One of the biggest annoyances after cooking that excellent meal at home is the dreaded washing the dishes part. Even if you have access to a dishwasher, there still are usually a good bunch of dishes you will have to wash by hand. But, after you’re done washing these dishes, where do you put them?
Enter the dish drying mat. But not just any dish drying mat we’re talking about here. We’re only talking about the best dish drying mats and these ones are incredibly useful in helping dry off those now super clean dishes you’ve just washed. It’s energy efficient since it doesn’t need any power or water and it does the job effectively.Best Pick
The Bellemain XXL Dish Mat is simply the best overall dish drying mat and for one reason in particular: its size. The size of this dish drying mat is unmatched by any other one on our list and when you have a household worth of dishes, having that extra dish drying mat space cannot be understated.
Budget Pick
The best budget selection is the Umbra UDRY Rack and Microfiber Dish Drying Mat. This is the top choice for people hunting for a dish drying mat while on a budget. It offers a great microfiber mat that is very big as well and the dish rack in the middle is a bonus to have on this mat.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Dish Drying Mats
The Bellemain XXL Dish Mat is our highest rated pick for dish drying mats because of two reasons: its size and the materials it is made of. As you can see in its name, this dish drying mat is XXL in size. This means that you’ll easily be able to fit whatever dishes are left in your sink that aren’t in your dishwasher. From wine glasses to plates to pots and pans, this XXL dish drying mat will be able to fit it all.
This XXL dish drying mat is said to be 40% bigger than regular dish drying mats and because of this, you don’t have to use two mats now when an XXL one will do.
On top of its large surface area, this dish drying mat is made of excellent materials. It uses a thick microfiber material that is said to absorb water more easily and makes the drying time process much faster. This material is also scratch resistant meaning that your precious glass dishes or wine glasses will be protected from scratches or scuff marks. The material has a distinct, honeycomb weave pattern that helps to absorb the water.
The best part about this dish drying mat is that once you’re done using it and all your dishes are dry, you can easily fold up this mat and place it inside of a drawer in your kitchen for easy storage. It has a fully flexible core that allows it to easily be folded without damaging the material or the quality of the mat.
What we liked: we wouldn’t have given this dish drying mat our top spot if we didn’t truly enjoy its magnificent size. It trumps all over dish drying mats simply because we could fit more onto this mat than other ones.
What we didn’t like: as great and soft as the microfiber material is with this very thick dish drying mat, it can be very springy which means that you have to ensure your dish is securely on the mat or else it might be prone to falling down when you place another dish on the mat.The Umbra UDRY Rack and Microfiber Dish Drying Mat is our best pick for people shopping for a dish drying mat on a budget. This one has a very unique design in that it combines a dish drying mat and a rack in one product.
This dish drying mat measures out to 24-inches wide and 18-inches tall and features a dish drying rack in the center of the mat. This is incredibly helpful as it allows you to separate your dishes, which can stand straight up in this middle dish rack, and your cups and glasses which can stand up on both sides of the dish rack.
This is a very efficient way to clean your dishes as it won’t seem overly crowded mixing your plates and cups on the mat. This dish drying mat and rack is very spacious and will allow you to be more economical with the space on the mat and is big enough to accommodate more dishes, cups, and even pots and pans.
Many people love the microfiber material it is made of and they say that is very absorbent of water. The microfiber material stays soft and prevents scratches on your precious glasses while also drying them off very quickly.
Much like the previous dish drying mat, this one also is foldable and can be easily tucked away into a drawer in your kitchen once you’re done using it.
What we liked: this one is very economical in that it says you space by having the dish rack in the middle which can fit more than 10 plates and gives you more than enough space on the mat portion to fit your cups, glasses, pots, pans, and bowls.
What we didn’t like: unfortunately, we found that the microfiber does do a good job of absorbing the water, however, it took far too long for it to dry off. We also thought the plastic dish rack attachment in the middle was a bit too flimsy and felt like it was going to detach at times.
The Envision Home Microfiber Dish Drying Mat is another large sized drying mat that is perfect for your dishes to dry on. One thing that this mat is particularly better at is its water absorbing ability as it can absorb nearly quadruple its mat weight in water!
Despite absorbing so much more water than what it weighs, it does a surprisingly excellent job at keeping your kitchen countertop very dry. It does not release the water it has soaked up onto your kitchen countertop and there won’t be any messes to clean up.
The fabric on this dish drying mat is made of soft microfiber material, which is very common in many dish drying mats. This mat in particular is actually reversible allowing you to use it many more times before washing it. When washing it, many people love that it can be washed in your washing machine, but only using cold water and liquid detergent.
As well as a dish drying mat, it can also be used as a mat for your kitchen appliances like a blender, mixer, or toaster oven. This is to help prevent these appliances from scratching your kitchen countertop.
As for size, it is a bit smaller than the previous two we have reviewed at 18 x 16 inches but it does come in two different colors including black or cream.
What we liked: we really enjoyed the versatility of this mat. We used it to dry out dishes and it soaked up all of the water very well. We also used this as a mat to dry off the dishes from our dishwasher.
What we didn’t like: we would have liked this dish drying mat to be a little bit more bigger as we felt it wasn’t all that big to place all of the dishes and cups on it.
Aside from microfiber material, another very common material that dish drying mats are made of are silicone. The OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat uses this silicone type of material to quickly dry off dishes.
Silicone drying mats are similar in texture to a rubbery type of substance and is generally a good choice because it tends to be non-slip and soft. For this particular dish drying mat, the silicone comes in a raised, ribbed design that allows you to place your dishes on top of the ribs. The water from your dishes would then trickle down to the mat while still leaving your dish elevated on these ribs.
This is great way to dry your dishes and it can fit a number of plates and cups. It has a fair size at 17 inches wide and 12.5 inches tall, however it could be bigger. Many people love this type of dish drying mat over microfiber because the water doesn’t soak into the fabric since silicone is not a fabric. Since the water from your dishes end up below the ribs, once you’re done removing all of your dry dishes, you can just turn this mat vertically over the sink to drain all the water and cleanup is done.
And since silicone is very much rubbery, it is also very flexible and this means you can easily fold or roll it up and put it away in a kitchen drawer or you can even hang it on a hook since this drying mat comes with a tiny hole for that.
What we liked: we love the silicone material over the microfiber material because after a while microfiber can start to smell a bit musty while silicone will never smell no matter how much water drips on it.
What we didn’t like: as great as this dish drying mat is, it’s hard to keep the water on the mat from not spilling on to our kitchen countertop and this would be annoying because we would have to keep wiping it down.
The S&T Microfiber Dish Drying Mat is another familiar dish drying mat that is made of microfiber material. Depending on your personal preference, people tend to prefer mats that are made of either microfiber or silicone.
This S&T Microfiber Dish Drying Mat is another top-notch solution for drying your dishes on your kitchen countertop but without the mess of water being everywhere. That’s because it uses a very thick microfiber material that is able to soak up nearly four times the mats weight in water. This is very helpful to have as it prevents water from leaking all over your kitchen countertop and ensures your dishes stay dry.
This mat comes in a black and white gingham pattern which will definitely add some flare and personality to your kitchen. Its size, while good, could be a bit bigger as it currently only measures out to 18 inches wide and 16 inches tall. People love using this dish drying mat because the thick microfiber allows it to be used on its other side as well as it is a fully reversible drying mat.
The microfiber material, while very thick, is also very soft and this softness helps to protect not only your dishes, but your countertop from scratches and marks. Once you’re done using it, you can simply toss it in your washing machine to be washed with your clothes but only using cold water.
What we liked: we very much enjoyed the black and white gingham pattern on this dish drying mat. Dish drying mats have a tendency to be a bit boring in their color schemes as it’s usually just a solid color but this one adds a nice touch to the kitchen and works very well too.
What we didn’t like: we just wish it was a tad bit bigger as plates, pots, and pans tend to be quite big and there isn’t much space to fit all of that on this dish drying mat.
The Drymate Dish Drying Mat uses something other than microfiber or silicone to dry off water from your wet dishes. It uses a special and patented drymate material that does a fantastic job at soaking up all that water from leaking on to your kitchen countertop.
Unlike a microfiber fabric that tends to be a bit thicker when drying dishes, this drymate material is actually quite thin and what’s even more surprising is that it actually dries very quickly as well. You might be surprised to find out that this mat is only 0.13-inches thick, yet it can absorb as much as five times the mat’s own weigh in water or other liquids.
Another neat feature about this dish drying mat is that it has a slip-resistant undercoating to help keep this dish drying mat safely and securely in place. Thus, when you go to put a dish on it, it won’t slip and slide around and will stay in its place.
This underside, anti-slip layer won’t damage your kitchen countertop either as it’s completely safe to use. This mat is of a fair size at 19 inches wide and 16 inches tall. This drying mat has a good reputation for being durable and is also simple to wash as you can do so in the washing machine and then hang drying it afterwards.
What we liked: we really enjoyed that no matter where you put this on your kitchen countertop, it simply won’t move or slide. To actually move it, you have to pick it up and then put it down. This is great because we know our wine glasses won’t topple over because of any slight movements to this mat.
What we didn’t like: unfortunately, it’s claim of being able to absorb five times its weight in liquid is simply not true as when we picked it up, we found a puddle of water sitting underneath.
Another fantastic silicone dish drying mat is the Silicone Dish Drying Mat. Like microfiber material, silicone is another well-known dish drying mat material because of its effectiveness at drying off your dishes. Silicone is different than microfiber because water from your dishes can’t soak into the material since it’s not a fabric. Instead, the water just slides off and on to the silicone material where you can simply empty out the water in your sink.
This silicone dish drying mat is great at holding dishes, pots and pans, cups, and utensils on it. Like many silicone mats, this one also has raised ridges that allows the water to slide off your dishes. The size of this mat is also very good as it measures out to 21 inches wide and 18 inches tall.
This dish drying mat also offers supreme versatility in that it can be used for other purposes such as storage mat in your garage, a welcome mat, or even a fridge liner. This silicone material is also very high resistant to heat and can withstand temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you’re not using it, you can fold or roll it up and place it inside a drawer or cabinet. The silicone material is rather flexible so it can be placed just about anywhere you want.
What we liked: we really love the size of this mat and the quickness with which our dishes dry off on this mat. In the cold winter months when we get lots of snow outside, we bought an extra one to use as a doormat where all of the snow slides off on this mat and melts into water.
What we didn’t like: unfortunately, as much as we love this dish drying mat, it is very expensive when compared to one of the better microfiber ones as it can cost as much as four times a microfiber one.
Another microfiber dish drying mat that is sure to dry your dishes much faster than your regular kitchen towels is the Norpro Microfiber Dish Drying Mat. Aside from being able to quickly dry off your dishes, bowls, and utensils, it also is thick enough to offer a delicate cushion for your most important dishes.
At 0.25-inches thick, it is much thicker than other microfiber drying mats and this is because of the excellent padding it offers your dishes. This helps to keep them protected while they are on this mat. Your kitchen countertop will also be protected because this drying mat is capable of soaking in water up to four times its weight. This is to ensure that water doesn’t end up leaking all over your kitchen countertop.
The size of this dish drying mat is fairly standard for normal-sized mats as it is 18 inches wide and 16 inches tall. When you’re not using it you can either hang dry it using the hole that a hook can go through, or you can fold it up and place it away in a cabinet.
What we liked: we very much enjoyed the extra cushion that this mat provides. Much like a memory foam bed mattress, when you place a cup or a bowl on this mat, it seems to gently sink in to the fabric which helps to protect it and your kitchen countertop.
What we didn’t like: we noticed that this mat doesn’t seem to dry as fast as other microfiber mats and because of this, we did start to notice some mold forming along the edges after a few months of usage.
The last microfiber dish drying mat on our list is the SUBEKYU Microfiber Dish Drying Mat. Aside from all of the normal benefits you get from a microfiber dish drying mat that this one also comes with, we were particularly drawn to this mat’s pattern as it helps to add plenty of personality to a modern kitchen.
This stylish dish drying mat comes in a unique and tasteful rhombus-shape pattern in a grey and white color. It is made of microfiber that can soak up to four times the mat’s weight in water. Thus, like other dish drying mats made of microfiber, your dishes, bowls, and utensils will be safe once they’re on the mat.
After you’re done using it, you’re instructed to wash it in your washing machine with light-colored clothes but to not use your dryer to dry it. Instead, it’s recommended to hang air dry it. Keep it on your kitchen countertop or store it away for later use in the drawer but neatly folding it.
What we liked: this dish drying mat works just as well as any other microfiber dish drying mat but we really enjoyed the rhombus pattern. It adds flair and character to your kitchen and works really well in lighter colored kitchens.
What we didn’t like: we just wish the mat was a bit bigger.
The MicoYang Silicone Dish Drying Mat is the last one on our list and it uses silicone to help dry off those wet dishes. The best thing about silicone dish drying mats aside from drying off your dishes, is that it can be used for different purposes as well and this one is no different.
When it’s not drying off your dishes, feel free to use this silicone mat as a door mat so that your guests can dry off their feet on or use it as a liner for your fridge. It can also handle the heat as well since it has a heat resistance of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
It's no surprise that silicone dish drying mats are more versatile and easier to maintain than microfiber ones. This silicone mat can be washed quickly in your sink using a brush and some soapy water and when you’re done using it, you can fold it up real tight and tuck it away anywhere you want.
What we liked: we really liked this mat’s non-slip layer on the bottom of the mat. No matter where you put the mat, it will stay there and won’t slip and slide around.
What we didn’t like: we were surprised to find out that their XL version of this mat only measures out to 18 inches wide and 16 inches tall and we were hoping an XL size would be much bigger than that.Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Dish Drying Mat
Material
As we have seen from the products in our list, the dish drying mat material is usually made of either a microfiber or silicone. Microfiber is good because it’s like any other fabric that is capable of absorbing water. Microfiber does a great job at soaking in the water and some mats can even soak up to four to five times its weight in water. Microfiber material is also great because it is soft and won’t scratch your glass dishes or your kitchen countertop.
Dish drying mats made of silicone are different because it’s not an actual fabric. Water does not soak into the silicone because it usually will stay on the mat or slowly evaporate over time. Silicone mats tend to come with raised ridges where your dishes can lay on. This is important because the water will seep off of the dishes and into the spaces in between the ridges. Silicone material is also fairly harmless to your dishes and won’t create any marks on your dishes.
Size
When figuring out the right dish drying mat for you, the size of the mat should be of great importance as well. That’s because you’ll want to know how big it is and how many dishes, cups, bowls, and utensils it will be able to fit. It’s also helpful to know how big it is so you’ll know how much of your kitchen’s countertop space it will take up.
Some of them like our best pick, the Bellemain XXL Dish Mat come in an XXL size and this will take up more space on your countertop than something like the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat, which is significantly smaller in size. However, if you don’t anticipate yourself having too many dishes to dry on a dish drying mat, a smaller mat may be more practical for you.
Storage
The great thing about these dish drying mats is that they are incredibly easy to store away after using it. While you could just choose to leave it where it is on your kitchen countertop as a kind of permanent home for your wet dishes, many people prefer to store it away after it has served its purpose.
Storing it away is a breeze as all dish drying mats are foldable or rollable. This makes it easy for people to find a spot in the kitchen in a drawer or cabinet to tuck it away when they’re not using it. Some even come with a tiny hole where you can also hook it to let it dry and as a storage spot that doesn’t take up any room in your cabinets or drawers.
Washing It
After using your dish drying mat, you’re probably going to want to wash it. Fortunately, this is also very easy to do. For the mats made of microfiber, you can put this in your washing machine with your clothes, but be sure to wash it on cold water. To dry it off, put it in your dryer and turn the settings to a low tumble, which is to prevent the mat from shrinking.
For dish drying mats made of silicone, you can wash this in the dishwasher with all of your other dishes as well. Since silicone is great at evaporating water, you can let it dry in the dishwasher or you can bring it out and let it dry on your countertop. If people prefer, they can also wash their silicone drying mat in the sink by using warm soapy water.
It’s important to wash your dish drying mat from time to time, especially microfiber ones as it will help prevent the fabric from getting stained and smelling musty.
Final Thoughts
Every home has to do the dishes but how every home dries off their dishes can vary. While some people just prefer to jam their dishwasher with all of their dishes, this can be a waste of water and power and drive up your utilities and water bill every month.
The perfect alternative to drying your dishes and one that is cost-free after you purchase it, is by buying one of the best dish drying mats. It is an easy and inexpensive way to dry off your dishes and it gets the job done fast. Every household needs to have this product!
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