Doing the dishes usually goes this way: you put them in the sink, rinse, wash them with green dish soap, and then put them in the dish rack.
You also have the possibility to put them in the dishwasher, but that’s a totally different story.
I want to focus on the dish rack part. Is your one made of plastic, stainless steel, wood or bamboo?
If you didn’t know, you can now buy a bamboo or wooden dish rack with utensil holder.
It may seem odd for this kitchen product to be made of wood or bamboo, but it’s quite a great idea.
These two are eco-friendly materials and offer the same results as other products.
If you don’t know many differences between these materials, let me explain them for you.
What’s the best material for a dish rack?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, dish racks are usually made of plastic, stainless steel, wood or bamboo.
I will take each of these materials and shortly analyze them.
Plastic
Plastic is one of the most popular materials used for manufacturing kitchen products.
The problem with plastic is that it’s not the most eco-friendly material.
It is produced using one of the two non-renewable natural resources: petroleum or natural gas.
In order to extract these resources, energy-consuming processes are used. Also, the environment is put in danger as species of plants are destroyed and animals are banished from their natural habitats.
After this step is done, the manufacturing phase begins. Plastic production is one of the greatest factors for air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Another aspect worth taking into consideration is the aesthetic one. Plastic is not one of the most beautiful or elegant materials.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is another material used to produce dish racks.
Compared to plastic, it’s a way better option. Stainless steel is a recyclable material and can save non-renewable resources.
Stainless-steel is made of approximately 60% of recycled material.
Not to mention the fact that it has a great aspect and can look pretty nice in your kitchen.
The downside of stainless-steel is that it’s a bit expensive, compared to other materials.
It can be a good investment, but if you’re on a budget and want something on a lower price, you may want to look at other options as well.
If you’re interested in stainless steel products, check out more about non-toxic non-stick cookware.
Wood and bamboo
Although they go in the same category, it’s crucial to know that these two are very different materials.
Wood is wood and bamboo is grass.
Both of them represent an eco-friendly option, but bamboo may outrun wood. Why?
Bamboo is a grass which grows really fast, up to 100 centimeters in 24 hours. It doesn’t need constant human supervision and treatments. It grows nicely on its own and can be harvested every 4-5 years.
So far, there’s no tree which grows this fast and deforestation is one of the biggest environmental problems.
Bamboo is used for manufacturing biodegradable and compostable products, which is great for the environment.
Bamboo and wooden dish racks with utensil holders (are materials which) usually do not contain chemicals. You don’t need to worry about any health problems when drying your dishes on them.
How to take care of a wooden dish rack with utensil holder products
Taking care of a bamboo or wooden dish rack with utensil holder is different than taking care of a plastic and stainless steel.
Although these materials are manufactured and treated with certain solutions to make them resist to water, you may encounter the situations when they get mold on them.
Don’t worry! You won’t have to throw them away.
Start with filling your sink with hot water. Add dish soap, put the dish rack in, clean it and rinse it. TIP: If the water is really hot, use cleaning rubber gloves.
Put 1 cup of water and 3 tablespoons of vinegar in a spray bottle and spray on the wooden dish rack with utensil holder, especially on the affected areas.
Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, wipe it and let it dry.
If you’re interested in how to take care of a wooden dish rack with utensil holder, check out more about dishwasher safe wood cutting boards.