Finding a Better Way to Drain Dishes

This year I did some shopping for myself to solve problems that I have had for a while and wanted to find a better solution for.

A few years back we updated our kitchen. I love the new kitchen layout. An area where we had a narrow cabinet, we rotated and put the cabinet doors on the 'side' allowing for a wide but not deep cabinet. i use it for my spices, my food storage containers and some of my baking dishes. It utilizes the space so much better than the old style and since it backs up to the fridge, it helps encase the fridge. On the other side, we replaced a bifold door with wire shelf pantry with a pantry cabinet with roll-out shelves. Again, being able to use and access all of the space was a huge improvement. We added a credenza style cabinet that replaced our desk and added a computer shelf under the penisula so we can use it as a workspace but store the computer out of the way when we cook or entertain. We added an open shelf unit at the end of the peninsula, allowing us to display a few pieces and store cookbooks within easy reach.

One other thing we did was upgrade to granite countertops, and in so doing, went with an undermount sink. The undermount sink we chose is asymetrical, with one larger than normal well and one smaller than normal. This works great for washing dishes and food prep but it was a challenge for us when it came to drying the dishes.

We tried to find a small drainer that we could put in the small side of the sink but none of them seemed to work. It also didn't do well accomodating larger pans and dishes because of the narrow space. I could have gone with any size and had it always on my counter (or would have had to find a place to store it), which I didn't want. So, for several years, I would lay a dish towel on the counter, wash dishes and then let them dry for a bit on their own before drying and putting away. I wasn't a big fan of the wet towel laying the counter for a period of time. The dishes sitting on the wet towel only partially dried on their own with that moisture filled towel below them. I would go through 2-3 dish towels at a minimum each day too.

So, I was constantly on the outlook for a better way to solve my problem. Late last year, I found the solution. A roll-up dish drying rack. It was perfect for me. It solved the problem of drying dishes on towels all over my counter, it allows for the water to drain from the dishes, I can drain dishes large and small and it rolls up for easy storage.

Now, I can wash my dishes, leave them to drain for a while and come back and give a quick dry and put them away. No more need to put them away immediately after washing to keep the wet towels from lingering on the sink. The dishes can breath, helping to prevent those weird smells that were in water bottles after being left to drain even for a short period on a damp towel. I go through fewer dish towels on a daily basis.

When I am done using it, I give it a quick wipe dry to get rid of any excess moisture and then I roll it up. I have a tendency to leave the drying rack rolled up in the sink most days so that I can simply unroll it when I am ready to do dishes but it is also compact enough to stow under the sink when we are entertaining.

What problem have you recently solved with a new tool?

I bought this product and all opinions are my own.

CVS Deals - 5/17

I made it into CVS finally this week. I was starting to worry that it was going to be another one of those weeks where I just wouldn't find the opportunity to stop in to pick up the deals.

As I mentioned, I had stopped in last week. After a baseball game, I had gone to CVS to pick up some replacement ice packs for the first aid kit. They didn't sell any. I decided to pick up some of the deals, even though I didn't have my coupons with me. I had my CVS envelope, so I wasn't completely without coupons but know the deal would have been better with one more cereal coupon and some manufacturers coupons for the vitamins. The store I stopped at seems to have shrunk the Nature Made selection and only had the 60ct bottle of fish oil, instead of the 150 ct (which recently has been a bonus pack with 200). As such, I was worried if I could use the Coke coupon. Turns out, it worked, in fact she rang the coupon and it was only after I asked that she realized she didn't scan the Coke. I came home and had to quickly prepare for company, so no picture.
1 - Cherry Coke 12 pack
3 - GM Cereals
1 - Milky Way Caramel (yum!)
2 - Nature Made Fish Oil

-$2.51 99c Coke 12pk with $25 purchase in ad coupon
-$1.10 GM Cereal IP
-$2 Nature Made CRT
-$2 Nature Made CRT

Paid with $2 ECB and $15.84 OOP. Earned $4 (cereal), $1 (green bag) and $.75(candy bar) ECBs.

Here is this week's deal (with picture!):

2 - Lifesaver Gummy Packs
5 - Finish Dishwasher Detergent
1 - Finish Jet Dry
1 - Moisturizing Body Wash

-$1.50 $1.50/2 Lifesaver CVS IP (have to share or it is only $.50)
-$1 $1/1 Lifesavers IP (from a few weeks ago)
-$.50 Finish IP
-$.75 Finish Mfg coupon
-$.75 Finish Mfg coupon
-$.75 Finish Mfg coupon
-$.75 Finish Mfg coupon
-$.50 Finish Jet Dry IP
-$3 Free Moisturizing Body Wash Offer CVS (interesting, it was for $2.37 but ran up as $3)

Paid with $5.75 in ECBs (from last week) and $12.36 OOP. Earned $10 ECB. My net 'cost' for the trip was $8.11 including tax. I figure that amounts to about 6 months of dishwashing at about $.08 per load (for detergent and rinse aid).