Buzz
I entered my parents' kitchen, and my gaze immediately fell on their dishwasher. Specifically, the layers of blue painter’s tape that crisscrossed its door, with a Tupperware lid jammed in between.
The tape and lid combination signified that the dishes were still dirty, my mom explained. When the dishes were clean, she’d remove the setup, and the cycle would start again.
It was an effective system, though clearly less than ideal (and before I sound too judgmental, I’m often the first to defend the chaos in my own space). But this messy, convoluted dishwashing situation caught my attention because, as a shopping writer, I knew there was already an absurdly simple solution available.
The fix was a dirty/clean dishwasher sign. It attaches to the dishwasher with a magnet or adhesive; just slide the label to show when the dishes are dirty, then slide it again when they’re clean. Simple.
It’s straightforward, and at $7, unbelievably affordable — too affordable to keep tolerating the “are they clean or not” guessing game with your possibly dirty, possibly clean dishes (you’ll only know for sure when you’re about to eat from them).
I picked this Gorilla Grip version for my parents — I was really impressed by its value and its impressive rating (4.9 out of 5 stars).
It was also subtly designed, so I knew it would fit seamlessly into my parents' kitchen. Available in silver and black, I went with the silver version thinking they'd place it on their washer, but they ended up propping it against a cabinet instead.
Now, the sign is doing exactly what it’s meant to do. No more DIY solutions: Just a simple, clear indicator showing whether the dishes are clean or dirty. Mission accomplished.
I still stand by the sign I selected for my parents, though there are other great options available, offering different colors, fonts, and labeling styles.
We’ve gathered a selection of some of the best alternatives for you to check out, below.
1. A vibrant acrylic dishwasher sign that’s likely the top choice among online shoppers
2. A particularly useful option with four distinct status settings
3. A magnet designed with a "farmhouse rustic" aesthetic
4. A sleek, modern stainless steel sign
The reviews for this post have been shortened for readability and clarity.
