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Dish Drying Racks for Small Apartments: picks and what to check
A dish rack lives where the water is: next to the sink, over it, or on a mat beside it. The right style depends on how much you wash by hand and how much counter you can give up.
What matters for small apartments
In a small apartment the rack competes with everything else on the counter, so foldable, roll-up and over-the-sink styles tend to matter more than raw capacity.
Picks to consider
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Gorilla Grip Silicone Dish Drying Mat, 18 x 16 Inch
Ribs lift dishes and glasses off pooled water so air reaches them, and the raised edges keep drips from running across the counter. Use it on its own for a small load or under an existing dish rack, then roll it up or rinse it clean.
Suits: For a small load of dishes, or to place under a dish rack you already own. Ribs lift dishes off pooled water so air reaches them.
Check first: The mat is 18 by 16 inches, so check that it fits your counter. It is a flat mat, so it will not hold a large set of dishes the way a rack does. Roll it up or rinse it clean.
OXO Good Grips Aluminum Fold Flat Dish Rack, 2-Tier
A full-size dish rack takes over a small counter even when it is empty. OXO's two-tier aluminum rack holds plates, bowls and cups on separate levels, then folds flat to store when the dishes are put away.
Suits: For small kitchens that need a dish rack on busy nights but want the counter back afterward.
Check first: Set up, it measures 16.4" L x 14.4" W x 9.5" H, so check the space beside your sink.
JASIWAY Expandable Stainless Steel In-Sink Dish Drying Rack
A countertop dish rack takes up prep space that a small kitchen can't spare. This stainless steel rack sits in or over the sink, with arms that extend from 15.5 to 23.2 inches, so water drips straight into the basin.
Suits: For apartments, RVs and small kitchens where counter space is tight, and for one- or two-person households washing a small load at a time.
Check first: The rack itself is about 15.5" x 11" x 4.8" with silicone-sleeved arms; measure your sink width first. It holds about 12 plates, 10 bowls and 4 cups plus utensils.
Joseph Joseph Extend Steel Expandable Dish Rack
A two-part dish rack that slides apart for big wash-ups and back together when space is tight. A spout drains water straight into the sink, and the prongs have a non-scratch coating.
Suits: For small kitchens that need extra drying space only after big meals.
Check first: Measure the counter beside your sink with the rack expanded, and place the spout over the sink edge.
Kitsure Compact Dish Drying Rack with Drainboard
A 12 by 15.5 inch footprint fits beside the sink in a tight kitchen, yet it is built to hold about ten plates plus bowls and glasses. The drainboard catches drips, and the two-compartment utensil holder lifts off for cleaning.
Suits: For a tight kitchen with a little counter beside the sink. The 12 by 15.5 inch footprint is listed as holding about ten plates plus bowls and glasses.
Check first: The drainboard catches drips, so check where the water will drain. The utensil holder lifts off for cleaning.
Ohuhu Roll-Up Over-the-Sink Dish Drying Rack, 17.6" x 15.4"
This roll-up rack spans the sink so dishes, produce, and cookware drip straight into the basin and the counter stays clear. The silicone-wrapped steel rods support up to 100 lbs, and it fits sinks whose shorter side is 17" or less.
Suits: For anyone who wants the counter completely clear. It spans the sink, so dishes, produce and cookware drip into the basin.
Check first: Measure your sink first: it fits sinks whose shorter side is 17 inches or less. The rods are silicone-wrapped steel and support up to 100 pounds, and it rolls up for storage.
Before you buy
- Measure the counter or sink area the rack will occupy, including where the drip tray or mat drains.
- Decide whether you need a rack that folds, expands or rolls up, or one that stays put.
- Look at how water drains: into the sink, onto a mat, or into a tray you must empty.
- Check the listing for material care, since metal, silicone and microfiber each wear differently.