Why Tons Of People Are Ditching Traditional Dish Racks For Something Better

Outfitting your kitchen is no simple task. First, you want to find all the right items to provide the ideal functionality without taking up too much space. Then, you want the items to match your decor. Finally, you need things that are easy to clean. On the surface, a traditional dish rack may look like the ideal solution. There are sleek, modern designs that fit next to the sink on the counter with neat, slanted catch trays for water run-off. Unfortunately, the reality can be less than ideal for modern kitchens.

There's nothing inherently wrong with having a traditional dish rack. In fact, there are even ways to customize your kitchen dish racks for organized counters. But when your counter space is limited, even a compact dish rack can quickly become a hassle. Dish racks take up as much space as standard appliances, such as toasters, blenders, juicers, or other countertop items that are commonly used in the kitchen. They also tend to present an unexpected health risk.

Over time, dish racks collect all the excess moisture from the dishes, which leads to the need to frequently clean your dish drying rack, becoming more of a headache than it's worth. The dish rack is one area of the kitchen that has been found to collect bacteria that could cause food-borne illnesses. As a result, tons of people are ditching the traditional dish rack for something better. 

Luckily, new space-saving products have become popular with renters and homeowners because they address both the space and cleanliness issues. Over-the-sink and wall-mounted dish drainers are designed to create vertical space that caters to open concept designs while reducing the use of counter space. Plus, they don't crowd your sink space. They can also act as additional dish storage, so you can count it as one more cleaning strategy that makes doing the dishes more efficient and less miserable.

Over-the-sink dish racks have feet that are placed around the sink with supports that extend up behind the faucet. They have enough clearance for any faucet height without being in the way of windows. Some models also have an adjustable height, so you can set it in a place that is the most ideal for you and your family. They eliminate the need for additional drainage since the water falls directly into the sink. 

Wall-mounted dish racks, on the other hand, are installed directly into the wall and have superior drainage systems. Depending on the model, they have drip pans or systems that drip directly into the sink without pooling or collecting excess moisture. The elevated nature of the rack also allows better airflow, so dishes dry faster and bacteria has less opportunity to grow.