Where to put dishwasher pods can be a challenge. I have a love/hate relationship with the packaging that’s out there for dishwasher tablets. It’s hard to get those pucks out when they’re in a ‘clamshell’. And trying to dig them out from under the sink can be a challenge in itself. Even when they come in a resealable bag! Today we have an easy dishwasher tab dispenser that solves those problems.
Before deciding where to put dishwasher tablets, a note of caution before proceeding. If you have young kids and want to implement this, make sure you have a child proof safety latch on the door; these pucks look temptingly like candy and you wouldn’t want the wee ones to ingest this stuff; it’s toxic!
I was browsing Hometalk when I came across a fellow blogger’s solution for storing dishwasher pods. I thought this was a great solution. However, I wanted mine to be easily accessible without having to dive under the cupboard to pull them out every time I needed one. I have a bad back, so I don’t do dishes. It has actually been Hubs’ job to do the scavenging hunt when we run the dishwasher.
The solution I came up with for dishwasher pod storage is easy for me to access without bending down. And with a few simple office supplies, I didn’t even have to drill a hole into the back of my kitchen sink cabinet to mount it!!
Materials
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Behold a plastic organizer / dispenser that’s original purpose is storing sweetener.
Where to Put Dishwasher Pods
This has to be the simplest storage solution I’ve ever executed! Remove the sweetener and load the organizer with the tabs. Then add a binder clip onto the part of the container that’s cut away. Make sure the back prong of the binder clip is sticking straight up. This is what you’ll use to hang it with!
Add an elastic on one side just to keep the tabs from falling out when the cabinet door is opened and closed. Because the elastic is flexible, it’s easy to reach in a grab one. It also keeps everything in place.
Handing the Dishwasher Pod Dispenser
Here is my sink cabinet. Notice the knobs? I used the same screw that holds the knob in place to hang the dispenser onto the back of the door!
Depending on the whether the clip will slide over the head of the screw, you may only have to unscrew it a little to slip it on. In my case, I had to take it off completely, sandwich the knob and dispenser onto the door and then screw it all back into place.
Now tighten the screw so it’s snug. If for some reason the knob on the front of the door is too loose, you may have to replace the screw with a longer one. Mine was still perfect!
How to Refill
To refill it, you can fill it in place, or remove the container by squeezing the clip to release it so you can restock it on your counter top .
You may want to be on the lookout for a slightly longer container so you can store a week-full of tabs at once; however I wouldn’t buy anything wider as there’s a perfect amount of clearance to be able to close the door.
The where to put dishwasher pods problem is now resolved in our household. Hubs is happy with the convenience of having it hanging on the back of the door where it’s easy to reach. Now I can even do the dishes every once in a while if I choose to (oh, but wait: I don’t do dishes)!
With two people in our household we only run the dishwasher once a week, so this solution could conceivably save my back for up to a month and a half before we have to replenish the supply.
In the near future (once I have my craft room up and running), I may make it prettier. My idea is tol replace the elastic with a door of sorts. It could be made out of something like a clear plastic report cover. But for now it functions great!
Pin Where to Put Dishwasher Pods
If where to put dishwasher pods is a challenge in your household too, pin this idea for later! Pinning is always welcome and appreciated.
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Kitchen Storage Solutions from Birdz of a Feather
Although not nearly as easy, you can see our other kitchen storage solutions by clicking on the pictures below….
Hidden Kitchen Storage: Turn a Filler Panel into a Pull-Out Cabinet!
Ikea Stenstorp Kitchen Cart Hack:
I love clever solutions. Like you, I have a bad back and will do almost anything to avoid bending over. I’ve never seen those dish-washer tabs. That must be something unique to your area. We’ve recently started buying pods, but they are much smaller than what you show here. I’ve cleared a small upper cabinet and keep all my cleaning products there. This was a great solution when my boys were small, and it saves my back.
I love your posts!
What a great compliment – thanks Alys!
You’re welcome!
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