I've had a love-hate relationship with my dish drying rack for the past three years. Water would inevitably pool in the gaps and mold would start to grow before I knew it. I was constantly cleaning the rack, hoping for some peace of mind with the dishes I was washing. So when I moved into my boyfriend's house a couple of weeks ago and got access to a dishwasher, I parted ways with my sink buddy. I wasn't ready to give up on the rack completely; I still have some dishes I like to hand wash, but this time I wanted something that would make cleaning easier. Then Dorai Home contacted me about their new over-sink dish pad and I decided to give it a try.
As soon as I took it out of the box, I was surprised at how heavy this product was. That's thanks to a thick board on one end made from diatomaceous earth, a staple material from Dorai (they also use it in bath mats and sink caddies, among other things). The natural minerals have antibacterial properties, but most importantly, it dries super fast. In my own testing, a drop of water was reliably absorbed in about a minute, a big improvement from my last purchase. The rest of the rack is made up of silicone pieces. A grid-like cover is wrapped around the pad and attached to a roll of slats. The slats extend up to 19 inches over the sink. Unlike similar drying racks from Food52, this rack doesn't have pockets for cutlery, so it's best used in conjunction with a dishwasher.
Over-the-sink dish pad + stone sink caddy set
Dry Home
$120
$105
buy now
Although we haven't yet placed a heavy Dutch oven on the silicone-wrapped bar, the brand's website touts that the bar can support a lot of weight. But the bar also stabilizes even the wobbliest cups, and it doesn't take up any valuable countertop space. Plus, its cream color blends in well with most countertops.
Besides storing wet dishes on the rack, I like to use the slats as a base for a strainer, and it's nice to have a few inches of space between fresh pasta and the bottom of the sink. They're also great for drying larger utensils like baking sheets and cutting boards without sacrificing space on the mat.
While mildew is no longer a concern, diatomaceous earth does have its issues: It's a porous material, so it stains easily. Luckily, Dorai doesn't deny that. In fact, the brand includes a small piece of sandpaper with your order. If you notice any light stains or scratches, just dampen the pad and gently sand away the marks. I use the same method on my Dorai sink caddy, which gets pretty stained from soap spills, and it's back to perfection in just a few seconds.
