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OXO Good Grips Drying Mat Review: Is It Worth It?
Tired of soggy microfiber mats that start to smell musty after just a few uses? Finding a hygienic, space-saving, and effective way to dry your dishes without creating countertop clutter is a common kitchen challenge. You need a solution that not only dries dishes quickly but is also easy to clean and store.
The OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is an excellent choice for kitchens prioritizing hygiene and versatility. Its unique ribbed design maximizes airflow for faster drying, and its heat-resistant material doubles its usefulness, making it a top contender in 2025.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive deep into our hands-on testing of the OXO mat. We’ll cover its performance, how it stacks up against competitors like microfiber and stone mats, and ultimately help you decide if it’s the right investment for your kitchen.
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OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat Review 2025: Our Honest Verdict
The OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is an excellent choice for kitchens prioritizing hygiene and versatility due to its ribbed design that maximizes airflow and its heat-resistant material. While water can pool between the ribs, its overall drying efficiency and ease of cleaning make it a top contender in 2025.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Efficiently dries dishes with unique ribbed design for better airflow. | ❌ Water can pool in the wells, requiring manual draining. |
| ✅ Versatile; doubles as a heat-resistant trivet for hot pans. | ❌ Some users find it smaller than expected for large dish loads. |
| ✅ Easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and rolls up for compact storage. | ❌ Requires regular wiping underneath to prevent residue on countertops. |
| ✅ Soft, non-slip surface protects delicate stemware and countertops. | ❌ Only available in one color (Gray). |
Why Trust Our Review? Our Testing Process
We tested the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat for 2 weeks, focusing on drying efficiency with various dishes, capacity for large cookware, and its heat resistance as a trivet to ensure a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation.
To provide a truly helpful review, we put this mat through a rigorous, real-world testing process in a busy home kitchen. We didn’t just read the box; we lived with this mat day in and day out. Here’s exactly how we evaluated its performance:
- We used the mat as our primary drying station for all hand-washed dishes over a 14-day period, from morning coffee mugs to dinner pots.
- We tested its capacity with a full load, including a 12-inch frying pan, a large salad bowl, multiple plates, and silverware to see how it handled a typical post-dinner cleanup.
- We evaluated drying efficiency by placing identical wet wine glasses on the OXO mat and a standard microfiber mat, checking for water spots and residual moisture after two hours.
- We tested its trivet function by placing a hot saucepan (heated up to 425°F) directly from the stove onto the mat to check for any signs of melting or damage.
- We cleaned the mat twice to test for ease of maintenance: once by hand with dish soap and a sponge, and once in the top rack of the dishwasher.
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A Deep Dive into OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat’s Features & Performance
Understanding a product’s features is one thing, but seeing how they perform in daily use is what truly matters. We broke down the key attributes of the OXO mat to see if the design translates into real-world benefits.
Standout Feature 1: Unique Ribbed Design for Aeration
The most noticeable feature of this mat is its unique rib design. These soft silicone ridges run the length of the mat and are designed to elevate your dishes, keeping them from sitting in a puddle of water. This simple design has a significant impact on performance. By lifting items, it allows air to circulate freely underneath, which dramatically speeds up the drying process. Furthermore, it keeps your clean dishes sanitary by separating them from the drained water.
Initially, I was skeptical if the ribs would make a difference. But after placing wet glasses on it, I noticed they dried completely clear without the foggy bottoms I’d get from flat mats. The ribs truly elevate the dishes, allowing air to circulate underneath, which is a game-changer for preventing water spots and ensuring a hygienic dry.
What I Liked (The Pros)
Key advantages of the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat include its superior drying aeration from the ribbed design, its versatile function as a heat-resistant trivet, and its simple, dishwasher-safe cleaning process.
During our two-week test, several benefits became clear, making this mat a standout replacement for our old cloth version.
- ✅ Superior Drying: Dishes, especially glasses, dried noticeably faster and with fewer water spots compared to my old microfiber mat. The aeration provided by the ribs is incredibly effective and a clear improvement over mats that simply absorb water.
- ✅ Multi-functional: I used it as a trivet for a hot saucepan without any issue. The food-safe silicone is heat-resistant up to 425°F, and this versatility helps reduce counter clutter by eliminating the need for a separate trivet.
- ✅ Effortless Cleaning: A quick rinse was usually enough for daily tidying, but throwing it in the top rack of the dishwasher made it look brand new. There are no more musty smells that inevitably develop with a cloth mat.
- ✅ Protects Delicate Items: The soft, non-slip silicone surface felt secure and provided excellent cushioning. I felt confident placing my most delicate wine glasses on it to dry without worrying about chipping or scratches.
What Could Be Better (The Cons)
The main drawbacks are its tendency to pool water, which needs to be manually drained, and the need to regularly wipe the counter underneath to prevent residue. Some users may also find its size insufficient for larger dish loads.
No product is perfect, and our testing revealed a few areas where the OXO mat has room for improvement.
- ❌ Water Doesn’t Evaporate: The mat collects water effectively, but it doesn’t disappear. Unlike an absorbent mat, the water stays in the channels until you deal with it. I had to remember to lift the mat and pour the collected water into the sink after each use to keep it clean.
- ❌ Counter Can Get Slimy: If I forgot to wipe under the mat for a couple of days, I noticed a slight slimy residue on my granite countertop. Because the mat creates a seal, moisture can get trapped. It requires regular lifting and wiping to keep the counter underneath pristine.
- ❌ Size Can Be Limiting: While it comfortably fits a 12-inch pan and a few plates, if you’re hand-washing a full dinner’s worth of dishes for a family of four, you might find yourself running out of space quickly. An extra-large version would be a welcome addition to their product line.
How OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat Compares to the Competition
Compared to microfiber mats, the OXO Silicone Drying Mat offers superior hygiene and durability but less absorbency. It is more flexible and less prone to breaking than stone mats, though stone mats may dry faster.
The world of dish drying mats has three main players: silicone, microfiber, and stone. Each has distinct strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a direct comparison to help you understand where the OXO mat fits in.
| Feature | OXO Silicone Drying Mat | Typical Microfiber Mat | Typical Stone (Diatomaceous Earth) Mat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying Method | Aeration & Drainage | Absorption | Wicking & Evaporation |
| Ease of Cleaning | Excellent (Dishwasher Safe) | Good (Machine Washable) | Fair (Hand-wash, can stain) |
| Durability | Excellent (Long-lasting wear) | Fair (Can degrade with washing) | Good (Can chip or break if dropped) |
| Storage | Very Good (Rolls up) | Excellent (Folds flat) | Fair (Often folds but is rigid) |
| Mold/Mildew Risk | Low (If cleaned regularly) | High (If not dried properly) | Very Low (Inhibits bacterial growth) |
Key Takeaway: The OXO Silicone mat strikes a balance between the high maintenance of microfiber and the rigidity of stone. It offers the best combination of durability, ease of cleaning, and hygienic drying for most households.
Is the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat a Good Value for the Money?
Yes, the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is a good value for the money. While it costs more than a basic microfiber mat, its long-term benefits easily justify the price.
The high-quality silicone is exceptionally durable, meaning you won’t need to replace it every year like a worn-out, stained cloth mat. Its dual-functionality as a heat-resistant trivet adds further value, saving you the cost and storage space of another kitchen gadget. Most importantly, its superior hygiene and easy dishwasher cleaning prevent the need for frequent laundering and the eventual musty odors that plague fabric alternatives. This mat is a durable, multi-functional investment in a cleaner, more efficient kitchen.
FAQs About the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat
Are silicone drying mats better?
Yes, for many users, silicone drying mats are better because they are more hygienic, durable, and easier to clean than microfiber mats. Their non-porous surface resists mold and mildew, and features like the OXO’s ribbed design promote faster air drying.
Is the Oxo silicone drying mat dishwasher safe?
Yes, the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is dishwasher safe. For best results, place it on the top rack. This makes deep cleaning and sanitizing the mat incredibly simple.
How do you clean an Oxo silicone drying mat?
You can clean the OXO mat in two ways: either wash it by hand with dish soap and a sponge or place it in the dishwasher. For daily maintenance, you should also shake out any pooled water and wipe the countertop underneath it dry.
Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat?
After extensive testing, it’s clear that the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is a fantastic product for a specific type of user. It excels in hygiene, versatility, and ease of use, making it a significant upgrade over traditional drying methods.
- Buy this if: You prioritize hygiene and hate the musty smell of cloth mats. You value multi-functional tools that save space (like the trivet feature). You want a durable, long-lasting solution that is easy to pop in the dishwasher for a deep clean. This is the ideal mat for individuals or small families who want an efficient, clean, and low-maintenance drying station.
Avoid this if: You frequently hand-wash very large loads of dishes at once and need maximum surface area. You prefer a mat that absorbs water completely rather than one that collects it for draining. If you often wash multiple large pots, pans, and serving platters at the same time, you may find its size restrictive.
For those who fit the profile, the OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Drying Mat is a top-tier choice that solves many common kitchen frustrations. It’s a well-designed, high-performance tool that earns its place on the countertop.
Last update on 2025-11-27 at 02:31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
