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Buy the best sink strainer for only $10 on Amazon — it's the perfect practical stocking stuffer
I test kitchen products for a living, and this $10 Oxo Sink Strainer has become a must-have in my home
Ah, the irony that something we use for cleaning, like the kitchen sink, can wind up becoming one of the most filthy parts of our home. And it makes sense — that grime needs somewhere to go. If you're (literally and figuratively) sick of having to pull out icky gunk that's been caught in the drain, I've found an affordable solution: The Oxo Sink Strainer. It's by far the best sink strainer I've ever used — just slip this little doodad over the drain so it can catch those bits and bobs before they fall into the abyss and clog your pipes. The coolest part? You can pop it inside out when it's time to toss those remnants into the trash.
In case that's not enough to make you click "Add to Cart" immediately, keep reading for my full Oxo Sink Strainer review:
As someone who writes about kitchen products all day, I've seen my fair share of gadgets — this is one of the few that's actually worth buying.
Garbage disposal or not, you need this sink strainer
I never would have believed that a small piece of metal and silicone could made such a big impact on my everyday routine, but here we are. Up until a few years ago, I'd never had a garbage disposal, and would find myself digging through the drain to dislodge who knows what in order for the water in the sink to go down. (Or, shelling out for a plumber to fix the problem.) Oh, how having the Oxo Sink Strainer would have been so handy back then!
Even now, with a garbage disposal, it's become a permanent fixture in my kitchen. Not only does it trap bits of food before they can stink up the drain, it also helps prevent small items like measuring spoons from slipping down and getting pulverized by the disposal.
Gook, be gone
The best part is that it saves my poor hands from having to touch slimy remnants (for the most part). I do sometimes have to swipe off stubborn, stuck-on bits by hand, but popping out the center and giving it a good whack on the side of the garbage does the trick most of the time.
I also find that the size of the holes dotting the silicone are the perfect size — small enough to keep most food chunks from getting through, but large enough to allow water to drain. The holes do get clogged after a while, but I find that they're pretty easy to clean via toothpicks, and the strainer is also dishwasher-safe. In my opinion, these are minor inconveniences when you consider how much headache (hand-ache?) it saves you — and once mine becomes grimy beyond compare, you can bet I'll happily buy another one. (I'm on year two of my current one, and so far, so good.)
Don't just take my word for it — over 16,000 Amazon customers also swear by the Oxo Sink Strainer.
Wrote one convert: "For those of you still using the wire mesh sink strainer, stop. I mean it. Never deal with cheese melted into the little tiny holes again. This product is a game-changer. Most food comes out easily with a simple bang on the side of the trash can, and anything difficult just requires swipe of a finger. You can flip it inside-out, but the food comes out so easily, it really isn’t needed."
"I don’t use this to catch food, but rather to keep small things like lids and measuring spoons from ending up in the garbage disposal," shared another impressed shopper. "I always wash the dishes with gloves on, so sometimes it’s hard to grip things, and depending on what falls down there, sometimes I have to take the glove off to feel around with my fingers until I find it. This little drain insert does not slow down the draining on my sink, but does keep any little things from slipping down, and when food does end up in it, it’s very easy to pop it inside-out to rinse it out. It’s also easy to clean."
"I honestly never thought I would leave a review for a sink strainer, but this one actually deserves one," gushed a final fan. "The pull-out silicone nub makes ALL the difference. You still have to put your fingers on it to get some stuff that gets stuck in the holes, but one of the most disgusting parts of dish washing is made less so with this product."
If you know someone who appreciates practical stocking stuffers, look no further.
And for your bathroom sink, check out the popular SinkShroom.
This top-selling relative of the iconic TubShroom was designed to fit most standard sink drains to trap hair and any other gunk before it can make a mess of your pipes (and, in turn, rack up some hefty plumber fees).
"I love this drain protector!" exclaimed one happy shopper. "My bathroom sink continually drained slowly due to hair accumulating in the drain pipe, so I had to use drain cleaner on a regular basis just to keep it draining at all. I saw this handy little gadget and decided to give it a shot. I thoroughly cleaned out the drain pipe to remove as much hair and other gunk as possible, popped this in and have not had another issue with clogs or slow draining. Easy to install and easy to pull out for periodic cleaning."
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
