A used dish drying rack can look fine at a glance and still hide grease film, limescale, and biofilm in joints, welds, and drainage corners. Those residues reduce drying efficiency, create odor, and can stain plates and glassware. From a dish rack manufacturer’s viewpoint, the best cleaning method is a repeatable process that removes three things in order: oily soil, mineral scale, and microbes. The steps below work well for common rack materials seen across XIANGYU’s ranges, including chrome plated iron, stainless steel, and Aluminum Dish Racks.

Before you start: quick inspection and safe setup

Move the rack to an empty sink or a large basin. Remove all accessories such as cutlery holders, drip trays, cup holders, and any detachable rails. If your rack has a water tray, separate it first because trays usually hold the highest concentration of residue. Check for sharp burrs, peeling coating, and loose feet. If coating is flaking, cleaning will not restore performance, and replacement is typically the safer option for long-term hygiene.

Step 1: Degrease to remove the invisible film

Grease is the layer that makes later steps fail, because it blocks descalers and sanitizers from reaching the surface.

Use warm water and a mild degreasing dish soap. Apply with a soft brush, focusing on weld points, corners, and the underside of the frame. For heavy buildup, let the soapy solution sit for 8 to 10 minutes, then scrub again. Rinse thoroughly until water sheets off the surface instead of beading, which usually indicates the film is gone. If your rack includes a tray designed to catch drips, wash that tray separately and rinse it twice to avoid soap residue that can trap dust later.

Step 2: Descale to remove hard water deposits

After degreasing, tackle white crust and dull spots caused by minerals. For most households, a diluted vinegar solution is sufficient. Apply it to affected areas, keep it wet for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub gently with a non-scratch pad. Do not use metal scouring pads on chrome finishes, because they can create micro-scratches that hold stains.

If you live in very hard water areas, repeat once rather than increasing the acidity or soaking for too long. Over-soaking can stress plated layers over time. For tight joints, use cotton swabs to reach crevices and threads.

Step 3: Sanitize the contact surfaces

Once scale is removed, sanitize to reduce microbial load. Use a food-surface-safe sanitizer or a mild bleach solution. Keep contact time at about 5 minutes, then rinse fully. Pay attention to the areas that frequently touch wet cutlery and cup rims such as utensil compartments and glass rails.

After sanitizing, rinse thoroughly and wipe once more with clean water. Any sanitizer left behind can cause spotting and may affect surface appearance.

Step 4: Dry completely to prevent odor and spotting

Air-dry is not enough if water is trapped in seams. Shake off excess water, then towel-dry the rack and its tray, especially at welds and joints. Stand the rack so air can pass through. Full drying prevents both odor and mineral spotting, and it slows down corrosion in humid kitchens.

Cleaning solutions by material

Cleaning chemistry should match the rack material and surface finish to protect appearance and service life.

XIANGYU’s product coverage includes chrome plated iron, stainless steel, and aluminum dish racks, so aligning cleaning methods with material is a practical way to extend usable life and keep the rack looking consistent.

Deep-clean schedule that stays realistic

A used rack benefits from a simple routine that prevents heavy buildup.

• Daily: rinse the tray, wipe standing water, and remove food particles from corners

• Weekly: degrease the whole rack and sanitize the utensil area

• Monthly: descale all contact points and inspect coating or joints for wear

If your kitchen sees higher volume, shorten the cycle by half. Consistency matters more than aggressive cleaning.

When a used rack should be replaced

Cleaning restores hygiene, but it cannot repair structural or surface failure. Replace the rack if you see coating flake-off, deep rust pits, cracking welds, or recurring metallic odor after full cleaning and drying. Those are signs the surface can no longer be kept stable and clean with normal maintenance.

Why many buyers choose XIANGYU for dish racks

For projects that require consistent appearance and repeatable maintenance, product design details matter, such as easy-to-clean layouts, detachable modules, and drip-control structures. XIANGYU has been manufacturing dish racks since 2001 and supplies multiple material options across a broad product range, with customization support for OEM/ODM and bulk order requirements.

If you want, I can tailor the cleaning steps into a short care card for your product page, based on the exact rack type you sell: single tier, double tier, foldable, roll up, or over-the-sink.