Dish Drying

Most of the pieces here are microfiber drying mats. We offer them in a handful of soft colors, Ivory, Gray, Navy, and a few others, so they blend into the kitchen instead of shouting at it. A microfiber mat is not dishwasher safe. You rinse it under the tap, squeeze it out, and hang it to dry. It soaks up the drip from a rack of wine glasses or a few plates without leaving a puddle on the counter.

On the other side of the department, you will find stainless steel racks that span the sink. They free up counter space completely and can go right into the dishwasher when they need a deep clean. If you have a double sink and you are tired of the dish rack fighting for room beside the cutting board, that is the piece to reach for.

Within the mats, size is the first decision. The 16 by 18 inch mat tucks away into a drawer or a slim cabinet. It is enough for a couple of coffee mugs and a lunch plate. The 17 by 24 inch mat handles a full dinner’s worth of dishes, from the salad plates to the serving bowl. Paying a little more for the larger one makes sense for a family kitchen. For a single person or a small apartment, the smaller mat is all you need.

This department will not suit you if your dishwasher dries everything completely and you put the dishes away straight from the machine. If you prefer to towel dry and clear the counter immediately, a mat or rack might just sit unused. And if your sink sits under a low window, an over-sink rack will not fit. But if you hand wash delicate glassware, a heavy pot, or a few plates every night, a simple mat or a rack keeps the ends of the day a little tidier.