar BIDW1802SS Built-In Dishwasher | 22.44 x 17.63 x 32.5 inches | 8 Place Settings | 52 dB | 52.9 Pounds | Stainless Steel |
How to clean the dishwasher interior?
Vinegar will help to remove the white smudges and scales built upon the stainless-steel interior. All you have to do is to run the dishwasher empty so that the interior cleans itself.
The complex water effects can damage your dishes, trays, spoons, or mugs daily if you use the dishwasher for cleaning purposes. The hard water resource depends on your geographical location whether the quality of water and the ratio of minerals present are hazardous or not. Therefore, following the methods mentioned above and choosing a suitable product can help you tackle the issue more smartly.