The area around my sink is in a near-constant traffic jam, and with counter space in my compact kitchen at a premium, it’s a nuisance I’ve been trying to solve for a while.
That’s why this over-the-sink expanding dish rack from Walmart, which is just $10.99, really caught my eye. It will instantly double my dish-drying space, as and when I need it, without using my counter.
Why This $11 Walmart Dish Rack is Perfect for Small Kitchens
The stainless steel construction of this expandable over-the-sink drying rack makes it durable, rust-resistant, and useful for compact kitchens. It doesn’t require assembly, and at this affordable price point, it’s a great addition for the hosting season.
Freeing up counter space is a vital task in small kitchens, as standard, but even more so during hosting season, with all those extra festive bakes and guests coming by for multi-course meals that require even more washing up and drying than usual.
It’s a common problem many face, including Chiana Dickson, content editor at Homes & Gardens and queen of testing decluttering methods and products for small-space living.
She says, ‘The kitchen in my old Victorian home is tiny, with barely enough space for three people to stand comfortably at the same time. Counterspace has always been a nightmare, but as I prepare to host friends for the first time this coming Christmas, I have been racking my brain for improvements.
‘Juggling three courses and dishes without a dishwasher, all without stressing myself out, has been a challenge, but this super handy Walmart in-sink disk drying rack will solve the piling dishes issue between courses.
‘With it, I can stack all the dishes neatly while washing up by hand, before lowering them into the empty sink afterwards to instantly free up much-needed counterspace for food prep or plating, without having to factor in time to hand dry and put everything away. This also decreases the likelihood of me being bogged down in chores and letting something burn on the stove or missing time with my loved ones.
‘It's quick to move on and off the sink and increases efficiency when drying dishes during hosting season without adding clutter to counters. It’s exactly what’s needed in small kitchens in the busiest month of the year.'
It's a simple way to declutter countertops.
Shoppers love it too, with verified shopper Deborah giving it five stars, and commenting, ‘I've been looking for an over-the-sink dish drain for years! This one is the best! It is adjustable to fit over any sink.' She particularly loves that it has a robust metal construction with plastic at each end to ensure the sink and area around it don't get scratched.
Another happy buyer, Tammy, adds, ‘Fantastic, over-the-sink, dish dryer. The fact that it's adjustable made it so easy.’
Others commend its durability, how it expands easily, and also functions as a freestanding dish dryer on the counter in case you need to use the sink.
I’m definitely trying it out for myself, especially as I am hosting Christmas Day dinner at my house this year, and will desperately need that extra drying space.
What to Shop
Over-the-sink drying racks are not the only way to streamline your sink space. These useful additions will help with every small space sink issue, from allowing sponges to dry properly to reduce the risk of bacterial growth and cross-contamination, to going vertical on racks to allow more space to dry dishes and more.
If you want to keep your sink basin clear, extend outwards with this versatile dish drying rack from Joseph Joseph. It has a movable cutlery holder to suit your sink and counter design and comes in three colorways. Expand and contract it as needed.
This two-tier rack is handy because you can easily access all of the lower layer, dry large items and enjoy the extra drying space without using extra counter space near your sink area.
Keep things simple and streamlined side sink when you have guests with a large silicone drying rack. When it's time for a clean, it's dishwasher safe for ease and speed. When not needed, dry it and roll it up, and storeit in the cabinet underneath your sink.
This recycled plastic bottle drying rack can double up as your storage area, and it comes with a silicone drip mat, meaning you don’t have to balance your water bottles Jenga-style on your dish rack anymore.
This is the wine glass drying rack we're loving for holiday hosting, for sparkling glassware all season long, and no awkward toppling over. When not in use, the wired element folds flat to make storage easy and compact.
If you like the idea of having a kitchen sink organizer, Solved writer Ottilie Blackhall loves this Joseph Joseph model because it's easy to clean, is super modern, and has enough space for everything. It'll allow your sponges to avoid bacterial buildup.
Next, delve into how to get your kitchen hosting-ready.
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