We added a dishwasher back when we remodeled our kitchen, but I’ve been washing Eleanor’s bottles, bowls, and spoons by hand. A tea towel on the counter worked well for laying everything out to dry, but then I found the grass drying rack by Boon.
I tried to make the other side of the sink cute too. The green soap dispenser is for hand soap, and the olive oil bottle is for dish soap.
The green one is great but the other isn’t working out as well. I liked the look of it much more than any actual dispensers I had seen, so I thought I was being very clever when I bought it. When I tried to use it though, I realized I’d have to dilute the soap considerably for it to pour through the spout. Oh well. At least I tried, right?
119 comments
Danielle
I know this is an older post, but I have this same drying rack and had no idea there were accessories to go with it! http://www.booninc.com/products/Twig/357
Stephanie
Just gorge! I need to get me one of those.
Rebecca
This is my first time visiting your blog and I must say you are pretty darn amazing..I love your style. I will be back for more!! :)
emilie
very cute, nonetheless!
mindy t
Love the green hand soap dispenser. Where can I find one?
Making it Lovely
It was from Pottery Barn Kids.
Laura Durrer
I too tried using an olive oil dispenser for soap and found that the spout was too narrow. I now use a glass sugar pourer. The one I have now I got at Ikea, but the under side of the top is rusting, so i’m back in the market for one. The spout is much wider and more convenient but still and attractive on my counter.
-Laura
caitlin
Love, love, love the grass drying rack.
You have a beautiful blog. So nice to meet you in person on Friday at Dyson. I’ll certainly be back to read more on your site.
Linda
The warmer the kitchen the easier the soap will pour. And yes, keep the spout clean and check around for larger spout.
Natalie
Sorry it doesn’t work well ~ at least it looks cute!
What kind of flowers are those?? They’re so fresh and springy! :)
Making it Lovely
I think they’re called kermits.
Maddie
hello making it lovely! you are an inspiration to busy women out there who are very busy and yet you still have time to make your home beautiful! i just bought an rar chair and i can’t wait to see it in our living room.
Renee Smith
Unrelated baby gear question… what kind of stroller do you have and how do you feel about it? We’re thinking of adding another (baby) to the family and our perfect one-baby stroller won’t work out anymore!
Making it Lovely
I like my Maclaren Triumph. I have a Graco too (metrolite, I think?), but it’s so hard to maneuver in crowded areas. I use my baby carriers more than the strollers though – I love my BabyHawk mei tai!
caroline
I’ve enjoyed reading since I came across your site a few months ago!
Had the same problem with bottle pourers + soap. I found that Palmolive (or equivalent Target brand) works well with these plastic bottle pours:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12959621
No diluting necessary. Plus the soap comes in green or purple. Even the traditional orange is pretty in a glass bottle!
Katie Stephenson
I tried doing that super-cute dish soap in an olive jar thing once too and it ended up being sortof a mess. I just keep it under the sink now :)
Daria
When I saw your olive oil bottle I thought “What a great idea! Too bad I like to use diluted soap” and then I read your comment.
For environmental reasons I prefer to dilute my soap considerably when I wash by hand, at a ratio of about 1:10 or even 1:15. That way my soap lasts way longer. With undiluted soap I would use few drops of soap every second or third cup, with diluted soap those few drops could fill about 10% of that bottle, which would last much longer.
I will look now for a bottle like yours, currently I am using an ugly old plastic bottle over and over again. Based on my current experience (I also wash by hand all my daughter’s bottles, cups, and anything plastic) and I would need to refill it about twice a week, which isn’t too bad.
Making it Lovely
Yeah, I’m thinking it’s a good thing I diluted the soap now!
Melissa
Love everything! Looks so fun and organized.
Lights
the kitchen is gorgeous, very cool idea. xx
Leah
I am slowly but surely revamping my 50s kitchen…can you point me in the right direction for your cabinet hardware? Those would be perfect.
Thanks!
Making it Lovely
Anthropologie.
Kristin
I just got this drying rack as a baby gift {I’m due in one month!!} and have already used it for washing bottles. So perfect and seems easy to clean :).
AKA
Maybe a silly question…is the grass drying rack sturdy enough for regular, adult dishes? I want one for me, myself, and I.
Making it Lovely
No, unfortunately it’s a little too small. Well, maybe for a few plates if they’re on the smaller side it would be OK.
sara
the one question that hasn’t been asked- where is the white planter from?
Making it Lovely
It’s a vase from west elm, but I bought it years ago.
jenn
We use olive oil bottles for dish soap, and the trick is to use a top/stopper that has an air hole in it
Lisa
Aww, LOL! That grass rack is sooo cute. :D Your blog is always full of incredible inspirations. I get excited every time.
Also, I have a favor to ask…
I’m trying to win a party contest and would love your help! Would you go here:
http://thecitycradle.com/party-3-spy-agent
and leave a comment at the end of the article? Your comment will give me a vote. Thanks so much! I appreciate it lots. <3
Lisa
jeny
ladies, i’ve used the glass decanter with dish soap for years … try out different spouts and remember to keep them clean. clean by soaking in hot water then rinse. and, the cheaper (plastic bar type) spout seems to work better. especially if you like your soap to pour out fast(er).
happy dish washing!
Karen
I had the same trouble with using an olive oil dispenser with dishwashing soap. I replaced the top with a metal wine pourer, which has a much larger opening, and it works like a charm.
marybeth @ www.babygoodbuys.com
I tried to do exactly the same thing with the olive oil dispenser for my dishsoap – big fail! Oh, well, it was a clever idea!
Christina
Your readers share really great ideas! I did the olive oil container years ago but gave up b/c it was just too slow!! Now I have several other options to try … or going back to the olive oil type container but with soap that has vinegar in it! Beautiful sink area, by the way!! Love it!
Carol
You are so right – I bought 4 of the ‘olive oil’ dispenser for the same reason you got them for – but they don’t work so well. They look nice though but alas! they now sit unused in storage :-(
Emy
I use a soda bottle with a spout that I got from Kmart and mine works a little too good. I just use Dawn though, in blue of course. ;)
Charlotte
Absolutely love it! I use Fairy liquid in my glass dispenser -I’m sure it must be available in the US too.
Charlotte xx
Catherine @ waking up with you
Love that you even have pink dishwashing detergent!
I have a Simple Human System dish rack and although I like it a lot, I’ve noticed that there’s a strange orange build up that seems to collect on the plastic parts. It washes off okay, it just worries me what this stuff might be and where it’s coming from!
Condo Blues
I love Boon and have considered buying the dishrack for myself. Why do kids have to get all of the cool designs, why not us too?
I have the snackball. I don’t have kids. My husband uses it to hold trailmix when he’s out and about. I use it to hold treats at the dog park.
Pencils
That’s an adorable drying rack–I’ve seen it online–but doesn’t Eleanor drink more bottles than you can put on there? Do your bottles not have a lot of pieces, or do you wash them all day long? We use the Dr Brown’s bottles that have a bunch of pieces, and I have to use two drying racks with a lot more space on them to dry the bottles. I do run them through the dishwasher now that Aurora is older, but I rinse them again by hand. We had a lousy dishwasher in our old apartment, and I haven’t gotten past the habit. We’ll see what the new Bosch is like when it’d delivered next month.
It is a really adorable kitchen setup. I’m very jealous.
Making it Lovely
Eleanor is still nursing, so she only gets a bottle occasionally. Here’s what’s typically on the rack: her little bowl, a few baby spoons, a cup, a bottle or two, and a pump shield or two.
pinksuedeshoe
LOVE that drying rack! Do you mind if I use one of your pictures in a St. Patty’s “Best of Green” post tomorrow? (with links back to you and credit where it is due, of course)
bianca
I want my kitchen to look this sunny!
lori
I’ve never had a problem with that type of soap set-up. (I had a boiling flask from the local university’s cast-off sale with an olive oil-style plug until I broke the flask. Boo hoo.) I use 7th generation soap, and it seems to come out okay. Maybe it’s a thinner soap than Method?
Making it Lovely
The method soap is pretty thick. I suppose it’s not so bad that I diluted it since that’s what everyone is suggesting anyway!
Ellen
That is so cute! I am headed to Target to pick one up tonight. :)
I have been using a towel to dry my baby stuff too. This will be much cuter!
hena tayeb
i like the idea of soap in an oil dispenser
Joi
Um, I think I need the drying rack! It’s adorable!
Susan
That drying rack is so great!! I love the look — I am wondering if it’s easy to clean. I have a Skip-Hop bottle drying rack, and when even the smallest amount of excess water collects toward the bottom after a while ,it is SO GROSS to clean. But easy to click apart and run under soapy water and dry with a towel. I am interested in feedback on cleaning between the grass blades.
Ruth@GraceLaced
That exact thing happened to me with the olive oil spout and bottle. I even used a vintage decanter that looked so lovely, but was completely useless for actually dispensing!
Michelle
I’ve been using a square recycled glass bottle with a white pump for about 7 years now (with Method dish soap, but now the cucumber matches my kitchen better than pink grapefruit). Every so often I have to scrub the pump area to get it clean again – but I love not needing to pick up the bottle. I picked my dispenser up at Pier 1 in their bath section, but they’ve stopped carrying them. I’ve seen them at Target (on the wall of kitchen gadgets) and Bed Bath & Beyond (but can’t find it online at either retailer). It looks like this amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Square-Soap-Bottle-With-Pump/dp/B000E8UQYI
simply grove
That drying rack is adorable!!! The whole look is great! xx
Kari
Love the drying rack. So adorable.
And I wonder if it’s just your brand of dishsoap–I use a olive oil bottle for mine, and it’s worked great for years.
Natalie
I just added that drying rack to my baby registry a few days ago! My husband decided that we needed to have a special drying rack for bottles, so I jumped on the opportunity to get the cutest one I could find!
Emily S
Also, I was wondering if you picked up any good Liberty of London goodies this weekend? I got a few pieces, but my Target had been practically picked clean by the end of the day!
Making it Lovely
My Target was pretty empty too, and I went just an hour after they opened! I got the bike (ordered it online), and in store I bought some dresses for Eleanor and ties for Brandon.
Emily S
I JUST went and bought the drying rack yesterday, so I was quite amused when i saw it pop up on your blog :) However the rest of my countertop doesn’t look nearly as lovely.
Laura
Decorative bottles has always been one of my MS favs! I’ve been wanting to do it but haven’t taken the time to find a clear bottle for recycle or used all my pump soap. I’ve heard you need to cut the soap with water for better pouring performance.
Laura
I have to have the drying rack. I don’t have childern but have been using metal water bottles and they are a pain to dry…this is perfect and super, super, super cute! Love you can pull it apart and place in dishwasher!!!
It’s at Target for $14.99! I’m going tonight!
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/183-8825436-2325861?asin=B0032G9E0G&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|B0032G9E0G&CPNG=baby&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001
In Honor Of Design
you find the cutest things! Thanks for sharing all your fun finds with us!
CaliKatrina
Ah! A fellow BOON lover!
http://calikatrina.blogspot.com/search/label/boon
Your grass looks perfect and oh so lovely. :)
Jan
Love the dish rack! At least you tried with the olive oil bottle; and it seems you’ve gotten some good advise about it.
Mefi
you make the sink look awesome. thanks for the tip.
Brigite
Gah! I must have that drying rack. I looked at the description and it’s recommended for bottles, etc. Would you recommend it as a replacement to a traditional rack for a non-baby household? We have a dishwasher but was certain items (glasses & pots and pans) by hand.
Making it Lovely
It’s kind of small. It would be fine for a few glasses, but not much more.
sarah
I love your kitchen.
I’ve been using the Limmaren bottles from Ikea for my dish soap for a few years with no problems aside from a little rust spot on the spout, which stays away if I wipe a little oil on it periodically.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60083653
Making it Lovely
Oh, DUH. I actually have those bottles! They’re upstairs in the bathroom looking pretty but being functionless. I should try one out!
Decofabulous
May not function properly but it sure looks beautiful. :) I have been using a couple of clear soap dispensers for both the liquid soap and the washing up liquid. It gets some people confused when they come to the kitchen but it looks soo much better than the original botthles of both liquids.
Danielle
I saw this on Land of Nod’s website! Very cute! Now I know that I want it also!
christie
SO cute! Does the grass come off so you can wash out the white part?
Making it Lovely
Yep, it comes apart. The whole thing can go in the dishwasher (if you have one) too.
Tracy
Pottery Barn makes a clear pump for their bath line.. I use mine with light blue in the kitchen. Works great, and great simple styling!
Kimberly @ Daily Sip Studios
Love how fresh the kitchen looks. Nice, clean color palette! Love it!
Mrs. Jones
I used the olive oil dispenser thing for a while, too, but had the same problem. Then I bought this http://bit.ly/bOBYrs and I love it! Just as cute but more functional.
c
oh gosh. i love everything about your kitchen, nicole!
Scientific Housewife
That drying rack is awesome! That would look so neat in my kitchen :)
Win
I dilute dish soap 1:6 with water in my olive oil bottle. This is for washing individual dishes. In fact, I think this is the recommendation (might have read this on Apartment Therapy a few years ago) because otherwise the soap is far too concentrated.
Katrina
That is the cutest drying rack ever! I’ll have to get one for my best friends baby
Audrie
That’s the cutest drying rack ever!! Now I want one!
Margaret
I use a glass sparkling lemonade bottle. It has the old fashioned top attached by a metal clasp, you know the kind? Darling and works like a dream.
MB
I love it! That is the cuttest and coolest drying rack I have ever seen! I’m lovin’ the pink dish soap bottle too. I put our dish soup in an old chemistry bottle. Dish soap in a glass bottle is actually a pretty thing, who knew…Thanks for sharing all your creativity with the world, you’re fabulous!
dolores
I would love to do dishes in that sink any day! Everything looks perfect!!
Emily
Where did you get that adorable baby bowl? My little girl is starting solids so I’m in the market, and everything seems to bright and gaudy.
Making it Lovely
It’s from IKEA.
charmaine
The drying rack is so cute! I use an oil bottle for my dish soap as well, so far no problem. The sink is adorable!
Charlene @ Sweetchic
AHH! I can’t get over how pretty your SINK area is, of all places! What type of pink dish soap is that? It is the prettiest color…
Making it Lovely
It’s method pink grapefruit dish soap.
Jenny
I love the drying rack but was wondering if you found it to get a moldy smell. That is my only fear if I get it as it does not have anywhere to drain. Would love your feedback.
Making it Lovely
No, I haven’t experienced any problems.
Uyek
I use the same olive oil bottle/spout for my detergent and had the same problem with the slow flowing soap. However, a trick of my mother’s saved the day: dilute the soap with some vinegar. It will speed things up and, according to Mum, makes the dishes cleaner too.
Great dish drying rack!!
I do the bottles-on-a-tea-towel-on-the-countertop too. I am so ordering that rack right now!!
Erika @ Practical Princess
That is the cutest sink I have ever seen! Too cute =)
Emma
Cute, yes. But, a good place to grow mold fast. No, thanks!
Making it Lovely
The grass part pops out and the whole thing is dishwasher safe.
christina in nh
i just noticed that pottery barn reissued the original 70’s star wars sheets! is your husband campaigning for them yet? hehe
Making it Lovely
He actually had those when he was a kid!
anna
I have a more functional (less form-tastic) olive oil pourer for my dish soap, and I’ve never had to dilute it. So I guess you have to decide between pretty and “it works” sometimes. :)
Elisa @ whatthevita
I read your blog while cooking my breakfast.. then I looked over to my kitchen sink.. and I’m looking at my DAWN dish soap still in its plastic bottle, sitting right by my sink. It’s never looked uglier. Thanks for the idea… Make dish soap look pretty!
Mrs Soup
Oh man, that is so cute….and what a GREAT idea with the olive oil….we’ll have to see if we can get ours to work…we have one with a bigger hole that may work.
Tiffany
I use a syrup dispenser like you would see at a diner for my dishsoap. Same kind of look, and the top makes dispensing just a little bit pretty easy.
And your house is adorable as always! I’m always inspired and a pinch jealous at how effortless you make it look!
Jean
The olive oil dispenser is beautiful and ingenious! I just started using liquid castile soap for, well, everything, including as dish soap. You’re supposed to water down castile soap so it might work perfectly in your olive oil dispenser.
Jessica at Lavender and Lilies
So cute. I love how you carry the pink through your house. I had the same problem when I tried to use a bottle like that for dish soap.
Deborah
I do the same thing with dish soap, but I buy super cheap dish soap so it pours through nicely. I have a dishwasher so I only use it when I’m soaking something in the sink.
I’m loving mine! So much cuter than the bottle.
Allison
I have used something similar for dish soap with no problem … an old lemonade bottle with a top that I bought at a resto supply store. Maybe the style of top on mine works better for something viscous like soap? Or maybe my soap was thinner….
Anyhow, here’s a picture of it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angorian/3324298080/
Christina
I love that too!!! Very pretty!
Making it Lovely
Love it!
ELIZABETH
I’m loving that dish rack. Been thinking about replacing my plastic bottles with nice glass one’s. I like the one’s they have at target!
Keri
reminds me of this- http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/image/grassy%20pencil%20and%20pen%20holder.gif
umbra grassy holder. i have one on my desk and love it!
Jane @ The Borrowed Abode
I concur with Mandy. I had the same trouble, but I don’t mind, because in reality we tend to use more soap than we need to. Just a thought.
Anyway, it all looks super cute!!!
Cynthia
Hi Nicole how lovely is this!!!!!!!!!!!! And what kind of plant is that?!? I need one!
Making it Lovely
They’re flowers. Kermits or mums, I think.
Amy Kelly
What a cheery sink you have! I’ve been wanting to find a pretty vessel to hold my dish soap, hand soap, and lotion but I haven’t found the perfect solution yet. It’s a shame the olive oil bottle isn’t very practical, it’s so cute!
jbhat
The drying rack is perfect. I heart everything Boon. Love the snackball.
jbhat
Making it Lovely
Yep, I’ve got the snack ball too. :)
Mandy Ford
The grass drying rack is adorable! We just switched to using an oil bottle for our dish soap too, and it does come out a lot slower, but we’ve noticed that we’re saving soap that way because we don’t use nearly as much.
Comments are closed.