So I'm rethinking the whole kitchen sink area. I have stainless steel sink and granite counters. We use the dishwasher daily. Typically run at night, empty during breakfast. I would love your suggestions before I buy too many random items!
Where to dry hand washed dishes and knives?
It took me forever to find the PERFECT dish drying rack. I use it to dry large pots, and knives etc. I don't like it for cups and little things that are dishwasher safe as I feel strongly that some people in my house are haphazard hand-dishwashers (DH and inlaws when they visit). My inlaws use my dishrack to drain vegetables too. So in other words it is just one more thing to clean, and it's hard to clean. And mine is dark grey and shows calcium from hard water. So I want to replace it with something easier to clean. This is what I have now, but without the wine glass holder. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stor...ord=dish+racks
I have the rubbery things with ridges and I can rinse that off pretty well, so that is what I'm using now. But I have to be on the watch to make sure no one else gets water under it. http://www.amazon.com/Polder-Multi-P.../dp/B006RBH56S
I have 2 layer cloth placemats that I use (dedicated) for the funtainers because I wanted all the pieces together!!
For wine glasses I use a plastic grid with tray (from container store a LONG time ago) that is the width of a wine glass and holds about 4 of them at a time, and can be run through the dishwasher, which I do at least weekly.
I could use bath/beach towels and I have for overflow. But I want something dedicated to the dish area.
Do I want something like this that's washable? And I can wash weekly? http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stor...mat/1018568578
But then what do I use for knives?
Hand drying towel
I used an over the cabinet bar but then my cabinet got water marks on it, not sure how to prevent that, so now I use a bathroom towel bar on the counter, and that works okay. Similar to this but with a larger base: http://www.amazon.com/Gatco-1546-Cou...untertop+towel Suggestions? Favorite hand/dish towels? I have some W-S towels that are in good condition except for they are grungy gray (no longer white) and everytime I go to replace them I don't because they will just turn grungy too. I use tide free and Charlie's soap with vinegar rinse.
To hand wash dishes
To prerinse dishes before dishwasher I prefer to use a brush. I have a long brush that has lasted a long time but it's bristles are smashed. I have been able to run it in the dishwasher and have tried and thrown away many other brushes. It's time to find one better than this one. To wash dishes I have been using a sponge, but I then have to microwave it daily and other people who use my sponge forget to rinse it and squeeze it. Wondering if I would do better with something in microfiber that is thinner that I can dry over the double sink partition. Like this? http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...-NoFacet-_--_- And then I can launder the cloths daily!
Napkins
We already use cloth napkins and washcloths. We use actual napkins but I think the kids prefer washcloths. I got a large pack recently at Costco. I think I'm happy with this one. We use reusable for lunch at school too. Kind of pricey but we've been using them for years and they are "separate" from the at home pile. http://www.amazon.com/Fabkins-Everyd...s=kids+napkins
Counters
For wiping the counters I use handiwipes and another kind that can be recycled...but I think I should switch to microfiber cloths, suggestions? The yellow pack at Costco?
Thanks!