how many people have a portable dishwasher?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hi there. Just wondering how common it is to have a portable dishwasher. I've seen a few people on here mention that they had one too. I had somone over the other day and they were quite amused by my portable. They were shocked that I had to roll it over to the sink and connect it EVERY time I wanted to use it. I told them that I didn't care, portable dishwashers made it possible for me to have one in my apartment and rolling it over and connecting it is a lot easier than washing the dishes manually. How long has the idea/concept of a dishwasher on wheels been around? ALSO... is there a way to put a longer hose on portable so I could just leave it at the end of the counter during use and still hook it up to the faucet? Or would that compromise the drain fill process? Thanks!

 

[cehalstead]

protable dishwasher

I have an 18" Frigidaire portable that I use in my basement kitchen, either when I have an extra amount of dishes from the main kitchen, or when I have people in for a "deck dinner" and don't want to carry the dirty dishes upstairs. I think portables have been around almost as long as built-ins, but I am not sure......

 

[jakeseacrest]

I've had a portable since 2001 when I moved out of my parent's house. The first was a Kenmore Ultra Wash that my sister now owns. Absolutely the best dishwasher that I've ever used. My new one is a Maytag Tall Tub. I like it, but I really want a Kitchen Aid 20 or 21. My sis said she would take the Maytag if I got a new one.

 

[63getelevision]

I'm planning to get a portable. I'm going to shop locally first to see how my luck runs. I can't sacrifice cabinet space.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Vacuumfreeeke,

We used to have a portable that was plumbed in place. We used fittings available at Homo Depot or Blowes to make the fill and drain friendly to "standard" hoses, but had to cut the faucet adaptor off in order to use them.

Hope this helps,
Chuck

 

[maytagbear]

Most of my dishwashers have

been portables. Both Maytags were.

They are, alas, a fading segment of the market, but I doubt if they will go away completely. I hope not, anyway.

To me, the height of portables was in the late 60s, and it was the November 1968(9) (been a while) issue of Consumer Reports that had a full report on portables. The highest rated were a front loading Whirlpool, a top loading Whirlpool, and the top loading Maytag. The front loading Maytag portable hadn't yet been introduced.

After having had some built-ins, yes, rolling it to the sink and hooking it up can be a small bother, but it is so much better than standing at the sink.....and standing at the sink, and standing at the sink.

As for longer hoses, I have no idea. I suggest you might phone the GE 1-800 line and ask.

Oh, one last thing..., Vf, guy, check your email.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[cleanfresh]

So true, Maytagbear

The truth about portables is that they're threatening to become relics, but I don't think they will be. One of the main reasons, I believe, portable dishwashers will continue to be around, is that they're the perfect solution for certain situations-notably-space limitations. However, built-ins will probably continue to be the dominant winners in this race because there's just something about the sleek, "out-of-the-way-but-there" look of them!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Maytagbear

I just got your e-mail... Hotmail put you in the junk folder! I'll be sure and have a talk with them about that. ) I'll respond via Gmail. Thanks

 

[sudsmaster]

I have a '58 Kitchenaid portable that I use in an enclosed patio kitchen. There is no provision in the counter/cabinetry for a built-in, so the portable was a good solution. Plus it was great fun to restore and use.

 

[brisnat81]

My mother does

She's got a Dishlex from about 1982 or so. Mark 8 with the famous Dissshhhhhhhlex sound cushioning. Its almost silent other than the sound of water sloshing.

We had its predecessor, the Mark 7 in our kitchen for a while and compartively it was a very noisy beast. The difference between the two, was the absence of a 12 minute Fast Wash, the additional sound cushioning, and having a seperate drain pump, rather than a reverse to drain motor.

Mum has one as she rents, and therefore it can move with her and doesnt matter if the house has no dishwasher hookup. Now the Electrolux takeover of Australian manufacture is complete, I dont think there is a mobile model left anymore.

 

[mavei511]

In the New Orleans area,portable diswashers are no longer carried in stock by retailers due to falling demand due to the rebuilding of housing stock going on around here. It's easier to install a built-in dishwasher in a cabinet once the installation of new cabinets occurs in an already-gutted kitchen that you are rebuilding from scratch. Last year I purchased one of the last portables available in stock at Lowes.

 

[bundtboy]

I have one

But you've seen my Whirlpool Imperial 90 before. It's the coppertone thing between the yellow range and the poppy sink, and is standing there being loaded, with it's top up.

It is parked to the left of the sink and the hoses reach the faucet fine withouut haveing to move the machine anything more than forward just a bit to pull out the uni-couple.

I have used many portables through the years included a 1956 GE Mobile maid, a Kitchen aid top loader and a front loader, a 1967 GE Mobile maid, and finally this 1971 Whirlpool Imperial, which washes better than all of them.

b

 

[irishwashguy]

I have a portable

Here in Portland, they are plentaful. i bough my KitchenAid from a man in Wilsonville, out in the suberbs off of E-bay of all things. It is a Suberba that was almost new when I got it. I never did like my dishwasher in my house,and waned an alternative to a built in.This one came along, and itis perfect for me. I sometimes, will run both dishwashers if need be. When i move to my new house, i can take it with me, no fus, no mus! Roll it out!

 

[tomturbomatic]

I have a bunch of them, in addition to the builtin KDS18. I even have a little hot only faucet on the deck of my sink that is sold as a portable dishwasher faucet by Ohio Brass. That means I could hook up two portables at the same time with two in reserve and run three dishwashers in the kitchen at the same time.

You do not have to worry about extending the hoses on the coupler. You buy a 3/4" outside thread to 1/2" inside thread adapter and screw it onto the fill valve. You can screw a regular washing machine hose with two female ends (available up to 8 or 9 feet) onto that and put the same type of coupler (the part that locks onto the faucet & available at Home Depot)on the other end of the hose so that the adapter on your faucet spout will still work. You replace the drain hose with regular drain hose of the diameter needed. I think one of those gray fits-all hoses where you cut off the flared end until you get down to the inside diameter you need would work.

I used one of the couplers on one end of my garden hose to water my roses when I lived in a condo that had no outside faucet. I ran the hose through the mail slot in the door.

 

[bpetersxx]

couplers like this

 

[bobbyderegis]

I've had several. A curbside Whirlpool, a curbside GE, a newer curbside Kenmore, a Maytag, and a KitchenAid. I gave the WP and GE to friends, sold the KM, still have the Maytag and regularly use the KD. None of them can outclean the KitchenAid.
Bobby in Boston

 

[tomturbomatic]

couplers

bpetersxx: Eggzactly. Tom

 

[bpetersxx]

In fact I am thinking of putting my Haier on top of a Maytag wc202 portable DW

 

[tomturbomatic]

Is the Maytag a portable? If so, the "chopping block' top has taken a hell of a beating. Has your kitchen been invaded by Coffeemasters? They look huddled like they are plotting something or undergoing mitosis since one looks like it has completed the process. I guess the Haier has a drain pump if you can have it operate at that height. Thanks for sharing the photo. Tom