The New $4.99 ALDI Find Every Kitchen Should Have

When we planned on selling our house several years ago, I called a trusted handyman to fix up a few things we still needed to do. Around the same time, our drains started draining slowly, so I asked him to take a look.

He cleared out the drains, handed me a bill, and suggested we use drain strainers to save us this hassle in the future; then, he showed me what they'd pulled up from the drains. It was not pretty, but I learned a good lesson. No matter how small or insignificant it is, the buildup of gunk in the drain will eventually become too big to ignore, costing us time, money, and inconvenience—at best!

Since then, I've been using drain strainers in my kitchen and bathtub, changing them every year or so when they get worn down. So, when I saw that ALDI was selling Joie drain strainers for $4.99, it reminded me that I needed to replace mine. And if $4.99 still seems like a lot for a wee strainer, consider the cost of plumbing repairs. 

Why I Love ALDI's Joie Drain Strainer

The Joie brand is sturdy, well-made, and long-lasting. So much so that other retailers often sell these strainers for up to $10.00! ALDI sells several styles: plain black and three others with duck, flower, or frog designs. I never thought I'd describe a drain strainer as "cute," but here we are.

After using strainers for a while now, I prefer the design of the black one because the handle is easier to clean. The animal designs are cute, and if you need something to make you smile while doing dishes, seeing a smirking frog at the bottom of your sink might do it! However, I find the animal shapes can be a little finicky to clean.  

Why Everyone Should Own a Drain Strainer

• Let's start with the obvious: It prevents drains from clogging. It's gross to watch water slowly pool around dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. This strainer fits perfectly in my kitchen sink drain, catching all the bits of food that would otherwise conspire to clog my pipes.
• It helps protect pipes. The simple design makes it easy to collect and dispose of gunk, which prevents buildup in the pipes.
• It's cost-effective. Spend $5 now or $500 later. This small investment helps prevent the need for professional plumbing services and costly repairs. 
• It eliminates odors. By trapping all the bits and bobs of food particles and organic matter, I've also found that it helps reduce odors that sometimes develop in my pipes. Ew!
• It's environmentally friendly. Using a strainer reduces the need for harsh chemical drain cleaners like Drano, which are known to be harmful to the environment.
• It helps keep possessions safe. Okay, raise your hand if you've ever dropped a piece of jewelry down the drain. You can't see me, but I'd have three hands up if I could. And that is an absolute nightmare. A strainer can catch small items like jewelry, coins, or small kids' toys that might accidentally fall into the drain and get lost or cause a blockage. This is reason alone to have one!

Drain strainers are also easy to clean. If I'm doing a quick disinfecting job after washing any tools used to handle raw meat, I'll spray the tools, the sink, and the strainer down with an all-purpose spray and scrub everything. I also put the strainer into my dishwasher every night for regular maintenance cleaning.

Before discovering the magic of drain strainers, I was no stranger to plumbing nightmares. If you don't have a strainer in your kitchen (or bathroom), do yourself a favor and grab one from ALDI. For just $4.99, it's a small investment that can save you both money and frustration.