Time to clean the dish drainer? Do it using simple, homemade methods

In any kitchen it is necessary to be able to use a dish drainer (drying rack) near the sink: sometimes it is installed inside the wall unit immediately above the sink, at other times, it is a mobile rack that we position on the side of the sink and can be made of stainless steel, plastic or wood.

In any case, a dish drainer is a tool that is used daily, which is subject to being dripped on from all the water that drains from the dishes, and sometimes this includes some traces of the dish washing soap. Given this, it is easy for the dish drainer to get dirty with limescale stains, or maybe even dirt or mold will form in the various gaps and nooks. How can we clean dish drainers thoroughly? We show you some methods below:

Creativo

For a really thorough cleaning it would be optimum to disassemble the dish drainer as much as possible, so as to be able to handle the various parts more easily and get rid of all the dirt. Furthermore, if the situation is not too serious and a lighter cleaning is enough, just use mild dish soap and a sponge or perhaps brushes (or old toothbrushes) with bristles that are not too hard, followed by immediate drying it with a dry cloth - preferably a soft one like those made from microfibers.

For a metal dish drainer:

Mix some baking soda with enough water to create a paste, and with a sponge pass it over all the parts of the dish drainer. Let it act for a quarter of an hour, and then rinse it off well and dry immediately.

If there is a lot of dirt to remove, fill a basin or sink with warm water and add 250ml of white vinegar; then put the drainer to soak in the solution for about an hour before rinsing off, perhaps scrubbing gently with an abrasive sponge or a medium-hard brush or toothbrush.

For a wooden dish drainer:

Mix half a liter of water and 100 ml of white vinegar in a spray bottle, spray the solution onto the dish drainer and after 10-15 minutes rinse it off and try to remove as much moisture as you can with a dry cloth.

For a plastic dish drainer:

On plastic it is better to use gentle methods, as aggressive agents could erode the finish and make it more porous. For this, you can use a mix of 1/3 parts of hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice and 2/3 parts of water, mixed in a spray bottle. Use this solution to spray on the surface to be treated. Leave the solution on for 15 minutes and then rinse it off and dry immediately. You could also add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to the mixture for extra cleaning force.

To clean limescale stains when the dish drainer cannot be removed or dismantled: soak paper napkins in vinegar, squeeze them slightly to remove excess, and leave them firmly pressed on the places where limescale stains are located.

In the case of severe mold, and if you want to make the dish drainer look as good as new, you can immerse it in a basin with several liters of water and 60 ml of bleach. Let it soak for 20 minutes and then, wearing gloves, rub away the stains with a cloth or an old toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before using again.

Do you have a favorite method of cleaning your dish drainer?