Bob the Mini Dishwasher Review: Built for the Truly Lazy

You're aware of where this is going. I heard a gurgle about 10 minutes before the end of the first cycle and found a few cups of hot water and a couple bloated Coriander seeds on the counter. The wood siding on my kitchen island was stained with water. I won't be the only one who has this happen to them.

I tested the hose clamps. I liked the idea of acassette that plugs into Bob's base and has enough detergent for 30 loads, an idea I would love to see in a full-size dishwasher. You can use tablets or regular dishwasher detergent, but the cassette was so convenient that it was all I used during testing, and I wish I could pour detergent into the cassette. I had two plates, a half liter pitcher, a 3.5 cup container, a mug, and a couple of utensils. Bob was full to the brim.

It took me a while to pour the water into the tank, but I was still crossing my fingers that I wouldn't have a hot-water disaster. When I first saw it, I thought it was like a regular dishwasher. It's small, but the same sounds, the same feeling, and timing on the different cycles, and I used most of the time.

I did not notice a difference in the quality of cleaning between Bob and my dishwasher. The insert from the Instant Pot I used to cook up a ton of rag took up the entire basket, but it came out clean. In the time it took to put the dishes in the basket, I could have just washed them by hand. It took me 90 seconds to pour the water in and refill my pitcher in the sink, but I was surprised it took so long.

The top and bottom of my French press, as well as a mini-chopper, a drinking glass, a tiny Tupperware, and one of those Silicone garlic peelers, were all part of my load. I could have washed all of that in 90 seconds. It's a big thing to have in the middle of the kitchen. The company makes the point that Bob uses five times less water than hand- washing, and that may be true for the people who run water the whole time they wash, but not for the rest of us.

It was a dish.

Some people can take advantage of Bob. If you ran the plumbing for both filling and draining, it would be simpler. It wouldn't have been a small project to plumb it into my sink and it would be an ugly sight. If you had a certain amount of glasses or plates, you could cram it all in.

Gallic dishwasher enthusiasm will be affected by Bob's drainage needs, which are next to the sink or above a bucket in the kitchen floor. A built-in tank that could be slid out and emptied would have been a better option. When I sent Bob back to France, I ran a special draining cycle to get rid of the water, but I was surprised to find a lot of it still in there.

After the initial crush wears off, a lot of tiny-apartment dwellers will realize the machine doesn't merit the amount of space it occupies and the time it takes up. Some people, including the incredibly lazy, will love Bob and will not find its small size a turnoff. As long as they attach it correctly.