This post goes out to whoever does the dishes at your house. After this simple craft you will never hear the words, “Are these dishes clean or dirty?” again! No lies, this is 100% guaranteed. Do you know what’s even better? This craft is so easy, fast, and cheap to make! You might even be done making it before the dirty dishes pile up. And that is fast.
Here is what you will need:
1. Pencil
2. Scissors
3. Mod Podge
4. Sponge brush
5. Adhesive magnetic sheets
6. Card stock
7. Letter stickers (not shown above since I am indecisive sometimes)
After picking your card stock (I used white and printed vintage illustrations on them), simply trace a circle around the part you will use and cut.
Now trace the same circle on the back of the magnet and cut. Peel off the backing on the adhesive magnet and apply your card stock. Don’t you love adhesives? No drying time or waiting around, just instantly stuck together!
Next place your letter stickers on the magnets to clarify whether the dishes will be clean or dirty. I have not joined the legions of women who own a Silhouette, so I used some stickers. Now I know what to ask for this Christmas :).
Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto your magnets to add texture and to ensure the letters stay put. Almost done! Are you still winning the race against the dirty dishes?
Ta da! Aren’t they cute?! With Mother’s Day coming up, you could make these fun and useful magnets and slip them in the card for your Mom. I am giving my magnets to my Mom for sure! She rinses her dishes so spotlessly clean before they go into the dishwasher that my Dad can never tell whether they are, “Clean or Dirty?” So, Happy Mother’s Day Mom and problem solved :).
Shannon says
How does having both magnets on the dishwasher tell if they are clean or dirty? Am I missing something obvious? Can you explain how you USE them in addition to how they are made?
Carina says
Sorry to confuse you Shannon! I photographed both magnets together, but you only use one at time. When the dishes are dirty use the dirty magnet on the dishwasher and place the clean magnet on your fridge. When they are clean then just switch and put the clean magnet on the dishwasher and the dirty magnet on the fridge. I hope I explained it better this time and I hope this craft solves your dishwasher dilemma!
Terri says
She was just showing how the look. You just use one at a time…if the dishes are clean, then the clean one is on, if they’re dirty, then the dirty one is on the dishwasher and the other is on the fridge or somewhere convenient.
Laurie says
You can also use advertising magnets you get in mail now and then.
Kerry says
I used a sign that I hung on the handle of the dishwasher (because my dishwasher wasn’t magnetic) when my kids were young. On one side it said dirty and one side said clean. It worked amazingly well! I suppose pictures would be better for very young kids. Now my children are teenagers, so I tell them “if you open the dishwasher and it stinks, the dishes are dirty.” 😉 When in doubt, they’re dirty. That idea has worked so far.
Terri says
Could you put the other pictures on the back side of the magnet, so there’s only one, and all you have to do is flip it over?
Rosemary says
I like the idea, but have a stainless steel front on my dishwasher and no handle=a Meile. Do you have any suggestions for attaching the sign?
Kj says
Use small suction cup with hook
Carina says
Thanks for solving Rosemary’s dilemma Kj!
Joy says
This is a good idea! Our Kitchen-aid dishwasher will not hold magnets. I bought a clean and dirty magnetic when we purchased the dishwasher a few years ago .and of course they wouldn’t hold- lol. I can tell when mine are clean or dirty.
I always put them in the cabinet as soon as they are clean..
Make everyday special – 🙂
Shaney says
Such a great idea! I used just one magnet instead of two so that all I have to do is turn the magnet over when the load is dirty or clean. One less thing to loose!
Carina says
That is so smart Shaney! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Betty819 says
Some of today’s dishwashers their fronts are not metal and a magnet will not stick. Maybe if you have another magnet, try it on your dishwasher door first before you go to all the trouble of making a special one that tells if the dishes inside are dirty or clean. I just tested mine and it’s okay but at my former home, the door to the dishwasher was not metal, but some type of plastic compostion and a magnet would not stick to it.
Betty819 says
I’m going to use a magnet I already have from some advertisement that came via the mail..was thinking of painting it with chalkboard paint(a color that is not black) or use the black chalkboard paint I have on the advertisement, then use a dry erase or wet erase pen or use colored alphabet that i used in scrapbooking for the words, Clean or dirty.
Carina says
I LOVE your chalkboard paint suggestion for this craft! It is so fun that we can all share our ideas and brainstorm together :).
Betty819 says
I’m going to use a magnet I already have from some advertisement that came via the mail..was thinking of painting it with chalkboard paint(al color that is not black) or use the black chalkboard paint I have on the advertisement, then use a dry erase or wet erase pen or use colored alphabet that i used in scrapbooking for the words, Clean or dirty., What type of pen did you use?
Elle says
Hey doll, Do you have the link or could you upload your graphics please??? They’re gorgeous!!
Meghan says
I’m late to the game but another idea is to put clean/dirty opposite each other. So you just flip the magnet right-side up to clean or dirty. Does that make sense?