KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher review

The popularity of portable dishwashers like the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher has exploded in recent years; the versatility and affordability of the best countertop dishwashers (opens in new tab) put them on an almost even footing with the best dishwashers (opens in new tab). 

As well as saving on space, and in many cases on water and energy usage, some lightweight countertop dishwashers like the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher offer the flexibility of connecting to the faucet or using the built-in 1.3-gallon water tank – a feature that opens up a whole world of options, including taking it camping, in an RV, a vacation cabin or a worksite.  

As well as being convenient to install and transport, the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is a full-featured dishwasher with five wash cycles - Normal, Quick, Strong, ECO,  and Fruit Rinse and Dry modes. It also comes with a dish tray, a rack for cups, a cutlery basket, and powerful twin spray arms for thorough cleaning. The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher can accommodate four full place settings, around four to five cups or small mugs and assorted cutlery. The package contents even include a basket for rinsing fruit and vegetables with the Fruit Rinse mode and a water pitcher for filling the water tank via the inlet at the top of the machine.

Operating the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is done via a crystal-clear LED touch control panel (which responds to the touch with a pleasing electronic chime). The dishwasher’s inner chamber is well-lit with a blue LED lamp which blinks when you open and close the durable dual-layer door and illuminates the wash for the duration of your chosen cycle. The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher also features 73-hour ventilation, helpful to prevent odors that may build up should you need to leave the machine loaded for a certain amount of time.  

KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher: How big is it?

• Depth: 16 inches 
• Width: 16 inches 
• Height:  17.5 inches 

There’s no doubt that the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is among the most compact portable dishwashers available, and for all its advantages the machine’s capacity is limited to only four place settings. The KAPAS is able to fit four 10-inch dinner plates, four 8-inch small plates, four serving bowls, four cups or small mugs, and about six sets of cutlery. 

Inside the machine, the tray, rack, and cutlery basket are positioned to make the most of the KAPAS’ dimensions. Some users advise leaning plates larger than 10 inches at an angle to ensure enough clearance for the upper spray arm to rotate fully.

KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher: How easy is it to install?

The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is ready to get to work straight out of the box. Unlike full-sized dishwashers, there’s no need to hire the services of a plumber to install the machine. Instead, the KAPAS gives you the option to either connect straight to the faucet using the faucet adaptor included or to use the built-in 1.3-gallon tank. Whichever method you choose, the drain hose included slots onto a connection at the rear of the dishwasher and easily drains into a nearby basin or receptacle. We like the inclusion of a water sensor that pings when your water tank reaches its optimum volume.

Finding a space for the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is where you’ll really appreciate the compact dimensions such a portable dishwasher provides, as you should have no trouble sitting the appliance beneath most standard cabinetry. Unfortunately, many users have reported that the KAPAS’ true height is actually around 18.5 inches instead of the advertised 17.5 inches (we are only able to publish the manufacturer’s dimensions) - the extra inch could make the difference in some spaces. At 26.4 Ibs (unfilled), the KAPAS is lightweight enough to enable you to move it around freely until you find the perfect spot for it. 

It’s a good idea to wash the filter and wipe the interior of the dishwasher before you first run the machine in order to remove any dirt or debris that may have been picked up from the factory.

KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher: What’s good about it?

The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher is an attractive and modern-looking piece of domestic hardware that wouldn’t look out of place in most kitchens. Although it is only available in white, the neutral color and its gentle contours make it both appealing and unobtrusive wherever you decide to locate the appliance. This is offset slightly by the rather harsh blue glare of the interior LED lamp, which could prove inconvenient in small spaces such as RVs or dorm rooms.   

The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher shares many qualities with other portable dishwashers, in particular the HAVA TDQR01 (opens in new tab): the models have the same capacity, number of wash programs, LED controls, and accessories such as the fruit and vegetable basket. Like the HAVA countertop dishwasher, the KAPAS runs impressively quietly at around 50 decibels – about the same background volume as a standard refrigerator – even beating the whisper-quiet Magic Chef MCSCD6B5 (opens in new tab) countertop dishwasher. 

Like the HAVA TDQR01, the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher includes a handy drying mode that gently dries your dishes in 60 minutes, and we like the 73-hour ventilation which circulates air to reduce the chance of odors building up if you need to leave the appliance unattended. 

The KAPAS is a very simple machine to operate thanks to its clear LED controls, easy faucet connection and built-in water tank, and the logical configuration of its tray, rack, and basket. The cleaning results, as reported by the majority of users online, confirm that the KAPAS’ performance is generally excellent, with most lightly-soiled dishware emerging from any of the machine’s wash cycles sparkling clean. 

The appliance is also one of the more affordable countertop dishwashers of its kind.

KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher: What’s not so good?

Neither Amazon (opens in new tab), Walmart (opens in new tab) nor other online suppliers provide details of any warranty or support beyond a 90-days return policy. Although few users have reported serious faults or repairs needed, the lack of support could make some customers uncomfortable about purchasing the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher if they want to be assured of a good few years of reliable service from the appliance.

Capacity is another factor to consider, and while four place settings plus assorted cups and cutlery might be adequate for most single or small households, any larger pots, pans, and other receptacles may require washing by hand. That said, one user review that we came across mentioned that you can fit plates larger than 10 inches by removing the cup rack above the tray.

We would have liked to have seen some kind of Energy Star rating or other indication of the KAPAS’ energy efficiency, as features on the Danby DDW621WDB countertop dishwashe (opens in new tab)r. 

KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher: User reviews

Customers who have bought the KAPAS portable dishwasher have expressed near-universal satisfaction with the appliance, many of them impressed with the machine’s cleaning performance, quiet volume, and ease of use. In spite of the simplicity with which you can connect the machine to a faucet, it’s surprising how many more customers prefer using the KAPAS’ built-in water tank, many reporting how much they love the ability to locate the machine wherever they want.  

A few customers struggled with the instructions provided, but most found the KAPAS intuitive to use after one or two uses. While some have found the KAPAS’ capacity a little limiting, many more expressed how satisfactory the dishwasher is for a single or small family household.  

Should you buy the KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher?

The KAPAS Portable Countertop Dishwasher has a lot to offer to anyone who doesn’t have the space for a full-size dishwasher thanks to its compact size, five wash programs, dry mode, and the ability to either connect it to the faucet or to use the built-in water tank. Cleaning performance is reported to be excellent across the board, and the crisp, modern look of the machine should ensure the KAPAS looks at home in almost any kitchen space.

Where the KAPAS falls a little short is the lack of any warranty or energy-efficient rating, two factors that help ensure confidence when buying any domestic appliance. The relative affordability of the KAPAS makes it a great option for budget-conscious consumers for whom a compact and flexible machine can bring real convenience to their daily lives.