6 Best Soap Dishes With Drainage For RV Counters That RVers Swear By

That slimy puddle on your RV counter isn’t just an eyesore; it’s a symptom of a classic small-space problem. Every inch of counter is prime real estate, and a mushy bar of soap is wasting both soap and space. Solving this simple issue makes your tiny kitchen or bath feel cleaner, more organized, and less wasteful.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Solving Soggy Soap Problems in Your RV

The battle against soggy soap is relentless in a moving home. Unlike in a stationary house, RV counters are often smaller, less level, and subject to vibrations. A standard ceramic dish will slide, and a simple flat dish just creates a soupy mess that can spill during travel. This isn’t just about keeping things tidy; it’s about preserving your soap and preventing grime buildup in a space where deep cleaning can be a hassle.

When you’re looking for a solution, a few key features are non-negotiable for RV life. Excellent drainage is number one, ensuring the soap can actually dry out between uses. Second, it needs to be stable or have a non-slip base to stay put on bumpy roads. Finally, the material should be durable and unbreakable—think silicone or tough plastic, not ceramic or glass.

Your two main approaches are countertop or off-counter. A countertop dish needs to manage its own water, either by collecting it or directing it into the sink. An off-counter solution, like a suction cup holder, frees up that precious surface area entirely but requires a suitable wall. The best choice depends entirely on your rig’s specific layout.

mDesign Waterfall Soap Dish: Simple & Effective

This is one of the most straightforward and effective designs you can find. The mDesign Waterfall dish is typically a single piece of molded plastic with a steep, slatted slope and a spout. The concept is pure physics: water runs off the soap, down the slope, and directly out the spout into your sink. There’s no basin to empty and no standing water.

The beauty of this design is its efficiency. It actively keeps your counter dry, which is a huge win in an RV where water control is paramount. The plastic construction means it’s lightweight, won’t break if it falls, and is a breeze to rinse clean. However, its major limitation is placement. For it to work, the spout must hang over the edge of your sink. If your faucet or sink design doesn’t allow for this, it’s not the right choice for you.

OXO Good Grips: Non-Slip Countertop Solution

OXO is known for smart design, and their soap dish is a perfect example of solving a problem with thoughtful engineering. It’s a two-piece system: a non-slip outer tray and a removable, slatted insert. The insert elevates the soap bar, allowing air to circulate underneath, while all the drippings are neatly collected in the tray below.

This design’s biggest advantage for RVers is its stability. The soft, grippy feet keep it firmly planted on the counter, even when you’re rolling down the highway. You aren’t tied to the sink’s edge; you can place it wherever it’s most convenient. The primary tradeoff is that it’s a passive drainage system. It keeps your counter spotless, but you are responsible for periodically separating the pieces and dumping the collected water. For many, this is a small price to pay for its rock-solid stability and placement flexibility.

Yamazaki Home Flow: A Modern Silicone Choice

If you want something that is both highly functional and has a clean, modern aesthetic, the Yamazaki Flow is a top contender. It’s a single, elegant piece of flexible silicone with raised ridges that lift the soap and a gentle slope that directs water to a drainage spout. It combines the best of a waterfall-style drainer with the benefits of a modern material.

The all-silicone construction is a massive plus for life on the road. It’s completely unbreakable, naturally non-slip, and ridiculously easy to clean. You can bend it, drop it, or cram it in a drawer on travel days without a second thought. Like other waterfall designs, it works best when the spout can overhang the sink, but its grippy nature gives you a bit more leeway with placement than a hard plastic version. It’s an investment in a product that will likely outlast your soap for years to come.

Magift Silicone Soap Saver: Unbreakable Grip

The Magift soap saver, and others like it, represent the simplest approach to the problem. It’s essentially a flexible silicone pad with deep, open channels that elevate the soap bar high above any pooled water. There’s no spout and no separate tray; the water simply collects in the bottom of the channels, away from your soap.

The key benefit here is ultimate simplicity and versatility. Because it contains its own water, you can place it absolutely anywhere—on the bathroom counter, on a tiny shelf, or even inside the shower stall. The silicone material is super grippy and will not budge. The tradeoff is clear: you must remember to tip it out and rinse it regularly. If you don’t, it will become its own little puddle. For RVers with awkward sink layouts or who need a solution for the shower, this unbreakable and versatile pad is often the perfect fit.

iDesign Forma Suction Holder: Off-Counter Pick

For the RVer whose primary goal is to reclaim counter space, a suction cup holder is the answer. The iDesign Forma series uses a "power lock" suction mechanism that provides a much stronger, more reliable hold than the cheap suction cups of the past. This wire basket design holds the soap securely against a smooth wall, getting it up and out of the way.

The most obvious advantage is a zero-footprint solution, leaving your limited counter clear for other things. The open wire frame also provides excellent airflow, allowing the soap to dry quickly from all sides. The critical consideration, however, is the surface. These work fantastically on smooth fiberglass shower surrounds, glass, or glossy tile. They will not work on textured walls or porous surfaces. While modern suction cups are strong, extreme temperature swings in a stored RV can sometimes cause them to lose their grip, so an occasional check-in is wise.

LDR Wire Soap Dish: Maximum Airflow Design

Sometimes the most effective tool is the simplest. A basic, coated-wire soap dish like those from LDR offers one thing better than any other design: unbeatable air circulation. By cradling the soap in an open wireframe, air can reach nearly the entire surface of the bar at once. This dries the soap faster and more thoroughly than any flat-bottomed dish, dramatically extending its life.

This design isn’t meant for your countertop. Placed on a flat surface, it would simply let water drain through and create a puddle. Instead, its ideal home is sitting on the floor of your sink basin or on a rack inside your shower. It’s the perfect companion to a small sink, keeping the soap accessible but out of a puddle. If your top priority is making a bar of soap last as long as possible, and you have a spot for it inside the sink or shower, a simple wire dish is the most efficient choice you can make.

Choosing the Right Soap Dish for Your Rig

Ultimately, the "best" soap dish is the one that fits your space and your habits. Don’t just buy the highest-rated one; look at your sink, your counter, and think about how you use the space. Is the edge of your sink free for a waterfall spout? Or is stability on a small patch of counter more important?

To simplify your decision, consider these scenarios:

• If you have space at the sink’s edge: Go for a waterfall design like the mDesign or Yamazaki for effortless, direct drainage.
• If you need stability anywhere on the counter: The OXO Good Grips offers a stable, contained system that won’t slide during travel.
• If you want to clear your counter completely: The iDesign Suction Holder is your best bet, provided you have a smooth, non-porous wall.
• If you prioritize soap longevity above all: Place an LDR Wire Dish inside your sink or shower for maximum airflow.

This might seem like a small detail in the grand scheme of outfitting your RV, but it’s these little optimizations that make a huge difference. Eliminating a daily annoyance like a slimy soap puddle frees up mental energy and makes your small space feel more like a well-run home. It’s a simple upgrade that delivers a disproportionately large return in daily satisfaction.

Finding the right soap dish is a perfect example of small-space living in action: a simple, intentional choice that eliminates waste, reduces mess, and makes everyday life on the road just a little bit better.