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Dishtowel Storage for the Storage-less Kitchen

1001_hooks.jpgStorage envy - we don't even have a place to hang the dish towel! Recently, we set out to find hardware for doing just that in our tiny storage-challenged kitchen. The range handle (or, as we call it, dish towel bar) in our new apartment has a solid handle with no space for hanging anything. We're renting, so we were looking for hardware that wouldn't mar the walls or cabinetry and could easily go with us when we move. Here's what we came up with on the hunt...

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Magnetic hooks seem like a possible solution here, as long as they're strong ones that won't slide down the fridge or oven door when they have a little weight on them:

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We liked these classic-looking chrome hooks at cooking.com, for $7 each.

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This magnetic hook by Rovel swivels, so it can fold up against the 'fridge whenever it's not in use. Also around $7 each.

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Our favorite option is probably this over-cabinet-door towel bar, which sells for $10 at Tiny Living.

Top Photo: Via: Absolutely Beautiful Things

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bookcases & shelves, magnetic, Montreal

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Comments (15)

I know you can get the over-the-cabinet hooks and bars cheaper. My mother gave me a slew of them for my new kitchen when she realized I had no hooks, I mean, drawer pulls in there.

posted by hmr on October 1st 2008 at 11:39am
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When I was a kid, Mom used the handle on the oven and/or the handle on the refrigerator - it worked and it was cheap!

posted by bepsf on October 1st 2008 at 11:46am
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I use my uglyass drawer pulls. I plan on replacing them, so I need to find a new solution.
Luckily my old stove was almost a foot wider than my newer, less archaic, stove. This gives me free space on the side of my bottom cabinets to hang some hooks and have them tucked away next to the stove (where I make the most mess).

Good times.

posted by revolution9 on October 1st 2008 at 11:47am
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I have two of these, one near my sink and the other near my stove so I can wipe my hands. I love being able to move them wherever I want!

posted by dennisd on October 1st 2008 at 12:01pm
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I'd worry I'd run into the over the door ones. I have open shelves with hooks screwed into their bottom.
I also like multiple-hook racks, like these:
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=DECORATING&selectedProductSize=&navAction=poppushpush&navCount=18&pushId=DECOR_HARDWARE&itemCount=-1&id=DECOR_HARDWARE_HOOKS&selectedProductSize1=

posted by ValHalla on October 1st 2008 at 12:21pm
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I have one of those 'over the cabinet door' hooks and it is FOREVER falling off. Makes me nuts...

posted by I Love Upstate on October 1st 2008 at 12:27pm
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I said hook...I meant bar...I need a drink...

posted by I Love Upstate on October 1st 2008 at 12:27pm
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I keep my dish towels inside the sink cabinet. They make a round disc with spoke like holes. You push the towel in there. It attaches with self glue, so it might leave a mark, but it will be inside. (You could probably leave it attached when you move.) they come in packs of two. I put one up 20 years ago and it's still working. You could also use the self sticking hooks that come off cleanly whenever you no longer need them. There are ads that show them holding a Cchristmas wreath.

posted by LauraE on October 1st 2008 at 12:29pm
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They have a $6 magnetic towel rack (about 8 inches long) at Target that I can highly recommend. It hasn't budged since I bought it, and it looks clean and stylish. I can't find it on their website, but it is near the dishtowels at your local Target.

posted by tessahessa on October 1st 2008 at 12:36pm
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we've got the magnetic hooks and we put them on the side of the range hood. works like a charm.

posted by salley on October 1st 2008 at 12:37pm
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@I Love Upstate - I put a small bit of "wacky-tack" (or poster-tac, depending on what you call it) under each over part of the bars and hooks. I do occasionally (every three months or so) need to clean up the little bit of tac that has squished out, but it stays put.

posted by hmr on October 1st 2008 at 12:46pm
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I got one of those 3M command stip hooks - the metal kind, so it looks a little more "sophisticated" than the plastic one.

posted by natalie.c on October 1st 2008 at 2:10pm
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I have the last one. It works really well until I need to get into where it is at :) Tends to pop off easily and I'm thinking about putting double sided tape to keep it in place.

posted by kosmicfreeway on October 2nd 2008 at 5:09am
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You can use a magnetic curtain rod (made for steel doors) on your fridge. It is adjustable lengthwise and has some pretty powerful magnets on it.

posted by marid22 on October 2nd 2008 at 5:29am
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The bar you like is actually available at a store in Montreal called The Zone.

posted by canadian_ginger on October 2nd 2008 at 12:39pm
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