Kmart shopper shares 'genius' tip for optimising space in the dishwasher using $12 product

The woman said she had purchased the retailer's Over Sink Dish Drying Rack for her sink - priced at $12 in New Zealand - but quickly discovered it served another purpose.
The woman said she had purchased the retailer's Over Sink Dish Drying Rack for her sink - priced at $12 in New Zealand - but quickly discovered it served another purpose. Photo credit: Facebook / Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia

Loading the dishwasher - one of the many, many joys of adulting. There's certainly an art to its arrangement; mums somehow make it look easy, instead of a game of tableware Tetris. 

If you're anything like me and enjoy the challenge of fitting in as much flatware as possible, you'll sometimes find yourself wishing you had just a bit of extra room. 

Fortunately, one clever consumer has come up with a solution that might just put an end to your dishwashing woes - using a simple $12 product from Kmart.

Sharing her trick in the Kmart Home Decor & Hacks Australia group on Facebook, the woman revealed that a cheap drying rack could be the key to optimising space in your dishwasher. 

The woman said she had purchased the retailer's Over Sink Dish Drying Rack for her sink - priced at $12 in New Zealand - but quickly discovered it served another purpose.

"Got this for my sink, however, it also works great as an extra rack for the large utensils in the dishwasher," the woman wrote, alongside a photo of the drying rack set up above the top shelf in her dishwasher.

"Thanks Kmart."

The dish rack in question is designed to remove excess water from utensils, dishes and fresh produce post-rinse. The rack, made with a non-slip silicone coating for extra stability, can also be used to defrost food directly over the sink and easily rolls up when not in use to save space.

The woman's idea was praised as "genius" by fellow fans of the retailer, with many saying they were keen to try her hack.

"You are a genius, need that for my dishwasher," one wrote.

"I need one just so my kids get the hint that the dishes go into the dishwasher, not the sink," a mum joked.

"Such a good idea! I've only ever used mine on the sink. I can't wait to use it in the dishwasher," another said.

A fourth praised the concept as "super genius", adding that the trick could potentially save them from buying a new dishwasher.

Kmart doesn't explicitly state that the drying rack is dishwasher-safe. 

And it appears the Australian woman isn't the only one to discover the drying rack's dishwasher potential. A review dated from October last year on Kmart New Zealand's website also sings the product's praises. 

"Handy to have when washing fruits & veggies. Also used for bulky items that don't fit in the dishwasher," the reviewer said.

However, some earlier reviews noted that the rack is flimsy and doesn't adequately support heavier items.