Declutter Your Countertop By Removing This Eye Sore By Your Sink
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There's nothing quite like the feel of a clean, organized kitchen. With so many strategies available to organize kitchen clutter, it's easier than ever to achieve that magazine-worthy space you've been dreaming of. However, even after you clean out the space, sometimes your kitchen still feels cluttered. The likely culprit? Your trusty dish-drying rack.
Designed to let damp, clean dishes air dry, dish drying racks have become a kitchen countertop staple. They're loved by those who don't have the space for a dishwasher as well as those who want somewhere safe to dry delicate, handwash-only items. Despite its usefulness, this bulky tool can take up a large area of your countertop. Not only does this cut down on the usable space in your kitchen, but it also creates visual clutter – the reason your counters can still look messy even after tidying. Luckily, there are options available that won't force you to ditch your dish rack entirely.
Swap your countertop dish rack out to get a clutter-free kitchen
When you're finally ready to exchange that massive dish rack next to your sink for something that's a little more streamlined, you'll want to focus on options that can be easily tucked away. If you're short on kitchen space or want a budget-friendly solution, collapsible dish drying racks are your new best friend. They're an affordable alternative to traditional bulky dish drying racks – the best of all, they can be tucked into a drawer or under-sink cabinet when you're not using them.
For drying heavier dishes or glassware upside down, a rack with walls — like this Collapsible Dish Drying Rack available on Amazon – may be the best choice. It's most similar to the traditional option, but the walls can be pushed down, making it easy to slide into a small space when you're not using it. For an even smaller footprint, consider a rollable drying rack, like the BBXTYLY Expandable Roll Up Dish Rack. This style fits over the sink to allow dishes to drip-dry, then rolls up into a small tube that can fit in your silverware drawer.
If you have the extra space in your kitchen and want a more permanent solution, try modifying a kitchen cabinet into a hidden drying rack. Add a coat of waterproof paint to the inside of the cabinet to prevent mold and mildew, then swap the shelves for heavy-duty metal pull-out drawers. For added moisture protection, add drying mats inside the drawers. Finally, replace the door's central panel with galvanized mesh for extra ventilation, and add your dishes to dry.