Product review (5 stars): Danby DDW396W Countertop Dishwasher
Quiet possibly the best purchase I have made for my apartment!

After reading all the reviews I could find, some being negative, but most being positive, I decided to make the purchase. I'd have to agree with the positive reviewers after two months of using this machine.

The machine seems pretty solidly built. The quick release hose connection is simple to install and easy to use and tuck away when not in use.

Some reviews have mentioned that you cannot use your sink while the dishwasher is in use. You can turn off the machine in mid cycle and use the sink for whatever you need and then put the hose back on and turn the machine back on. Simple!

The manual is pretty short and somewhat hard to figure things out. Here is some useful information I have learned so far.

1. The machine has a pre-rinse cycle and 2 wash cycles. You only need to use the pre-rinse cycle for heavily soiled dishes, or if you have dirty dishes inside that you don't intend to wash for more than a day (I don't use this cycle). You should run the pre-rinse cycle if the soiled dishes will sit in the dishwasher for more than a day.  There are two places to add detergent, an indent in the door for the first cycle, and a closed compartment for the second wash cycle. If you are only going to wash glasses on a short cycle then just put detergent in the closed comparment. If you use both wash cycles then you should put a teaspoon of detergent in both places.

2. There is no true drying cycle - as others have stated in thier reviews, crack the door open to let the steam out after the cycles have completed and the dishes will dry faster. Also Jet Dry helps to dry dishes faster and leave them spotless.

3. Before connecting the quick release hose, run your tap water to get it hot. Use the sani-wash feature to get the water extra hot and to help dry the dishes faster.

4. As with ANY dishwasher, don't think that you can just put filthy dishes with food remnants in there and expect it to get clean, take a second or two and wipe the food off the dishes or give them a quick rinse... you'll have cleaner dishes and you will extend the life of your dishwasher.

5. Clean the metal filter regularly, just take it out and wipe it off. Again, you'll have cleaner dishes and you will extend the life of the washer.

6. Use the recommended amount of detergent 1 tsp per wash cycle.

You don't need any more than that, too much detergent can shorten the life of the pump.

That's about all I can think of for now, I love this dishwasher it is well worth the money and probably saves me money in the long run doing dishes manually. This machine only uses about a gallon and a half of water, which is far much less than the amount I would use doing dishes manually. Also I have not noticed much of a change in my electric bill.

My lease states that I am not allowed to have a dishwasher (don't tell my landlord). However if the landlord ever needs to get in my apartment, I can easily store this in my closet.. although he may think it is a microwave anyway.

If this machine dies I will buy another.... This saves me 20 minutes a day of my time. I love it and it gets the dishes sparkling clean!