Where to Hang Dish Towels in a Small Kitchen

Every small kitchen has the same towel problem. The oven handle is taken, the towel slides off the faucet, and the one on the counter is always damp and always in the way. A dish towel needs a spot that's close to the sink, lets it hang open to dry, and doesn't take up counter space. In a small kitchen, that spot usually isn't obvious. Here's where to hang dish towels, and what works if you rent and can't drill.

What makes a good towel spot

• Close to where your hands get wet: the sink first, the prep area second.
• Room to hang open. A towel bunched on a hook stays damp much longer than one hanging flat.
• Away from the burners. Never hang towels where they can touch or swing near the stovetop.
• Off the counter. In a small kitchen, counter space is too valuable for a wet towel.

1. Over a cabinet door (our favorite for renters)

The door under the sink is usually right where your hands are wet, and its front is empty. A towel bar that hooks over the top edge of the door gives the towel a place to hang flat and dry, with no adhesive and no screws. Our over-the-door cabinet towel bar is stainless steel and comes in two lengths, about 9.25 in (23.5 cm) or 14.2 in (36 cm), in packs of 1, 2 or 3. It simply hooks on and lifts off, so there's nothing to patch when you move out.

Check first: the top edge of the door has to be free when the door closes. On some cabinets the frame sits tight against the top of the door and a hook would stop it from closing. Open and close the door slowly and look for a gap. Our Size & Fit Guide shows what to look for.

Two bars on two doors is a simple way to keep a dish towel and a hand towel separate: one for drying dishes, one for drying hands.

2. Inside a cabinet door

If you'd rather not see the towel, hang it inside the under-sink door instead. The same over-the-door bar can face inward, or you can use a stick-on hook or bar on the inside of the door. Check that the towel clears the pipes and anything stored in the cabinet when the door closes. A towel inside a closed cabinet dries more slowly, so this works best for a spare towel, not the one you use all day.

3. On the oven handle

It's the default for a reason: it's right there. The downsides are that towels slide off, they're in the way when you open the oven, and the handle can get hot. If you use it, keep the towel short enough that it can't reach a burner, and move it when the oven is on.

4. A stick-on hook or towel ring near the sink

A wall or backsplash beside the sink is a good spot for a stick-on hook or ring if the surface is smooth tile or another non-porous surface. Clean it with rubbing alcohol first, press firmly, and give the adhesive time before hanging anything. A ring or bar lets the towel hang more open than a single hook. Test on a small hidden spot first, since some paints can lift when adhesive is removed.

5. The side of the fridge

If your fridge sits near the sink or prep area, a magnetic hook or bar on its side holds a towel with no adhesive at all. Check that it's strong enough for a wet towel before you rely on it.

6. Over the faucet (only as a backup)

Draping a towel over the faucet keeps it close, but it stays wet from splashes and slides into the sink. If you like the faucet area, give the sponge that spot instead with an over-faucet sponge holder, and move the towel to a door bar nearby.

Keep towels fresh

• Hang them open. Spread the towel flat on a bar rather than bunching it on a hook.
• Swap often. Put out a fresh towel regularly, and right away if it smells or has touched raw meat juices.
• Have enough on rotation. A few spares in a drawer means you're never tempted to use a damp one another day.
• Separate jobs. One towel for hands, one for dishes, if you have the space.

The short answer

For most small kitchens, the best place to hang a dish towel is on a bar over the cabinet door under or next to the sink: close to your wet hands, flat enough to dry, off the counter and away from the burners. If you rent, an over-the-door bar does it with no holes at all. For more ideas for your cabinet doors, read Kitchen Cabinet Door Storage Ideas for Renters, and for the whole kitchen, How to Organize a Small Apartment Kitchen Without Drilling.