Most exciting thread of the year. Ready.... Tell me about your washing up drainer thing!

[KStockHERO]

I have metal washing-up drainage rack. It was quite expensive from Laura Ashley 😬
But its gone all rusty and looks like absolute shit (see images)

I'm not that keen on the Wham type of ones like this.
I'd rather get something a bit more stylish (if a washing-up drainer can be stylish).
But I don't really like these kind of two-tiered monstrosities. And they tend to be grey and black coloured which I hate.
And the sleek Joseph and Joseph ones have that horrible drip tray which turns my stomach.

I just can't bloody find what I'm looking for - a nice-looking one, not plastic, not black/grey, no drip tray with a cutlery part that cutlery can actually stand up in.

Please show me your washing-up drainers and give me some inspiration!

Neither would mine! Having said that we went together and paid £80 for a bread bin twenty years ago and it still sits on the kitchen counter and I still love it.

I don’t think I’d ever feel the same about a dish rack somehow.

Me too. We have a dishwasher and usually quite a big pile on a tea towel on the draining board as well as I like vintage crockery. I rinse in very hot water so with the quick evaporation the towel barely even gets wet. Dish drainers (and cutlery trays in drawers) turn my stomach.

Now, If I could only get round to putting the stuff away.

We have this John Lewis dish rack. The sides are low so you can have items sticking out over them.
John Lewis Standard Dish Drainer, White

We ahve this separte cutlery drainer which easily stands on the dish rack.
Addis Signature Recycled Cutlery Drainer (therange.co.uk)

Oh believe me I would love a good long browse around Home Sense for a rack. But ours closed down 😫

I sat down to sift through all the responses today and make a decision but now I feel genuinely overwhelmed at all the brilliant suggestions on here.

I will keep you all posted with my decision-making!

We have the Ikea Ordning rack and seoerste cutter drainer. They are 24 years old!

Wait - what’s the alternative to a cutlery tray in a drawer? I don’t like them, but doesn’t everything get all muddled and you can’t find the corkscrew?

I have had this one 7 years, I like it because it’s really unobtrusive but does job. Not if you’re handwashing dishes after a ten person dinner party but fine for family life in conjunction with a dishwasher. They make a bigger version too. Washes in the dishwasher and I don’t use the mat part as I have a drainer section next to my sink and a composite worktop so no need for the extra protection

https://www.johnlewis.com/brabantia-compact-dish-rack/mid-grey/p5307555?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz8GuBhCxARIsAOpzk8zJ2cVjdGKvSBH2sMIcpMG2TN-P0dHqX_uNp_azIf6exutoCacQPUIaAq67EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sorry - @GreenBanana445 already posted the bigger version on page one 🤦🏻‍♀️

I keep mine upright in a metal basket organiser (John Lewis) or sometimes three separate metal pots with holes in (ikea) on the counter next to the kettle. I wash the containers regularly and any crumbs that find their way in just fall through to be wiped off the counter every day.

The few large cooking utensils hang on a rail, tea towels in the top drawer, the rice cooker and tupperware live in the middle drawer, the mugs live in the bottom drawer and I don’t own a corkscrew 🤷🏻‍♀️

It works for me as I find I can keep everything cleaner this way. YMMV, obviously.

We stayed at a holiday cottage that had a great drainer something like this
https://www.debenhams.com/product/kitchenaid-compact-dish-drying-rack---charcoal-grey_p-7ad3c0b0-e78f-498d-a8d2-cdbdf8f6925c?colour=Grey
Drip tray optional I think and cutlery holder could be put on either way.

https://www.dunelm.com/product/2-tier-matt-black-dish-drainer-and-cutlery-holder-1000149993

That one in cream, had it a while after trying one of those with a tray which was horrible with all the water. The cutlery tray has rusted but the rest of the drainer is fine. Doesn't look like they do it in cream at the moment but there's one with some wooden handles that looks the same.

I bought this one recently, after getting fed up with my plastic one going mouldy in the drain holes. I spent quite a while searching for the right one 😁.

As people have previously commented on similar styles of drainers, the tray filled with water after completing the washing up, and it was tricky to empty, but my lovely husband drilled three holes in it, and it no longer keeps hold of the water. Some come with a ‘spout’ (can’t think of the correct term!), so the water can drain off by itself, but I couldn’t find that was big enough for what we wanted, so settled with this one. The old plastic one was the perfect size, but this comes a close second.

IKEA kvot dish drainer. Simple steel design. Good size for everything to fit on. Nowhere on it for water to stagnate. And I have a stainless steel cutlery holder from IKEA too for all the cutlery to drain dry in.

Another vote here for the KitchenAid drying rack (that's at least three of us!). There are two sizes; I have the smaller one and got it for £20+ at Costco a couple of years ago. The cutlery rack works equally well at the back of the rack, on the outside, so it maximises space for dishes. Still no rust, the water runs away and it's easy to clean. What's not to like?!

Thank you. Indeed it does. Ladle, sieve etc are on a rail, but unfortunately we have almost no counter space… and do find plenty of use for a corkscrew (in fact 2 corkscrews, 3 vegetable peelers, knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, pastry brush, knife sharpener, nutmeg grater, cheese slicer, lemon juicer, and really far too many teaspoons).

I think they're made by Curver but it might be Wham. I got a couple on fleabay (kitchen and utility room) and a matching square bowl that never gets used.

All sinks are top-mounted and have integral drainers. The idea of a sink with no drainer, or needing a tray, is ridiculous.

The plastic ones eventually get cracked, which is why I got two last time. No rust, no clatter.

I needed this thread last year.

I ended up with a wrought iron plant stand thing, with two shelves, with outdoor powder-coating paint stuff. It looks beautiful and I love it It's got slats that hold the plates perfectly. It took me ages to find the right thing though.

I have two separate containers for utensils. I didn't want an all-in-one thing.

I have a normal chrome dish rack and just bought a separate cutlery holder. Can't remember where I got them, probably The Range or Homebase or one of the supermarkets. They were cheap and nothing fancy but do the job.

@Ducksinthebath do you have a link to that over-the-Sink-top one you shared? That is exactly what I need but can’t seem to find it!

Shameless hi-jack! Could I enlist you kitchen utensil fiends in my search for an extra large utensil jar that's handsome and sturdy? My spatulas, whisks, spoons and ladles appear to have been breeding. Of course, I could just buy another plain one, but the shop I bought it from has gone.

Could I enlist you kitchen utensil fiends in my search for an extra large utensil jar that's handsome and sturdy?

I just use a ceramic/pottery plant pot.

So far @DisplayPurposesOnly that's what I have used, but as I noted, the utensils are so happy they are breeding (helped by cheffy son's inputs).

I have this one - it's the best one I've found so far... it does have a drip tray but it's slanted and there's a little flip down drain plug .

Good Grips Foldaway Dish Rack amzn.eu/d/bbDbK

Still have to wash it occasionally but it fits in my dishwasher...

Well. Thank you all for your support 😊

I've ordered this one today and the horrible coloured removable bit will indeed be removed.

I'm sure DH will love it

I got one of these types 4 years ago and it is still going strong. I put it in the dishwasher to clean it and it comes out perfect.

https://www.wayfair.co.uk/home-improvement/pdp/draper-collapsible-dish-drainer-with-drainer-board-foldable-drying-rack-set-portable-dinnerware-organizer-space-saving-kitchen-storage-tray-grey-pawe4205.html