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In a recent article, I stated how much I like microfiber cleaning towels. I also have a microfiber mat for drying dishes. Sure, it’s great to have. But is it really better than a dish rack, like many people are claiming?
Dish Drying Mat
A microfiber dish drying mat or even a microfiber cloth will absorb moisture very well. But unless you plan to use them to actually dry your dishes, it is not moisture absorption you’re looking for.
The idea of draining clean dishes is to allow the water to drain off them and for them to air dry. A microfiber dish mat does not assist in this. It hinders it in some cases. Despite this, some websites claim it is a superior choice and will work better than a dish rack.
There is only one reason to say that a microfiber mat is better than a dish rack. It takes up a whole lot less space. You can store it in a drawer and take it out when you need it. But unlike your dish rack, you’ll have to put it in the washing machine quite often.
Washing the mat is not the main problem, though. The main problem is that it doesn’t allow dishes and utensils to drain. Let’s say you just washed a big pile of forks, spoons, and knives. Unless you can lay them all out neat and tidy on your mat, they’re going to end up in a big pile. They will take much longer to dry than if you placed them into the draining cups of a dishrack.
And, when you place a wet glass or cup on a microfiber mat, the moisture inside becomes trapped! It can sit there for hours, if not days, without drying inside.
The moisture will just continue to cling to the inside of the glass or ceramic mug. In order to assist draining an drying, you have to place something under the edge of the glass, say a knife or fork.
If you try to dry a whole load of dishes on a microfiber mat, you will quickly find that it is in no way better than a dish rack. A microfiber mat is, at best, in addition to a dish rack for when you have more dishes than can fit into your rack.
So, why do people say this? Because microfiber mats are trendy and people say all sorts of dumb things in order to justify liking something. You can like a microfiber dish mat without thinking it will replace a dish rack altogether.
The biggest complaint about dish racks is that they take up too much room. Today, however, there are many space-saving choices including a rack that can be placed over the sink and then be folded up for storage. If you have a double sink, this may work for you. These racks can also be used to drain vegetables. For example, check out the Surpahs Over the Sink Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack.
- YOU WASH, ILL DRY - The steel frame dishrack has an innovative drainage system that includes an integrated drip tray with a swivel spout that pivots to keep water flowing directly into the sink, not onto the countertop.
- ANTI-RESIDUE COATING - Hydrophilic coating on plastic tray causes water to spread so that it dries more quickly and prevents residue buildup. Very clean and efficient.
- WINE GLASS HOLDER - Integrated wine glass rack safely hangs up to 4 extra-large Bordeaux wine glasses so they dry quickly and efficiently.
- SWIVEL SPOUT - Spout pivots to drain water directly into the sink so you can position the dishrack long or short ways on the countertop.
- EXTENDABLE DRIP TRAY - Pulls out below the cup holders to catch drips.
- UTENSIL HOLDER - Separate compartments keep utensils neat and organized.
- COATED STEEL WIRE - Soft, coated steel wire protects dishes against chips and scratches.
- EASY TO CLEAN - Utensil holder and wire frame are top-rack dishwasher safe; clean all other parts with warm, soapy water.
- OPTIONAL FEET - Add the optional feet to raise the dishrack spout over high sinks.
- FINGERPRINT-PROOF - Fingerprint-proof finish resists smudges to keep stainless steel shiny.
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Dish Racks
Regular dish racks, as mentioned, have come a long way. Although you can still get the simple old-fashioned variety for 10 to 20 bucks, modern racks have more convenient and useful features.
For example, the SimpleHuman Kitchen Steel Frame Dish Rack has a unique integrated drip tray with a swivel spout for drainage. The tray itself is treated with a hydrophilic coating which causes water to spread, thus preventing the residue buildup that occurs on plastic drip trays.
There are hooks for draining glasses, a wine glass rack, and plenty of space for utensils, and of course, slots for your plates. A microfiber mat is just a mat.
And, if you want the usefulness of a dish rack in a space-saving easy-to-store solution, check out the OXO Good Grips Convertible Foldaway Dish Rack. This rack is customizable depending on what kind of dishes you are draining. You can fold down the plate rack to make room for big bowls or pans.
There are tines on the rack that can be used for wine glasses or cups like the previous rack. It has two different utensil holders and solid side walls.
Plus the whole thing can be put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning, or you can just remove the utensil compartments to clean them separately. The OXO Good Grips Fold-Away Dish Rack is a better dish rack that can be easily stored away to make more room on your kitchen counter.
- Pop-up plate rack safely holds bowls, plates, fine china and other delicate dishware
- Dish Rack accommodates large bowls, cookware and more when plate rack is down for drying
- Large-capacity divided utensil holders remove for easy unloading
- Dish Rack tines hold cups, mugs and wine glasses without dripping on countertops
- Fold-out legs elevate Dish Rack, water drains directly into the sink through spout.Side walls, legs and spout fold in for compact storage.Dimensions open: 48.3 cm x 39.4 cm x 16.5 cm.Dimensions closed: 48.3 cm x 31.75 cm x 9.5 cm.The OXO Better Guarantee: If you experience an issue with your OXO product, get in touch with us for a repair or replacement. We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn from your experience, and we’ll make it better.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Silicone Dish-Drying Mats
If you absolutely do not have room for a dish rack or you just really like the advantages of a mat, a much better choice than a microfiber mat is a silicone mat.
This type of mat can still be rolled up and stored in a drawer but is ribbed so that dishes can drain and aerate. This way, even a glass turned upside down can dry out on the inside.
The OXO Good Grips Silicone Drying Mat is a popular choice and although I have no personal experience with it, I have always found OXO Good Grips products to be high quality.
As for microfiber mats, sure I have one and I pull it out when I need it but it does not replace my dish rack. But, as far as microfiber goes, I love microfiber cleaning cloths. That is all I use! They are, simply, the BEST cleaning cloth you are going to find.
Buy yourself a set of very affordable Zwipes Microfiber Cloths and I think you will very happy with how useful they are.
See also: Do You Need Professional-Grade Kitchen Towels?