This question comes up a lot, so I thought I’d share my own solution. I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I didn’t check my dishwasher to make sure it was magnetic. I just assumed it would be. I mean, why WOULDN’T it be magnetic, right? And also, I had these cute magnetic labels all designed and ordered and I just KNEW they would be the perfect solution. Imagine my disappointment when my new, adorable magnets succumbed to gravity and promptly hit the floor. Ugh. Back to the drawing board for me.
Fortunately, there are a couple of easy solutions for those with non-magnetic dishwashers. The right fix for you just depends on your particular kitchen layout and your imagination.
1. The nearby appliance
If your (magnetic) fridge is nearby, rejoice! All you have to do is place the magnets on it instead of the dishwasher and your problem is solved. Unfortunately this didn’t work for me, as my fridge is across the kitchen. Not really feasible.
The bottom panel of my ancient dishwasher happened to be magnetic, but this just looks terrible. We can do better.
2. The crafty sign
Thanks to a clearance metal sign, some spray paint, and double-sided foam tape, I was able to add this magnetic panel to the top of my dishwasher! I spotted a pile of these signs on clearance and for a whopping $1.19 and some spray paint it is now perfect for my kitchen. This originally had something horrendous printed on there — possibly in camouflage or about shopping or needing coffee. It was obvious why they were on clearance, but all the better for me!
I can imagine all sorts of other options using a magnetic panel and double-sided tape. A small cookie sheet? A lid from a cute metal tin? A framed piece of metal? Ooh! A coat of chalkboard paint on this sign would open up all sorts of possibilities.
What do YOU think? Let us know your ideas for making this old, plastic-front dishwasher perfect for magnetic labels.