Is your kitchen as narrow as a can of sardines? And dirty dishes pile up hopelessly in your sink while you binge on Netflix? Don’t panic, Bob will take care of the washing! Compact, devoted, always listening (handsome to boot), he has everything the ideal companion needs. However, it is not on Tinder that you will meet him, but at Daan Tech, a Vendée company which, with Bob, created the ideal dishwasher for small spaces. Students, singles, young couples and even campers love it. 20 minutes wanted to know if the buzz was justified.
Crush guaranteed right out of the box
For a long time we have wanted to test Bob, the dishwasher barely bigger than a microwave oven, which some of our friends confined to a studio or a student room praised to us for its merits. It’s done ! The writing of 20 minutes was able to install and use the device and get an idea of what was so popular.
Delivered in its box weighing just over 10 kg, Bob reveals himself. Beautiful face with its colorful facade, white dress, accessories full of the tank (basket, plate and glass holders, cutlery holder, cleaning cassette), it’s already the crush. Placed on a kitchen cabinet, the dishwasher (49 x 49 x 34 cm) finds its feet in ten minutes. The video tutorials to follow on the Daan Tech website so as not to make a mistake and not forget anything are an example of effectiveness.
Notice to non-DIY enthusiasts: the most “complicated” part is screwing the sealing collar onto the wash water evacuation hose. Flexible which can be connected to a classic drain (generally under a sink), or placed directly above the sink. And if you don’t have a sink, a big container does the trick!
An integrated water reserve
All that remains is to plug Bob in, insert the cleaning cassette (for 30 cycles) into his hatch and configure a few settings on his control screen. Among them, that of the buzzer which will alert us at the end of a washing cycle. And the height of luxury is that of the tank lighting which can be chosen green, blue, red…
Oh yes, forget it: it still involves connecting Bob to a water supply. Three options are available: a classic water inlet which is connected to the 1.5 meter drain pipe provided; the kitchen faucet which can be attached using an adapter (sold for 19 euros as an option)… or a carafe of water! Supplied in certain versions of Bob or sold separately (24 euros, the plastic carafe is expensive!), you can substitute any pitcher to… fill the dishwasher tank.
And it’s extremely clever! By integrating its own water reserve, Bob can be placed really anywhere, and not necessarily in a kitchen (provided that he is provided with a container to collect his dirty water).
Natural drying
Tested for a week, Bob is simplicity itself. We therefore carried out several washes by varying the program time (from 15 minutes for simple glasses and a few plates after an aperitif with friends, to 180 minutes for dishes whose food residue had dried for several days).
Observation: the dishes are well done, as long as you choose the appropriate program. Due to the small size of the dishwasher, we simply recommend washing large dishes separately (or at least soaking them beforehand to avoid a long wash). It is a matter of common sense.
At the end of the cycle, Bob’s door opens automatically, letting the water vapor escape. Do not touch anything. Here, drying is intended to be natural, in a few minutes, without unnecessary energy consumption. Dishes that are still hot from washing actually dry quickly… even if some items may require a wipe.
Repairability index of 9.3/10
Assessment? Positive without a doubt. Effectively suited to small spaces, with a fairly flattering aesthetic with colorful facades, Bob is convenience itself and does not usurp its good reputation. In line with the needs of a single person or a couple, this dishwasher is also good for its durable aspect.
Its fairly plastic construction, which could catch our attention when unpacking it, is not a handicap. Its manufacturing quality is definitely there. Even so, by being eco-designed (with 65% recycled materials), without welding, Bob can be repaired simply, with a simple screwdriver according to Daan Tech. The manufacturer thus announces a lifespan of at least 15 years for Bob, with a repairability index of 9.3/10. For their part, the cleaning product cassettes are recyclable and can be returned to Daan Tech once used.
And finally, it’s difficult to get tired of this sturdy guy unless the family grows: even if you change your interior decor, its facade can be replaced with a choice of fourteen colors (for 29 to 49 euros) .
Sold from 349 euros, Bob is worth the price of a classic entry-level dishwasher. But the comparison stops there. So what about you, are you ready to swap SpongeBob for Bob the Dishwasher?