Archive for the ‘Dish Rack’ Category
The holidays are a double edge sword for me. On one hand, the holidays are filled with meaningful occasions hosting family and friends and at our house. On the other hand, we have what I call - “an ongoing total mess in the kitchen”…piles and piles of dirty plates, posts, pans, and utensils my head feels like its going to explode as I survey the disastrous state of my kitchen.
Organization is the key to having a “stress free” working kitchen, and the simple dish rack, has been an absolute gem in this regard. My new dish rack helps keep the kitchen organized and much more manageable. I love the fact that I can fit all my clean dishes in the rack and not have to spread them out on the counter to dry. In addition to dishes and pans, I also store some of my kitchen tools in it. With everything I need for everyday use in one place, my kitchen work is much less stressful!
Let me be perfectly honest; I used to HATE dish racks. They take up space that I’d much rather use for other things and on top of that, they usually look bad. If I was made of money, I’d purchase a fancy Italian style kitchen, complete with built in dish rack in the back of the sink (it never hurts to dream!). However, until I win the lottery, I’ve had to search for a less expensive solution.
I have very little counter space in my apartment and need to make every inch count. This iswhere my 2-tier dish rack comes in; it provides plenty of room for dishes, cups and utensils, which makes a great space saver for my kitchen – I absolutely love that even when dishes are drying, I still have plenty of counter space to work with. Also, this is about the best looking dish rack you’ll find; unlike most cumbersome “plain look” styles, this rack has an exceptional, contemporary look. I may never love dish racks, but I’ve thankfully found one I can tolerate, and maybe even (gasp!), enjoy using!
It’s a fact of life; no matter how great the occasion, my family always contends with the dreaded clean up. Holiday meals are usually when I break out the expensive platters, fine china, and stemmed glassware. Of course, the rest of the year they’re stuck in the china cabinet collecting dust. With all the holiday hustle and bustle it’s easy to forget to properly clean you china. However, a few simple steps and a standard dish rack can help preserve valuable items, and set the stage for a sparkling holiday celebration.
A Plan for Cleaning China and Other Delicate Valuables Items - Follow these steps when cleaning the finer pieces in your collection:
1. Remove surface dust.
2. Line the bottom of the sink with a dish towel or a stack of paper towels to buffer delicate items.
3. Soak the object in a mild solution of detergent and water to remove any grime built up under the dust.
4. Remember to use only lukewarm water on delicate china and crystal. Dramatic changes in temperature can cause cracking and breaking, and very hot water can fade hand-painted china.
5. Remove coffee and tea stains from cups and saucers by sprinkling baking soda in the cup, and rubbing with a clean cloth.
6. Remove dirt from fine crevices using an inexpensive auto detail brush. The bristles are stiff enough to get into tight spaces, but soft enough not to damage surfaces.
7. Gently dry objects with a soft cloth, or air dry in a dish rack.
Honestly, as a relatively new homeowner, I’ve grow accustomed to modern appliances and expectations. I mean c’mon, any modern kitchen is incomplete without a built-in dishwasher. Yeah right; who was I fooling (no one)? I’m a country girl at heart and one thing I’ve learned (in life and in the kitchen): trendy appliances are nice, but when push comes to shove, you always go back to the basics.
That’s why dish racks can be the perfect chore-mate for tiny kitchens where space premiums–or budgets–don’t make a dishwasher reasonable, for the less-modern summer cabin, or for anyone who occasionally whips through a few dirty dishes between loads. These situations are just the tip of the iceberg for the reliable, proven dish rack show its value.
After that wonderful holiday feast there is always the dreaded cleanup. Once you sleep off the serotonin induced “coma” created by that wonderful smorgasbord of goodies, you awake to find piles of dirty plates, saucers, pots, pans, and utensils. What a mess! No need to fret though, like any seemingly monumental task, there’s only one way to approach it: one step at a time. Fortunately, there are modern conveniences that make your cleanup as painless as possible.
Quality make cleaning dirty kitchenware easier than you ever imagined. My new dish rack is both stable and durable and has plenty of space for all my dirty dishes, cups, and utensils. In addition, it’s also a great looking piece of kitchenware! After all, holiday cleanup may never be fun, but my wonderful dish rack sure does speed up the process, and allows me to make time for life’s truly important moments.