My marriage is still intact, and it's all thanks to this $5 dishwasher magnet

The way we usually describe something that's hard to find is "a needle in a haystack," but I think spotting a dirty fork in a dishwasher filled with clean ones is nearly as difficult. Sure, sometimes it's obvious if the fork is coated in, say, tomato sauce, but when you're talking about people who leave no trace of food behind (my husband and I), there's no knowing which utensil is the contaminated culprit. Until this year, I'd sprint to the kitchen with a loud "Noooooo!" when I'd spy my husband placing a dirty plate inside a dishwasher full of clean items. But the Oxepleus Dishwasher Magnet made its way into our lives, and now? The only thing we argue about is ... well, a lot of things, but dishes aren't one of them.

If you're not a fan of involved DIY projects, I've got some good news for you — this dishwasher magnet couldn't be easier to install. If you've got a dishwasher that magnets will stick to, congratulations: Just slap it on and you're all set. I, on the other hand, have a dishwasher with a wooden door, so I used the included double-sided adhesive stickers. It was still simple, but apply 'em with caution; the stickers have excellent grip, so once they're on, you've gotta commit.

Once you have it in place, all you do is move the slider from side to side depending on your dishwasher's status. One side says "Clean" and the other says "Dirty," so you and your family will never have to guess. Each side is a different color, making it easy to tell whether the dishwasher is ready to be loaded or unloaded with a quick glance. And speaking of design, the magnet has a clean look that blends with my neutral-toned kitchen.

While I wish I could take credit for discovering this doodad, I can't; more than 6,300 Amazon customers have also deemed it worthy of a five-star rating.

"Since we rinse our dishes quite thoroughly before putting [them] in the dishwasher, it is hard to tell whether it's clean," wrote a painstaking plate prepper. "This works well so that there will be no mistaking it. Saves us time from washing twice."

"Love it!" raved a roused reviewer. "My husband would always ask why I never emptied the dishwasher; my comeback was I didn't know there was anything in it! ... So now we both know when there's clean and dirty dishes in it! Definitely a strong magnet, doesn't budge when you open or close it!"

"Now my boys will load the dishwasher!" exclaimed an enthusiast. "Super cute, easy to install! Now I don't have to use sticky notes."

"These are great. They look nice and are so helpful," shared a mostly smitten shopper, who added, "They can get stuck sometimes ... but with a little wiggle, it will get unstuck and slide okay."

"Takes the guessing out of the equation," said a final fan. "It's magnetic and can stick anywhere on the dishwasher." Their one note? "Beware of little ones playing with the slide." (It is, admittedly, pretty fun.)

Psst: Did you know you're supposed to clean the inside of your dishwasher?

If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.