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Welcome to Clean Enough, a new kind of cleaning column for busy home cooks who have better things to do than scrub and sanitize around the clock. Every other week, neurodivergent writer and mom Emily Farris shares tips, tools, and products that can help you stay on top of the dirtiest spots in the kitchen while also dispelling a few cleaning myths and cutting down on clutter.
After a busy holiday season and nonstop winter foot traffic, it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning the kitchen. And if you’ve already been thinking about it and just need a little motivation to actually get started, I’m here to help.
You see, I’m one of those weirdos who loves to clean. Not necessarily the day-to-day stuff like tidying and dishes—honestly, I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with those tasks—but when I start spring cleaning my kitchen, there’s no nook, cranny, or surface that’s safe from my spray bottle.
Working from the top down, I vacuum light fixtures and hood vents, degrease anything that lives on high shelves, empty and wipe down my open shelving, move the range to clean the wall and floor, declutter the pantry, degunk the dishwasher filter, make the sink sparkle, and even spend a few hours on the fridge. I also hose out and disinfect the trash can and recycling bins.
Yes, it’s a lot, but when I’m in the right mood, I really do have fun with it. Even better: a super-clean kitchen makes me more excited to cook.
For me, the biggest challenge is getting into that mood when it’s actually convenient to clean (a.k.a. when I can kick my husband and kids out of the house for the better part of a Saturday). Unfortunately, my moods don’t always coincide with my schedule so when I have the free time, I often have to do a little extra work to get myself there.
And by work, I mean shopping for new cleaning products.
I get as excited about new cleaning supplies as I used to about new school supplies; they make me feel ready to take on the world, or at least tackle a bunch of grease and grime in my little corner of it. Early spring is my favorite time to replenish my stock, too, since I’m beyond ready to swap out my pine-scented products for lemon and lavender—and throw out all the ragged towels and dish gloves that barely held on through the holidays.
So if you’re dreading a deep clean, or just need a little something extra to put you in the mood, read on for 39 little purchases that can help make spring cleaning the kitchen a lot more fun.
Fun scrubbies
Even the most eco-friendly reusable cleaning supplies need to be replaced eventually. If your sponges and scrubbies have seen better days, this is the perfect time for a refresh, because fresh scrubbers have more scouring power than worn-down ones. Plus, you won’t be able to resist cleaning with these cuties.
Fresh cleaning solutions
If you’re running low on cleaning solutions—or ready to refresh your scents—stock up on the best (and best-smelling) products to help you tackle every corner of your kitchen, including an all-purpose spray cleaner, a degreaser for that upper-shelf grime, and something for the floors. If you prefer simple cleaning solutions, diluted cleaning vinegar (which is slightly more acidic than the kind you cook with) is safe to use on most surfaces.
Upgraded basic cleaning tools
When was the last time you replaced your most basic cleaning tools? If your towels, brooms, and brushes are looking frazzled and gross, they’re probably not performing as well as they could be. (Surprise bonus: Upgrading your kitchen broom means you now have a porch or patio broom just in time for spring. You’re welcome.)
Products and gadgets that do most of the work for you
Elbow grease is great and all, but sometimes your elbows get tired. These clever cleaning gadgets are made to do most of the work of eliminating kitchen grime—very little elbow required.
Functional cleaning attire
Some of these accessories may look a little ridiculous out of context, but that’s precisely what makes them fun. Plus, they’re super practical for keeping your hands safe, your tools handy, and your floors pristine. And when you wear them all together you’ll look like a cleaning MACHINE!
A magical mop vac
What’s better than a robot mop? A vacuum cleaner-mop combo, that’s what. No, it’s not quite as hands-off as a robot, but a machine that actually vacuums while it mops (as opposed to something that simply pushes a dirty mop pad around your kitchen for half an hour) is life changing—especially for people with kids, pets, or muddy yards. Once you get your kitchen sparkling, you’ll love this for keeping the floors clean (enough), too.
A handy way to tote your supplies
A cute caddy can help you cart around all of your new cleaning supplies—and keep them organized for all those maintenance cleans you’re totally going to do now, right?
A water-resistant smart speaker
The speaker on your phone isn’t powerful enough to keep you entertained while you deep-clean your kitchen. As soon as you start running water or using a battery-operated brush, you won’t be able to hear your favorite podcast or that Beyonce song you keep playing on repeat. Upgrade your kitchen audio with a portable Bluetooth speaker that also happens to be water resistant just in case you get a little overzealous with the steam cleaner.
