The draining board! AHH! It has been a source of frustration for me. It sure does accumulate with all sorts of hand washable kitchen items and never ceases to be pilled with stuff! Once I clear it off, another pile fills up. Keeping the draining board cleared greatly improves the appearance of your kitchen, I have realized. When dishes are pilled high in this one area of the kitchen, even if everything else is cleared, my entire kitchen looks a mess. I have never had a drying rack, but have always used a towel, as racks seem to accumulate mold, and do not look attractive at all.
I know that air drying your dishes is supposedly better for you, but when they sit there for a day, they are also accumulating dust and dirt!
This week I have set a goal for myself to keep this cleared off, if all possible. When I wash the dishes after the meal, I am going to just dry the dish immediately after washing and put it away. Do away with the draining board all together! I am often just plan lazy!
Check out Tammy’s Recipes for more kitchen tips!
I also got rid of the drain rack system and only use a dish towel for air drying dishes if there are a lot of them. I’ve lived in humid climates like Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, and now Missouri, and mold can be a problem if you aren’t cleaning the drain rack with bleach on a weekly basis–not to mention hard water accumulation. I keep dishes washed throughout the day and put them away immediately as I wash and dry them. I also replace dishcloths and go through at least 4 dish towels daily, air drying them on towel bars in the laundry room until their weekly hot bleach wash. It’s a response to years of living in humid environments where bugs can be a problem.
Another habit is to NEVER allow anything to lay on the floor: no clothes, towels, toys, clutter, no rugs, nothing except furniture touches the floor. Nothing is allowed to accumulate, either. No paper, no cardboard boxes, ever! Everything stays tidy and is kept swept up every day. Mold and bugs like undisturbed clutter, paper, cardboard boxes, and wet places like drainboards and drain racks. As a child growing up in Florida, we dried out the sinks, tubs, and showers after using them to keep bugs and mold away. It wasn’t a difficult habit to keep up with because we actually spent far less time on cleaning and cooking since the house was always neat and clutter free.
Honestly, I’ve never had mold or anything grow on my dish rack. It mostly is used for pots and stainless steel water bottles, etc. (Dishwasher is used for everything else). Periodically I give it a spray with my all-purpose cleaning solution(vinegar, water, tea tree oil), let it sit for a few minutes and wash off. Years ago I used a towel too but prefer my drainer.
Good morning my dear friends! I’ve found you! I can hardly believe it, but my Bosch Mixer motor is dying. It’s only lasted a few decades of daily use. Argh…
My hubby has found that he can likely purchase a replacement base. Isn’t that amazing? But, I thought before we did that, I’d ask all of you if there is anything new/better on the market. I can’t imagine a heftier workhorse but I haven’t been in the market since my 30 year old was born!!! Please let me know if you have recently researched. Love to you all. Aletha K
Hello Aletha! I love hearing how your bosch mixer has lasted you so long! That is awesome. I honestly do not know of any other product that is superior to it. The Bosch ranks the highest in my opinion! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for the tip
I don’t have a drying rack either for the same reason. 
I usually just put a towel down, wash/rinse/ and place on the towel, then finish drying them with a towel and put them away. We do have a dishwasher, so I don’t need to do this often thankfully 
Dishes are my least favorite chore!
If you have a range electric stove, another thing that can make your kitchen look clean and tidy are burner covers
I love mine, and I got them on eBay for a couple of bucks including shipping 
Samara, I don’t have a dish rack either for that same reason. It does make it significantly easier to put things away as you use them in your kitchen (spices return to their place, dishes get put in the dishwasher, etc). This is an important habit to develop! I started yesterday just drying the dish immediately after washing it and eliminating the draining board all together. It worked surprisingly well.
Hi Lindsay,
I intentionally did not buy a dish rack. I put a towel down on the counter and put the rinsed dishes onto it, then I (try) to immediately dry them/put them away. Besides, I can’t stand dish racks! Unless you are meticulous they are always accumulating mold and gross scum on them
. I like the “Fly Lady’s” way of doing dishes, if you keep them going throughout the day, or as you cook, they don’t pile up nearly so much.
I try to wash and dry too. I LOVE a completly clean kitchen. (It will get easier when your little one is older. My girls and I can get it done in no time flat!)
Thanks for the tip. I like your site – I will visit again.
Blessings,
~Jane
I know what you mean! I hate having dirty dishes piled up. My goal every night is to have a COMPLETELY clean kitchen.
Amy @ http://hopeistheword.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/kitchen-tip-tuesday-salt-dough-ornaments/