Hubs has promised me a dishwasher – and soon. There are two options in front of us…
1)Â Get a portable dishwasher – like this one – and tuck it into the space by the refrigerator. (pay no attention to price/features – I just grabbed first ones I could find)
Pros: I could probably get it – and use it – in next few weeks. No need to plumb or install anything.
Cons:Â I’d have to worry about having it in middle of kitchen (blocking kitchen) when in use or when being loaded.
2)Â Get a built in dishwasher – like this one – and install it under the counter to the right of the sink.
Pros: It would be permanent. There would be no concerns about blocking kitchen.
Cons: I would have to wait until I could have it installed….and possibly have to pay for it to be installed. I’d lose at least 1/2 cupboard and 1 drawer in my small kitchen (however, I would have room for a free-standing pantry in kitchen)
What would you do?
I would wait for the built in dishwasher. The free-standing pantry would more than make up for losing 1/2 cupboard and 1 drawer and you wouldn’t have the inconvenience of the dishwasher blocking you in the middle of an already small kitchen. Although it is hard to wait and getting it installed will be a hassle, the end result would be worth it and that is what you will live with for many years.
Definitely, the built in. The portable ones are more trouble than they are worth.
I really like the free standing pantry idea too!!!!! Definitely worth the built in………………..
I actually HAVE the free-standing kind. It really isn’t that much of a hassle to me at all, and we have a small kitchen. The only time it get bothersome is when it’s in use and I can’t use the faucet in the kitchen. So, I just use the bathroom sink.
If I had a choice, I would choose whatever is least expensive! I also value my counter space b/c it’s in such short supply.
~Sam
I had a portable dishwasher in the Portland house… It was the only option there… Even though I loved the dishwasher (it was a Maytag) and it worked a LOT better than the cheap thing in this house, I still think I would go for the built-in kind… The portable ones are a bit of a pain in the rear. I was always forgetting to start it. Since you have to hook it up to the faucet, I would mean to do it as soon as I wiped the counters, etc… But then I would space it… Also, while it’s running you can’t use your faucet, which is a pain.
But MAN… I wish the dishwasher I have now was as nice as that Maytag!!!!
Totally the built-in one. Since you have so many helpers (all with that great Y-chromosome) you may have some issues with one that needs hooked up (properly) to the faucet every time you (or they) use it!
We’ve had a portable for ten years. It’s not bad and we have a small kitchen too. It is a clutter magnet! If you have alternative storage ( I saw someone mention a freestanding pantry), I would go for built in and wait!
I vote for the portable and I have my reasons! oxMomma
I’ve actually pondered this since I first read it a few days ago. My vote would be go for the built in and enjoy the extra room of a pantry.
I would go with the built-in. It adds value to your home for re-sale, even if you plan on being there a while people expect dishwashers. A free-standing pantry would make up for any cabinet space you lose.
A dishwasher is on our list as ours broke a couple of months ago and it really was not worth it to repair. I am hoping to have one by the end of February.