Duronic Tabletop Dishwasher DW5 BK

A built-in 5-litre water tank means the Duronic DW5 BK can run without a fixed water connection, which makes it easier to consider for a flat, caravan or small kitchen where plumbing is awkward. It can also be connected to the mains for a more permanent setup. Its eight programmes cover everyday washing as well as glassware, fruit and drying, but capacity is deliberately modest: it holds three place settings. That makes it more suited to regular small loads than to clearing a full family’s dishes in one go.

Size & fit

The DW5 BK is listed at 42.8 x 12.5 x 45.8 cm, so measure the worktop or shelf carefully and allow for the door, loading and drainage hose as well as the machine itself. Its compact format may help in a studio kitchen or office, but it still needs a stable surface and a practical way to drain the waste water. For tank-only use, the supplied jug method avoids a plumber visit, for a permanent arrangement, the maker says it can connect to the mains water supply.

Three place settings give a clearer idea of what fits than the word “compact” alone: think plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery from a couple’s meal, rather than several days of dishes from a busy household. Picture loading the breakfast plates and mugs after work, then selecting Quick or Eco instead of washing them by hand. Would that smaller, more frequent routine suit your kitchen better than saving up a large load for a full-size machine? It’s a good fit if you value portability and have limited space. Better avoided if you need room for larger family loads or want to wash lots of cookware at once.

Pros

• The built-in tank gives you a way to use the dishwasher without a fixed water connection.
• Eight programmes include Normal, Eco, Quick, Strong, Glass, Fruit, Dry and Delay, offering more choice than a basic wash-only setup.
• A dedicated fruit basket and Fruit Wash cycle are useful extras for rinsing produce, as well as dishes.
• Touch controls, an LED display, a viewing window and a child lock make the controls and cycle status easier to manage.

The main trade-off is capacity. Three place settings can suit one or two people, but the small format means larger pans or accumulated dishes may need another wash or handwashing. The listed dimensions also deserve attention before buying, particularly if your available worktop space is tight.

Spec sheet

• Name: Duronic DW5 BK
• Type: Tabletop dishwasher
• Capacity: 3 place settings, 5-litre built-in water tank
• Dimensions: 42.8 x 12.5 x 45.8 cm
• Power: 950W
• Display: LED
• Colour: Black
• Programmes: Normal, Eco, Quick, Strong, Glass, Fruit, Dry and Delay

The product information gives an average annual energy use of 87kWh based on five Eco-mode loads a week, treat that as a stated usage estimate, not a promise for every household. It also lists a drainage hose and a water-fill jug method. The separate mains connection is relevant if you plan to leave the machine set up rather than refill its tank for each use.

Is it worth it?

The Duronic DW5 BK is worth considering when a conventional dishwasher is impractical and a small, tank-fed unit would make daily washing easier. Its range of programmes and fruit-washing basket add useful flexibility beyond simply cleaning plates, while the choice of tank or mains supply gives more freedom over setup. According to the maker, it uses 5 litres of water per cycle, although your actual routine and programme choice will affect how useful that figure is in practice.

Choose this over a basic handwashing-only approach if you want an appliance to handle small, regular loads and value the no-plumbing option. A full-size dishwasher is the more sensible route if capacity matters most, this model’s three-place limit is the deciding constraint, not a minor detail. Before choosing, make sure the stated dimensions suit your worktop and that you can manage the drainage arrangement.