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stephandjez

sink tilt out tray - pros & cons?

11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

Hello! We are considering a tilt out tray in front of our kitchen sink so that we can stash away the dish brush rather than leaving it out on the countertop. However, I'm worried that the tray will get gunky from the drips off the dish brush.

Does anyone have experience with this? Pros vs cons of a tilt out tray? Thanks so much!

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Comments (43)

  • 11 years ago

    No experience with it, but it's a good idea if the little trays come out to be washed.

  • 11 years ago
    I was worried about the same thing, but did get them. Mine are removable. I am glad I took the option !
  • 11 years ago

    Everyone I know who has them swears by them -- go for it.


  • 11 years ago
    I'm getting one in my new kitchen and I so excited about it! (Something, it's the little things, you know?)
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Planned to do them on our sink cabinet with two false drawer fronts. Our doors are a Shaker style with a 3/4" thick drawer front frame with a 1/4" center panel. Although the spring hinges would attach to the cabinet faceframe and the drawer front frame, the plastic trays needed to be screwed into the 1/4" center panel. The thin center panel looked too thin to provide a good grip for the screws and regardless didn't want to risk the screw poking through the center panel and ruining it.

    Would work on a slab door or most doors that don't have a thin center panel.

    If it will work with your cabinets they are convenient.
  • 11 years ago
    I had pull out shelves installed under my sink (behind the doors), which is where I store my sponges and scrub brush. Just another option
  • 11 years ago

    I've never had the pull out tray, but I have seen homes with them, and there's often a bit of wood rot going on because of the dampness. These were in older homes, so perhaps they have been improved.

  • 11 years ago
    Got them in our bathroom and love it!if and when we redo our kitchen I will put the pull out in there. Do it!
  • 11 years ago
    Oh my gosh, I never even thought about having them in the bathroom! Oh that'd be nice!!!!
  • 11 years ago

    Perfect to keep a nail brush or hand cream in, (and to tuck away a ring, etc. safely), but I wouldn't consider one for daily storage of a scrub brush. The brush will get funky without getting air dried. I've got a plastic caddy that I keep under the sink, the bottle brush, etc.

  • 11 years ago

    yeah, don't overlook that most modern ones have a ring-holder built in, so you at least know where to look when you realize you're not wearing any. :) I don't know if I'd keep my most hardworking sponge under there, but I keep the scrubber and the stopper for the drain and other things that get only occasional use. however, having those same things on the inside of the base cupboard door has worked fine too...

  • 11 years ago

    I use mine for a brush and it works great.

  • 11 years ago

    I've had them for ten years, and love them. Not much gunk collects, and they're large enough to easily wipe with a damp cloth. They also remove rather easily for thorough cleaning. I keep veggie brushes in one and pot scrapers in the other.

  • 11 years ago

    I love mine! If they get a bit gunky, you clean them.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    I used to have clients use them all the time but not as much anymore as they often don't fit with undermount sinks. Go for it and enjoy that convenience. If you notice the back of the drawer front is staying damp just use it for dry storage.

  • 11 years ago
    Have had several. Never use them. They get really dirty and moldy quickly. Yucky and not worth the expense.
  • 11 years ago
    Considered them for our kitchen, but opted not to for a farmhouse sink. We found the best way to keep the dish brush is in the dishwasher where it gets cleaned with every load. Good luck!
  • 11 years ago
    Oh bummer, tip out trays don't work for undermount sinks? I didn't know that, so now I WON'T be getting one in my new kitchen. :(
  • 11 years ago
    I would not be without the tilt outs. The inserts are metal or plastic and can easily be removed for cleaning. I line mine with foil for the dish brush/sponge. You can't have too much storage in the kitchen.
  • 11 years ago

    I have them and an undercount sink. Just depends where your sink is positioned. I love mine and they are easily removed for cleaning!

  • 11 years ago

    We installed them after market in our first house and had them in our second house for 13 years. Love them, can't imagine not having them. The trays pop out on all of the ones I've seen and are easily cleaned. Remodeling the kitchen in our new home and didn't even consider NOT having them.

    All 3 homes have/had undermount SS sinks so they definitely will work with them.

  • 6 years ago

    does anyone know of a brand of dish brush that fits in one of those trays?

  • 6 years ago

    Love my tilt out. Plastic insert on mine is not removable (over 40 years old). However, it is easy to clean by wiping out.



  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Does everyone put cabinet pulls (like in the photo), or is it possible to get away without cabinet hardware and just pulling on the top of the cabinet panel to open the tray?

  • 5 years ago

    I'd think without the hardware the wet from hands would be problematic to top of panel very quickly.

  • 5 years ago

    I miss them. My current house doesn't have a sink that accommodates them and I don't have a good place to stash my dish brushes.

  • 5 years ago

    I have one and I like it a lot. They do pop out to clean. I store my stainless steel cleaner sponge in one and in the other I keep empty bread and chip bags. Reason being I use them to dispose of wet garbage so it doesn't smell in the trash compactor. It helps esp. in the hot summer months.

  • 5 years ago

    I had one. Loved them. Just mount them so you can slip them out to wash them from time to time

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I eliminate these for apron front sink installations regularly and no one has complained at the loss.

  • 5 years ago

    Another yes here..very handy...but i added little plastic trays for same length of each item...even line them with folded paper towels so they soak up any dampness or soil..i do have an under mount sink..plus ...on top of all the trays there is room for a long bottle brush that would be totally inconvenient to put anywhere else

  • 5 years ago

    I must say i only use this drawer for specialty cleaning tools...not my drippy soapy 3 times a day tools..

  • 4 years ago

    We had them in previous home (custom built), and they ended up being gross and a pain to keep clean. Rather than have these in our new build, I have a pullout tray under sink and keep brushes stored in crock/jars upright. They dry better, no gunk. I have a small hanger inside cabinet door to dry wash towels.


  • 4 years ago

    Ditto to the hooks for wash cloths..so handy…and if you like thrift/antique store shopping….i use chunky ceramic cups (not clear glass) for a sturdier and more fun receptacle for all the stuff that needs to stand up…..of course whatever you use …..you will always need to wash them occasionally…including the drop down…but it is only minutes to tidy up…no matter what you use

  • 4 years ago

    i have the tilt out drawers in front of an undermount sink. i use them for sponges and disposable gloves. no problem to clean you need pulls on drawers.

  • 4 years ago

    Love mine. It is SS. It just pops out to clean.

  • 4 years ago

    I collect old pottery so use these for the “drippy” stuff that i use all the time…

  • 4 years ago

    Love things to be handy

  • 4 years ago

    Too lazy to go thru all the drawers!

  • 2 years ago

    What dish wand will fit in them? I have not been able to find one that fits in the tray.

  • 2 years ago

    Perfect spot for our beer and wine keys and an aerator.

  • last year

    I haven’t had issues with dampness, so I store dishwashing pods stacked in the tray. We’ve had tip-out trays in some homes and not in others and after trying both, I highly recommend installing one! You’ll quickly find it useful and convenient!

  • last year

    I quit using the tip,out tray and keep my dish brush in the dishwasher! That’s usually open when I need it and it gets the brush cleaned every time you run the dishwasher.