Dish racks/drainers have never been so cool! We all know what are made for but I discovered there’s more to a dish rack/drainer than meets the eye. Here are some 14 dish rack/drainer kitchen storage hacks. They will help you declutter, organise and are very affordable. Some of those are my life hacks. It saves me loads of money as well. I hope you get a tip or two. If you’re already using these and have other tips, please share with us in the comments section.
Safely organise knives
Sometimes we normally have drawer space, knives but we don’t know how to place them safely and in an accessible way. A dish drainer/rack can help sort both problems. As in photo, you can organize them facing down so they’re safe and easily accessible. You can sort them in their different types as well. The others such as kitchen scissors and shears also will have their place.
Organise plastic containers
One of the other ways of using dish rack/drainer is for your plastics containers and the lids. They have a tendency to take up space in a kitchen or storage. They can be one of the reasons for a lot of clutter. My tip is to try buy containers that fit into each other to take minimum space. If you can, try to keep them consistent, either circular or rectangle.
Organise sufuria/saucepan lids
You can also use the dish rack/drainer for organising your lids for your saucepans/sufurias. Sometimes trying to organise them can be a big headache. Using the rack/drainer to organize can even leave you with some space on the side for other kitchen pieces, like wooden spoons, mwikos or your serving spoons.
Spice Rack
Have you been wondering where to get a spice rack? Why not use a dish drainer/rack? It can work the same way. Even your spice jars, can be easily organised. Even the paper sachet ones fit very nicely.
Organise undersink
Another way to use this dish drainer/rack is for under sink storage. Sometimes that place gets very disorganised. The rack/drainer helps declutter and organize the various items. Sometimes, it also aids in seeing what you don’t need, what you don’t use often and as things run out. You can store your cleaning towels, sponges, cleaning material, refills and even the broom and brush get a place.
Organise all-in-cutlery drawer
This is what I specifically use the dish rack/drainer for in my home. I organise my chopsticks, serving spoon, tongs, knives… and they get a chance to stay facing down and safe. Next to my cutlery set for spoons and forks, it looks like it was made to be in there not over the counter as a drainer. It allows me to find space on the side for my knickknacks such as baking cutters and apple slicer.
Organise wooden & measuring spoons/sieves
Another personal use of the dish drainer/rack is for storing and organising the wooden spoons, my sieves, measuring spoons and my mixer pins. It’s cumbersome to put them back in the box all the time. It makes the one drawer neat and organised. My mwiko and the rolling pins are too long so the space in between helps me organize them in the drawer. If you don’t have space putting them on the rack is neater than just letting them be everywhere.
Organise kids school lunch bags and dishes
The other very helpful way I use the dish rack/drainer in my house is to organise my children’s lunch bags and their lunch boxes. Their bottles, their tiny spoons and straws. Sometimes these small bits can really disorganise your space and this dish drainer/rack really helps me. I’m left with space on the side to put my other packaging for the school snacks such as the Ziploc bags, rubber bands, cling film and aluminum foil. Other storage bags also get their space.
Organise snacks
You can also use it for a selection of snacks for your drawers or for your cabinets. It makes it easier for the kids to find selection of snacks as it’s easy to organise. In addition, it can be an easy way of keeping track of what snacks are remaining, what the kids are eating or if they are eating too much of junk depending on your family quotas or your agreement with your kids.
Organise cookbooks and to-do-items
Some counter tops need organising and decluttering. By using a dish rack/drainer for placing. Items such as post-its, your coupons and pens. Sometimes you can organise your receipts, to-do-list or shopping list having them on hand. Items that you need to remember for kids to carry to school, such as signed consent, can be placed here. Most of all I love that you can use it to store and organise cookbooks easily accessible on the counter. Maybe even be a place to hold your keys when you come home.
Organise Kitchen towels/gloves/aprons/mats
Another way of using the dish rack/drainer is for storing and organising your dish towels, kitchen hand towels, oven gloves, aprons and oven mittens. Silicone and sisal mats for protecting your counter surfaces find a neat place. You can have more or less depending on how you would like to organise the place. The rack/drainer mainly fit right in.
Organise kitchen knickknacks
Sometimes you have so many other knickknacks in the kitchen; from the cookie cutters, egg shapers for frying, ice cream scoops, tongs, serving spoons, salad spoons among others. Their disarray as they don’t fit a specific mold and are so diverse can be daunting. One solution is to use a dish rack/drainer. If you have space for it you will find use for it.
Organise baking sheets/pans and chopping boards
You can use the dish rack/drainers for storing or organizing baking sheets/pans, measuring spoons and mixer pin. Any of those things, like chopping boards, you need and usually hard to organise because of their sizes and shapes now have a solution.
Organise/store utensils when starting out
Especially when you’re starting out and you don’t have many things, even after using the dish rack/drainer for drying your dishes, you can use the same or get another for storage. They might be enough to fit in the rack. It can help you stay organised. Few dishes fit nicely and neatly.
I don’t know what type of storage you have, maybe shelves, drawers, cabinets or a combination drainer/rack size should not be an issue. They usually come in different shapes and sizes you are sure to find one that fits your need. Some items in the kitchen if left untended can really clutter up a kitchen or storage space. Get a head of it before it drowns you.
Using the dish racks/drainers has allowed me not to spend too much on other types of organisers. Yes, they are very good, versatile but sometimes more expensive or not easily found. These works for me and I just wanted to share this find with you.
In conclusion, as long as you have space for it you will find use for it.
