Is This Countertop Dishwasher a Good Buy? Full Review

I’ve been using the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W countertop dishwasher for some time now. I wanted to write this review to share my experience. If you’re like me and live in a small apartment or don’t have space for a built-in dishwasher, you might have considered this model. I’ll explain what I like, what I don’t like, and everything in between.

Size and Build

The first thing I noticed is the size. It’s a countertop model, but it’s not small. It measures about 21.7 inches deep, 21.5 inches wide, and 17.2 inches tall. It weighs around 46 pounds. I had to clear a good amount of counter space just to fit it. If your kitchen is tiny, this is something you should think about.

The dishwasher has a basic white design. Nothing fancy. The inside is stainless steel. It feels solid when you open the door. The control panel is simple. There are a few buttons and an LED display. Everything is clear. I didn’t need to read the manual much to figure it out.

Setting It Up

Installing this dishwasher took some effort. It connects to the kitchen faucet. I had to remove my faucet’s aerator and screw on the connector that comes with the machine. The connector worked for my faucet, but I read online that some people need to buy an extra adapter. So, if you have a special faucet, you might run into this issue.

Once I connected the water supply, I plugged it in. There’s a drain hose that goes into the sink. Setting it all up took about 30 minutes the first time. Now I can hook it up in less than 5 minutes. The water pressure depends on your faucet. Sometimes the connection leaks a little if it’s not tight.

How Much It Holds

The dishwasher is designed to hold 6 place settings. In reality, that means 6 plates, 6 cups, and some utensils if everything is small. It has a rack and a small silverware basket. The rack pulls out like a normal dishwasher.

I had to learn how to arrange things inside. Large plates, big bowls, or tall glasses don’t fit well. Sometimes I have to skip washing pots and pans because there’s no room. If you cook big meals, you’ll probably end up washing a lot by hand.

The basket for forks, knives, and spoons is small. It fills up fast. I have to decide what fits and what I’ll wash later. Plastic containers don’t always clean well unless I put them on the lower rack where the spray hits harder.

Washing Performance

There are 7 washing cycles. They are Normal, Intensive, Eco, Glass, 90 Minutes, Rapid, and Soak. Most of the time, I use Normal or Eco mode. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to finish a full cycle on Normal. Eco takes longer but uses less water.

The Intensive cycle works well for really dirty dishes. I tried it once after a family dinner. The plates came out clean, but the cycle lasted over 2 hours. I wouldn’t use it every day.

The Rapid cycle is okay if the dishes aren’t too dirty. It finishes in under 30 minutes. I use it when I just want to rinse plates. But if there’s grease or dried food, the Rapid cycle doesn’t clean well.

The Soak mode is helpful if I forget to run the dishwasher right away. It keeps the food from drying too much.

How Clean Do the Dishes Get?

If I load it right and scrape off the food, the dishes come out clean. But if I overload it or put things in the wrong spots, they come out dirty. Sometimes food bits get stuck in the corners of bowls or on utensils.

The spray arms are small. They spin, but the water pressure isn’t very strong. I noticed that cups on the top rack don’t always come out spotless. If I don’t check, I end up with lipstick stains or coffee rings still there.

The filter at the bottom collects food bits. I clean it every couple of days. If I forget, the dishwasher smells bad, and the dishes don’t come out clean.

Drying

This dishwasher does not dry well. There’s no heated drying cycle. The inside stays wet after the cycle ends. Most of the time, I open the door and let everything air dry. If I need the dishes right away, I have to wipe them with a towel.

Plastic cups and containers stay the wettest. Ceramic and glass dry faster, but they’re still damp. I wish it had a drying fan or heating element.

Noise Level

The dishwasher isn’t silent. It makes a humming sound while it runs. When the water drains, it gurgles loudly. It’s not terrible, but I wouldn’t run it while watching TV in the same room.

At night, I set the delayed start so it runs when I’m asleep. It’s quieter than a full-sized dishwasher, but you’ll hear it if your apartment is small.

Water and Energy Use

It’s labeled ENERGY STAR, which means it uses less water and power. I noticed my water bill didn’t go up much after I started using it. Each cycle uses about 3 to 4 gallons of water, which is less than washing by hand if I have a full load.

The Eco mode saves more water, but it runs longer. The trade-off is time versus water savings. I use Eco when I’m not in a hurry.

Child Lock and Safety

There’s a child lock feature. I don’t have kids, so I never use it. But I tested it once, and it locks the buttons so you can’t change settings while it’s running.

The door feels heavy and solid. I never had a problem with it opening during a wash. The water stays inside, and the hose never popped off.

What I Like

One thing I like is that I can avoid hand washing every day. It’s easy to fill the dishwasher after each meal and run it once a day. I don’t waste time scrubbing.

I also like the delay start feature. I can set it to run early in the morning or while I’m out. I come back, and the dishes are done.

It doesn’t use a lot of water. That makes me feel better about running it often. The filter is easy to clean too. Just twist and rinse.

What I Don’t Like

The biggest downside is drying. Everything comes out wet. I have to open the door or towel dry, which adds extra work.

The size is also tricky. It takes up a lot of counter space. I had to move my microwave to make room. If your kitchen is small, this is a problem.

Some dishes just don’t fit. My large dinner plates are too tall. I have to angle them or skip them. Big pots are impossible to wash inside.

The faucet connection can be annoying. Sometimes it leaks. I check it every time I hook it up.

Durability and Customer Support

I’ve had it for over a year. So far, it still works. But I read many reviews where people had problems. Some had leaks. Others said their dishwasher stopped working after a few months.

Customer support is hard to reach. I tried calling once just to ask about replacement parts. It took a long time to get someone on the phone.

The manual says not to use certain types of detergent. I use regular dishwasher pods, and they seem fine. But it’s something to be aware of.

Should You Buy It?

This dishwasher is good for small households. If you’re single or a couple, it works. If you cook a lot or have a big family, it’s too small.

It saves time and uses less water than hand washing. But it’s not perfect. You’ll still need to dry the dishes, and you can’t wash everything in it.

If you have room on your counter and want to avoid washing by hand, it’s worth trying. But be ready for the downsides too.

My Final Thoughts

After using the BLACK+DECKER BCD6W for over a year, I have mixed feelings. It’s nice to have a machine that washes the dishes. But the drying issue and size limits make it less useful than I hoped.

I don’t regret buying it because it fits my lifestyle. I don’t cook big meals often, so it handles my daily plates and cups. But if I had a family or cooked large dinners, I would need something bigger.

Cleaning is decent, but not perfect. Sometimes I rewash things. Drying is bad. I don’t like wiping dishes after running the dishwasher. Still, it beats hand washing every single thing.

If you’re thinking about buying this, check your faucet first. Make sure you have room for it. And know that it’s not like a full-sized dishwasher. It’s more of a helper.