Its low profile is much better than a dish drain. I put everything except a my new induction cookware in the dishwasher. Handwashing a pot or two, and placing it on the dish mat to drain off while I finish the rest of the kitchen. Then wipe off the pot, put it away and the mat is already dry, sometimes I leave it on the counter, other times it folds flat and stores under the sink. It dries fast and stores easily till I need it again.