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Let me fill you in on a little secret: I always thought people who hand-dried their dishes were wasting their time. I definitely admired that their counters were clear of dishes that were drying on their pretty dish racks, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around spending my time doing what air could do while l checked something else off of my to-do list.
As with many things, I’ve come to eat my words. When our kitchen renovation was finally completed, I became one of those very people who dries her dishes. I realized it doesn’t take much more time than it takes to walk those same dishes to their proper homes in my kitchen after they’ve air-dried.
The plastic rack allows you to vertically “file” items like dishes, pot lids, and cutting boards, while the plastic parts that stick up on the grate prevent mugs and other items from sliding around. The microfiber mat absorbs water without getting saturated, providing a perfect spot not only for larger hand-wash items, but also for the smaller things like my strawberry huller and knives. And most importantly, the microfiber mat is machine-washable, so you can just toss it in the washing machine if it gets funky.
Because it isn’t a full-blown rack, we can’t stack too many dishes on it, which encourages us to put the dishes away more often — or even to hand-dry them. Smaller piles also mean the dishes dry more quickly.
Overall, even though my counter isn’t always completely clear of air-drying dishes, this mat is unassuming and simple. It solves my problem, while keeping my space relatively uncluttered. And on those rare occasions when there aren’t any dishes to air-dry, the mat is so easy to fold into thirds and slip into the cabinet. It’s the little kitchen helper I didn’t know I needed.
