The Danby DDW631SDB countertop dishwasher is ENERGY STAR certified and uses 3.1 gallons per cycle. Reviewers praised its eight wash cycles, including specialized options like baby care and glass, along with the durable stainless steel interior. It runs quietly at 54 dBA and fits under most cabinets. Some users noted issues with spinach redeposit and loud operation, and others found the controls complicated. It suits small spaces and light families who want efficient countertop cleaning.
Full review
Six place settings on 3.1 gallons
The DDW631SDB is an ENERGY STAR unit that uses 3.1 gallons per cycle, against the five to seven gallons a full-sized machine typically draws, and it holds six place settings inside a cabinet that is 21.65 inches wide. For a single person or a couple in a rental that is the whole proposition: dishwashing without plumbing work and without a large water bill.
Eight cycles cover heavy, normal, baby care, eco, glass, speed, rinse and a mini party setting, and a high-temperature boost is available for baked-on residue. The average cycle runs about 100 minutes, which is normal for the category, and the eco cycle trades still more time for less water.
Quick-connect to the tap, no plumbing
Installation is a faucet adapter rather than a plumber. The quick-connect fitting works with most standard kitchen taps, and the machine is light enough for one person to lift into position on a counter. Height clearance is the thing to check before ordering, because it is intended to sit under a wall cabinet.
The interior is stainless rather than plastic, which is the main build advantage over the cheapest machines in this class: it resists staining, wipes clean and does not hold odour. Controls are electronic with an LED countdown display, and a delay start allows scheduling a cycle up to eight hours ahead. Owners report the panel is harder to read in low light than it should be.
Leafy greens come back around
The consistent complaint is redeposit. Owners report that spinach and similar leafy debris breaks up and reattaches to otherwise clean dishes, which is a filter and spray-arm limitation rather than a detergent problem, and no cycle setting fully solves it. Heavily soiled cookware also needs a rinse before loading despite the heavy cycle.
Two mechanical faults come up repeatedly in owner reports: the spray arm failing to rotate freely, which produces obviously uneven results across a load, and the rinse-aid dispenser clogging and needing manual cleaning. Neither is universal, but both appear often enough to be worth knowing about before purchase.
No heated dry and no salt compartment
Two omissions shape day-to-day use. There is no heated drying cycle, so dishes come out damp and need either time with the door open or a towel, and there is no water-softening salt compartment, which shows in hard-water areas as film on glassware.
The capacity is also a genuine ceiling rather than a marketing figure. Baking sheets, large pots and anything tall will not fit, and a family's worth of dishes will need two runs. This machine suits a small household that wants an efficient, quiet appliance in a kitchen with no dishwasher plumbing, and nothing beyond that.
Strengths
- +Energy Star certified with low water consumption of 3.1 gallons per wash cycle
- +Eight wash cycles including heavy, normal, baby care, ECO, glass, speed, rinse, and mini party
- +Durable stainless steel interior for easy cleaning and longevity
- +Quiet operation at 54 decibels, less noise than normal conversation
Watch-outs
- −Some users reported issues with spinach redeposit and loud operation
- −Complicated controls noted by some reviewers
How it compares
The Danby model is more energy-efficient than the Comfee and Midea models, with its ENERGY STAR certification and low water consumption. However, it has more complex controls than the Farberware or Hava models, and unlike the Hermitlux and Black + Decker models, it lacks a built-in water tank. It also has reported issues with spinach redeposit that other models don't face.
Rating sources
“If you want a compact, efficient stainless steel dishwasher that handles standard loads, saves water, operates quietly, and fits neatly in small spaces like apartments or condos, then yes, it's a very solid choice for its category and price point.”
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
