There’s always that one weird little trick that makes your life easier, and this is mine: I toss a silicone dish drying mat at the bottom of my cooler bag wherever I go in the summer. That’s it. That’s the hack!
I started bringing it on park days and BBQs, but now it lives in my cooler bag full time. Even if I’m just packing a few things for a beach afternoon or picnic, it keeps the inside cleaner and way less chaotic. You don’t realize how helpful it is until you’re unpacking everything later and not dealing with an unmanageable puddle!
I used to use one of those soft fabric dish drying mats in my cooler to soak up the excess liquid. It worked fine, but it always ended up soggy and kind of gross. I had to wash it every time I used it, and honestly, I just got tired of dealing with that. This one’s so much easier.
This silicone version is infinitely more convenient. It doesn’t absorb anything — it just catches the drips and ice melt so things stay contained. It dries quickly, wipes clean, is dishwasher-safe, and holds its shape. It also gives the bottom of the cooler a little structure, which makes a difference if you’re using a soft-sided bag like I am.
It keeps me from having to clean my cooler itself this much, and it’s nice to have when I’m at the beach or park as a mini coaster or place mat if needed. And since it’s silicone and has raised edges, it holds any rogue liquid or ice melt in place just long enough for you to pour it out into the sink when you get home!
The one I use is an 8×12-inch silicone mat from Amazon that’s lightweight, folds flat, and costs just $7.99. I’ve even used it under my coffee maker at home to catch stray drips. It comes in four sizes and colors, so you can snag one for (almost) any size cooler, and all of them are under $18.
It’s one of those little things you don’t think you need until you use it once and realize you’re never packing a cooler bag without it again. Just toss it in next time and thank yourself later!
Buy: ME.FAN Silicone Dish Drying Mat, $7.99