The $3 Tool That Transformed My Dishwashing Routine

3 days ago 8

One of the trickiest parts of any home renovation project is the seemingly endless list of decisions. As my family embarked on our long-awaited kitchen renovation, one choice I kept getting hung up on was our sink. Should we stick with a functional and traditional double-basin, or spring for a single-basin with space to wash larger dishes and more under-sink storage? It turns out the solution to my sink dilemma was shockingly simple: a $3 dishpan that's revolutionized our kitchen workflow.

The Surprisingly Brilliant Hack

Before the renovation, I spent years with an outdated but extremely functional double-basin sink. Our family system was clear: stack and soak dishes on one side, keep the other side free for washing. When I looked at friends' single-basin sinks, I noticed they inevitably wound up washing dishes on top of a pile of dirty ones—a workflow nightmare I wanted to avoid.

But when my husband and I calculated how much under-sink storage space we could gain by switching to a single-basin sink with just one drain, practicality won out. Double-basin sinks require twice the plumbing—two drains, two sets of pipes—which significantly cuts into usable cabinet space below. In our small kitchen, every inch of storage is precious. I needed to find a way to maintain double-basin functionality without sacrificing that valuable under-sink storage.

Late-night Reddit searches led me to the solution: the simple dishpan—or "washing-up bowl," as it's known in the UK, where this kitchen hack is more common. Theories vary about why they became standard across the pond—compact kitchens, protecting dishes in ceramic sinks—but the habit stuck. What struck me was how this simple British tool could solve my very American kitchen dilemma.

The concept is simple: place a dishpan in your sink to create a designated soaking area without committing your entire basin to it. After exploring various options ranging from stylish to practical, I decided to test the waters with this $3 dishpan from Target, figuring I could always upgrade later if it worked.

Six months later, that same $3 dishpan is still going strong — and it’s now an indispensable part of our dishwashing routine.

12qt Dishpan Gray - Room Essentials™: Stackable Wash Basin Tub

Why It Works

Our affordable gray dishpan blends seamlessly with our stainless steel sink while hiding inevitable stains. It's perfectly sized—large enough for soaking smoothie cups and breakfast bowls during our morning rush, but compact enough to leave plenty of space for washing on the right side.

The benefits have extended beyond what I initially imagined:

Environmental wins: By soaking dishes in the dishpan rather than running water for scrubbing, we use significantly less water. And filling only a small tub instead of an entire sink reduces water usage even further.

Mindset hack: Dirty dishes contained in one small dishpan feel more manageable than when they’re sprawled across the entire sink. This mental shift helps make dishwashing less stressful—when the dishpan is full, it's our visual cue to load the dishwasher.

Practical functionality: When dealing with food debris like stubborn rice residue, I can wash it off in the dishpan and tip the waste directly into the trash rather than fishing it out of the drain. And unlike a permanent double basin, my dishpan is removable—when I need to wash larger items like my 24" griddle, I simply set the dishpan on the counter and have the entire sink available.

Versatility: I've discovered additional uses, like soaking and treating clothing stains before washing.

Low maintenance: The dishpan is machine washable—whenever it starts looking grimy, we run it through the dishwasher and it emerges looking brand new.

During my research phase, I considered premium options like Joseph Joseph's model with a built-in drain ($22) and even stainless steel versions ($25-$45). But after six months of daily use, my $3 solution still functions perfectly, so I have no plans to upgrade.

I know what you might be thinking—shouldn't we just load dishes directly into the dishwasher and keep our sink empty? Well, yes. But as a working parent with a bit of a messy streak, I've learned to design systems that work with my family’s actual habits, not idealized ones. This simple solution accommodates our real-life kitchen workflow while giving us the flexibility of a spacious single basin when needed, plus extra storage space beneath.

Sometimes the most effective solutions aren't the most expensive or complicated ones. For us, a $3 dishpan has delivered functionality that even the most sophisticated sink design couldn't match—proving once again that sometimes the best solutions are also the simplest.