5 Kitchen Cleaning Accessories for a Pristine Cooking Space

 Every room in your house needs to be clean, but the kitchen should be one of the cleanest. It's the space where you prepare and cook your food, so hygiene is important. Even though it can be hard sometimes, there are some cleaning products and gadgets on the market that can help you and make the cleaning process much easier.

Bottle Brushes

There are some kitchen items that are awkwardly shaped, and you can’t clean them properly. Glasses and plates are easy to deal with, you use a regular sponge. But when it comes to bottles, problems start to arise. Luckily, there’s a solution to this issue, bottle brushes. They can help you make any bottle squeaky clean with just a few strokes.

These brushes come in many sizes depending on the bottle you’re cleaning. They can also have different-sized bristles so you can get into every nook and cranny and make it spotless. These practical and efficient kitchen bottle brushes are often made of recycled materials or bamboo.

They usually have a long handle and soft bristles so as not to damage the inside of the bottle or jar they’re cleaning. Look for a brush with an ergonomic handle. Something that’s comfortable to hold and won’t cause strain and soreness. The round designs are usually the easiest to hold, but some people find square designs more suitable.

There are specially designed jar-cleaning brushes that can clean different jar sizes and heights because of the mould to the jar’s shape. You can also find straw-cleaning brushes. Nowadays more and more people are turning towards reusable straws and these brushes are getting very popular. You can easily get through the whole straw without missing a spot and leaving it clean for the next time you use it.

There are plenty of benefits of using bottle brushes. The number one benefit is thorough cleaning without much effort. You can scrub away residue and stubborn stains. The flexible bristles can reach corners and curves no sponge can. They're also a very durable accessory that will last for a long time. The biggest benefit is that you get sanitised bottles that are safe to use without the fear of bacteria.

Sponges

You probably don’t give much thought to which type of sponge you’ll get for your kitchen. But choosing the proper shape, size and material can make a big difference when doing the tedious task of washing dishes. There are several common sponge types you must have encountered or had in your kitchen at some point in your life. They're mostly made of synthetic materials.

Cellulose sponges are made of recycled plant fibres and are one of the most affordable options and very absorbent. Heavy-duty sponges are highly abrasive and are made to remove stuck debris on pots and pans. There are also natural sponges. They're very porous and absorbent. And of course, non-scratch ones that are gentle to the surface of nonstick pots, pans and ceramic bowls.

When you’re cleaning plates and dishes you can use a handled sponge, which is very practical, or a regular cellulose one. But you should replace them often because they accumulate bacteria and food bits over time. For stainless steel pots and pans you’ll need a heavy-duty sponge, but when you’re dealing with non-stick pans be careful. Buy a gentler sponge.

Don't use your sponge for more than 2 weeks. Find a reliable brand and buy them in bulk. This way you’ll save some money and have sponges every time you need to replace the old ones. Always leave them on a sponge rack to dry so they don’t become a breeding ground for bacteria. Like kitchen bottle brushes, the biggest benefit of using proper sponges is that they leave the dishes squeaky clean for their next usage.

Drying Racks

Dish drying racks have significantly improved in the last 20 years. They're no longer dull, plastic containers that hold water and get dirty within a day. Nowadays, they look sleek and modern, almost like kitchen decor that complements the whole setting. There are three main types of racks you can choose from. The over-the-sink type is the most popular. It's often made of stainless steel and has 2-3 tiers.

The wall-mounted rack is perfect if you’re lacking cabinet space. It even has slots where you can store other accessories like sponges, soaps and bottle cleaning brushes. The third one is a countertop stackable wire basket. This one is set on the counter and can stack up to 4 baskets at once. It uses more vertical space and it’s perfect if you have a limited counter surface.

Choose a rack that's easy to clean and maintain. No one wants to spend hours cleaning an item that gets dirty often. Most of them require some rinsing with a mild detergent and a brush or a sponge once a month. But if you notice some stains, do it more often. Invest in a rack made of rust-resistant materials. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace it after a couple of months.

Scrubbers

Scrubbers can be very handy when you're trying to remove hard stains and clean greasy pots and pans. There are several scrubbers you can choose from.

• Scrub and sponge combo – durable, easy to use, versatile, soap-saving;
• Green scrub pad – versatile, affordable, fairly durable;
• Nylon scrubber – for everyday use, not very durable, cleans tough stains;
• Stainless steel scrubber – very efficient, durable, very abrasive;
• Silicone gloves – keep hands dry, good for small amounts of dishes, need a lot of product;
• Silicone washing sponge – low grip, good for plates and glasses, more time-consuming.

Gloves

Scrubbing your kitchen once in a while will keep it clean. Use gentle detergents because some of the surfaces can get damaged. It's not a good idea to do this with your bare hands. So, you should buy some kitchen cleaning gloves. Your skin won’t get irritated by the chemicals and your hands will be dry. It's important to choose the right size and fit. This way nothing will slip out of your hands.

Leave enough breathing room inside so you don’t get sweaty. The three most common glove materials are latex, PVC and silicone. PVC is very durable and oil and water-resistant. Latex has great flexibility and silicone can withstand high temperatures. Don't buy thin gloves that will get ripped and damaged instantly. Also, avoid the very thick ones because you won’t get a good grip and it’ll restrict your movements.