This Dishwasher And Sink Combo Maximizes Space And Efficiency In Your Kitchen

Properly hand washing dishes is a universally disdained chore: It's time consuming, notoriously water hungry, and hard on the hands. Dishwashers are generally considered the more energy efficient, water saving, and easier option. It's no wonder that even homeowners with teeny kitchens or living in diminutive condos want one. Often, however, they just can't squeeze such a bulky appliance in. In the early 2000s, KitchenAid attempted to solve this problem by releasing the Briva In-Sink Dishwasher. Now, it's only available on the secondhand market. Then, in 2011, Ahhaproject, a German and Korean design studio, showcased a conceptual sink with dishwasher combo called the Eco Automatic. Whirlpool included an in-sink dishwasher in their 2016 Kitchen of the Future. GE did the same in their 2015 concept kitchen.

Lucky us that today the idea is a reality. Global kitchen appliance manufacturer, FOTILE, has two popular models. The generally accepted maximum distance between the sink and dishwasher is 36 inches. Well, these appliances crunch that figure to an inch. Despite the FOTILE dishwasher's diminutive size, they sell for about the same price as higher-end, standard-sized dishwashers. The FOTILE 2-in-1 In-Sink Dishwasher (SD2F-P3) retails for about $800, while the FOTILE 3-in-1 In-Sink Dishwasher (SD2F-P5) will set you back almost $1,300. A lot of people installing FOTILE in-sink dishwashers are RV, tiny home, and even boat owners, but what that really indicates is that this style of dishwasher is right at home in small spaces — think home bars, apartment kitchenettes, and period authentic kitchens. Simply put, it's an appliance you can add to a kitchen for out-of-sight convenience.

Reviewers (who are also owners) praise the deep sink of FOTILE's 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 models: water and food particles flow underneath the rise and don't stick to your dishes. Likewise, the deep dishwashing drawer fits 10-inch plates comfortably. The black glass top with touch screen doubles as more counter space when the dishwasher isn't in use. There's no need to bend over to load or unload the dishwasher, and it's more environmentally friendly, taking well under an hour to run a full cycle and using just over 3 gallons of water per load compared with the 6 gallons (on average) a traditional dishwasher uses. The 3-in-1 model comes with a plastic colander for a dedicated seafood and produce washing mode.

Like any kitchen product, there are, of course, downsides. Homeowners using the appliance regularly mention that it's not that quiet and that the automatic electric lid opening function can be confusing at first. The lid only opens a crack; it doesn't open it all the way. What's more, the lid also doesn't stay up by itself unless it's leaning back a little past 90 degrees, so keep that in mind when making your measurements. Despite fitting dinner plates, these in-sink dishwashers still have, of course, a pretty small overall capacity. This means they fill up with dishes fast in a family home and you might have to run the appliance more often than you would a standard model. Expect to wash your pots and pans in the sink. Oh, and you also need to buy the faucet separately.

If you have some basic plumbing knowledge and already have some idea how to install a dishwasher without a professional, you can DIY the installation. Just be aware that it's a little more technical than a regular dishwasher to install. For example, you might have to lower the hole where the P-trap enters the wall due to the FOTILE's deep basin. Note, too, that unlike most, if not all, dishwashers, these in-sink appliances connect to cold, not hot, water. As always, follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer, and call in professional help if you feel out of your depth at any stage. Daily, wipe down the glass top, clean any food residue from the inside of the dishwasher, and vent it by opening the door. Regularly run a self-cleaning cycle with detergent or descaling powder. Occasionally, wash the internal components in the sink with warm, soapy water.

There is another option to consider that's similar to an in-sink dishwasher, but considerably more DIY heavy — installing a dish drawer or compact dishwasher under your existing sink or a new sink if you're remodeling your kitchen. While it's undeniably a good space saving option, there are some drawbacks. These dishwashers are cut out at the back to accommodate a sink, but you'll still likely require a shallower sink than you might like. It will also need to be a single-bowl sink. If you want to go with this option instead, the compact GE Spacemaker Under-the-Sink Dishwasher was developed for just this purpose; it sells for almost $1,100.