Build A Peg Rail That Lets Dish Towels Dry Separately

Dish towels are great for soaking up spilled water or drying your hands, but the water doesn't just vanish once it's in the towel. If you put it back into a drawer with the other dish towels, you'll end up with a musty, mildewy pile. Hanging them to dry is an easy fix, but where should you put them? A simple DIY peg rail is a great solution, allowing you to hang up your dish towels and space them out so they dry completely. You'll need wood, cylinders for the pegs, and some decorative supplies such as paint or a wood sealant. To assemble everything, you'll also need a drill and screws, mounting brackets, and a saw.

The basic idea is to take a piece of wood and add small bolts or dowels to it that your dish towels can hang on. Rectangular pieces of wood are the easiest to work with, but if you have the tools and feel up to the challenge then there's no reason you couldn't make your peg rail a different shape. You'll just need to adjust the peg spacing to ensure the towels won't overlap. Similarly, wooden pegs are easy to work with and aesthetically pleasing, but you could swap them out for something metallic if it's a better fit for your kitchen. If your dish towels have loops, snaps, or you're using safety pins to keep your kitchen towels from falling, you'll want to take the size of the loop into consideration when planning your peg size.

Measure the space and cut a wooden board to fit. Measure and mark where each peg will sit, ensuring that each peg is spaced at least a couple inches apart so your dish towels have plenty of room. For the pegs, one option is to drill a hole into the board and the peg, then screw them together. You can also cut or drill a hole that is large enough for the end of the peg to fit into, then use wood glue to secure it. However, to help your towels stay in place, it's a good idea to angle the pegs upwards slightly. If you're screwing the pegs in place, you should cut the end of the peg that will be against the board at an angle. Otherwise the hole itself will need to be angled. Alternatively, you can put the pegs on completely straight and use another way to keep the kitchen towels from falling.

You can leave the wood plain or paint it, but either way it's a good idea to seal your peg rail. Since you'll be hanging damp dish towels on it, you'll want the wood to be protected against moisture. Finally, it's time to mount the peg rail on the wall. You can use a mounting bracket to secure it or opt for self-adhesive strips as a renter-friendly alternative. If you're feeling unsure of your final result, this DIY peg rail tutorial can walk you through the steps in more detail.