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‘Cause this year we’re consciously uncoupling from unnecessary cleaning.
1. A rustic combo tablet/cookbook holder because, first things first, we’re past the point of accidentally dropping onion skin or carrot peelings on our tech and cookbooks and having to clean those, too.
Promising review: “I was in need of a cookbook stand and just love the farmhouse look! Not only does it hold my thickest cookbook but also my iPad with a heavy duty case/attached keyboard. I was surprised that both fit well! Seems pretty sturdy too! Great value for your money and fits with my rustic, farmhouse decor!” —Kris10R
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
2. Or a gooseneck cell phone clamp if you are following along on a TikTok recipe and want to have your phone at eye level. Reviewers say this fits all kinds of countertops and is perfect for hands-free cooking and recipe checking!
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “Base clamp secures to anything. Even as thick as kitchen countertops. The bendable arm is very strong and secure. It doesn’t move from wherever you place it. No sagging. The base clamp is easy to secure. No small parts to turn. Has a large grip. The phone holder is similar to a large hair clip on steroids. It is secure but is easy to open and close. Easily opens wide enough and holds larger phones like my Samsung Note and could hold bigger. Nothing on it feels cheap like it’s going to break easily like all the other holders I’ve bought.” —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in three colors).
3. A four-pack of Method antibacterial all-purpose spray that I SWEAR by simply because it smells ~divine~ and I don’t dread spritzing it. While I love a good lemon scent, some counter cleaners are too strong for me, and I found myself avoiding them. THIS ONE, however, is a “bamboo” scent that smells fresh without scorching my nose. My counters are shinier than ever because I don’t mind cleaning as I cook with this.
Trust me: You’re gonna want the multi-pack.
Promising review: “There’s a reason why this product is so hard to find: it’s awesome. When I go to the store to buy more, every other Method product is in stock except this one. It’s antibacterial, which is automatically a plus. The scent is so clean yet light, which is HUGE for me because I can’t stand the overpowering smell of cleaning products. I use it on every surface in every room.” —Sarah
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $17.96.
4. An eco-friendly dish scrubber brush with three replacement heads to help you keep your dishes (and the planet) cleaner. These are plastic-free, made from bamboo and agave cactus fibers, and environmentally friendly! Scrub and clean to your heart’s content without worrying about going overboard on plastic consumption.
Amazon
Promising review: “Is it silly to be so happy about a simple kitchen utensil? I don’t know, but I love this thing. It’s cute, effective, and no plastics in sight. I also love that it comes as a set, so no need to reorder for a while.” —Wonderlander
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
5. An airtight food container that has pop push-button lids for extra suction. Getting a few of these will A) Make it easier to see what needs to go on the grocery list and clear up pantry space, and B) Prevent you from spilling little grains of sugar and rice all over your floor because the plastic bag ripped again.
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed, Target
We got these as a gift many moons ago and have only added to our collection since. They’re easy to clean, come in plenty of sizes, and will keep anything fresh. (We even used the smallest one for baby formula and could toss it in the diaper bag on the go!)
Get it from Target for $18.99.
6. A 10-pack of Bentgo meal prep containers because part of avoiding a mess is making sure you’ve got enough space for the finished product to go. These are microwave, fridge, freezer, and dishwasher safe so you don’t have to bother dirtying dishes when it’s time to chow down!
Promising review: “Love these boxes. Perfect portion size, and they are lightweight. The lids stay on very tight, so when you try to remove the lid, it’s a little hard, but that’s what I really wanted: not a flimsy lid. I love that I can heat my food directly in the box.” —Miami Girl
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $12.99 (available in eight colors).
7. A bamboo drying rack that will declutter your counter and will feel right at home in your kitchen whether you’re going for a cottagecore, light academia, or plant parent vibe. (And it’s a WORKHORSE that will hold all the mugs of tea and girl dinner dishes you’ve accumulated.)
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed, Target
It’s me again: Your friendly neighborhood organizing expert. I used to have a flat plastic dish drying rack that did the trick, but I found myself constantly needing to clean it because of standing water and dust. This one is perfection with the bamboo and two tiers, and while lots of people use it freestyle, I highly recommend a drying mat to go under it.
Promising review: “We’ve been using this daily for almost a year, and it hasn’t shown a single bit of wear! I was worried it would start getting grimy with all of the water. A stylish must-buy!” —Obvibasic
Get it from Target for $20.
8. A spice rack I bought in a panicked frenzy after a glass spice bottle fell out of my cabinet and shattered on the counter, and I realized I was just making future messes for myself by not getting my spice act together. I regret NOTHING with this set and have had it for nearly a year!
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed
This set comes with a four-tiered rack, 28 spice jars with lids, pre-printed labels of common spices, and a silicone funnel to transfer spices easily!
Promising review: “I’ve had these spice jars for a few months now and can attest to their durability. I am a known klutz and am often knocking things over and breaking them. I do not have to worry about breaking these jars AT ALL. The amount of labels and the white permanent marker this comes with is also amazingly helpful!! I was able to quickly and efficiently label all of my spices. I also like the fact that there are options to either hang the spice rack or keep it on your counter, depending on how much space you have. Overall, a great purchase and I plan on buying another set to home the rest of my spices. I saw a review that stated these make cooking so much more fun, and I wholeheartedly agree!” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $28.99.
9. An easily washable drip catcher so cleaning the dishes doesn’t also mean cleaning the new Great Lake behind your faucet.
Hustle & Sew / Etsy
Hustle & Sew is a small shop based in Saint Helens, Oregon.
Promising review: “LOVE these splash catchers! They save me from having to chase the puddles that form around the base of our faucet before they start creeping over the counter. So reasonably priced, made well with neatly finished edges, and packaged with gift-ready care.” —Alina
Get it from Hustle & Sew on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in four sizes and six colors).
10. A heavy-duty oven scrub to make years of splatters and oven ick disappear with no waiting time. Reviewers love that the scents are not overpowering either, which *cannot* be said for all oven cleaners.
Everneat / Etsy
Everneat is a small business based in Fairfield, Connecticut, that specializes in natural cleaning products.
Promising review: “This product is amazing! It works fast with pretty minimal elbow grease. The stainless-steel sponge that comes with it makes it easier. And it smells great!” —Melissa C.
Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99 (available in three scents).
11. A steam mop that’ll make the tiny cooking splatters and oil pop stains on your floor disappear like magic.✨🪄
Promising review: “I’ve had this floor mop/steamer for a couple of months now and I absolutely love it! I can’t believe the dirt that is picked up off my tile floors, even after vacuuming and wet mopping all surfaces. The steamer is extremely easy to use and heats up quickly.” —GCC
Get it from Amazon for $92.69.
12. An adorable leaf-shaped ceramic spoon rest you can just pop into the dishwasher when you’re done using it so you don’t have to spend precious cooking minutes worrying about greasy smudges on your counter.
Promising review: “This is a nice spoon rest that is big enough for a couple of spoons. I love the color and shape — just perfect for my kitchen.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $16.96 (available in two styles).
13. A mounted paper towel holder whose design allows you to easily rip off a square or two with only one hand.
Sheick / Wayfair
Promising reviews: “I can grab my paper towels now with just one hand! Brilliant. Came with an easy mount, couldn’t ask for more.” —Alexander
“Great quality! Comes with everything you need. I love the way it spins smoothly but is not too loose that the paper towels keep rolling off!” —Josh
Get it from Wayfair for $17.99+ (available in three colors).
14. A Rubbermaid BPA-free food storage set with latching lids that I personally endorse because there are few things I can stand less than a stained food container that forever looks like it has spaghetti sauce in it. (I had that problem for literal YEARS, and these have not stained once.)
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed, amazon.com
Promising review: “These food storage meal prep containers have been my go-to for lunch at work every single day. They’re absolutely leakproof. I’ve even tested them with soup, and they hold up perfectly. I toss them in the back of my truck, and despite bouncing around, they remain completely airtight. Plus, they’re just the right portion size and help me save some serious cash.” —Josh
Get a set of four 4.7-ounce containers from Amazon for $34.98+ (available in 10 sizes).
15. A nine-pack of washable fridge mat liners for keeping your fridge shelves pristine without the hassle of spraying them down all the time. These are washable and fast-drying and tons of reviewers wonder why they didn’t get them sooner!
Promising review: “I love these. I live alone, so I freeze and thaw a lot of food, and the worst part was when something leaked on the shelf and I couldn’t see it until it was too late and I had to spend an hour scrubbing it off. These take away that whole problem. Plus, my daughter loves how colorful the fridge is now.” —Logan Fortune
Get them from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two colors).
16. An Airthings Renew smart (and portable!) air purifier if you’re like me and your least favorite mess to clean is the smell after you cook bacon or some other fragrant thing that lingers forever. (Because who wants to spray air freshener around food? Not me.) I can vouch that this air purifier is a workhorse, and it comes with a cool phone app that will give you a rating for the air quality in your kitchen over time.
Ashley Schumacher/BuzzFeed
The app is truly one of my fave features because you can see a 24-hour, 7-day, and 30-day breakdown of your air quality over time, and the filter life, so you never have to wonder, “Is it time to change that thing?” This one is also VERY quiet and covers up to 525 square feet.
Promising review: “I bought the first one from the Airthings website for my bedroom, and liked it so much I wanted a second one for downstairs! The first night I had this, I noticed I slept better and so did my wife. It’s not all in our heads — we have the results from our Sleep Number bed to see it. I got the first unit on March 21, 2024, and seeing the improvement in the air after cooking dinner is great! I have the Airthings View Plus as well. The PM count increases upstairs depending on what we cook (even with windows open and the hood fan on). I highly recommend this and the Airthings View Plus.” —Rob R.
Get it from Amazon for $399.99.
17. A bamboo cutting board with different mats stored inside so you don’t have to dirty any more surfaces than necessary for fear of cross-contamination.
You can store the flexible mats inside the bamboo board when they’re not in use!
Promising review: “This cutting board has changed my life. Cleaning my cutting board used to stress me out, because I knew no matter what I did, the germs were still lingering in the wood or bamboo (depending on the board). But those troubles are over with this set. All I have to do is clean the mat (well, I also wipe off the surface of the board real quick just to be safe, but I doubt it’s necessary unless you’ve got meat juice spilling everywhere). This gem also eliminates the need for different cutting boards and, therefore, saves space. The board itself is sturdy and solid. I just really, really love this cutting board.” —Cat Hleen
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
18. A silicone splatter guard to stop oil splatter all over your range, counters, and floors from happening in the first place.
Amazon
This splatter guard is made of food-grade, BPA-free silicone that’s heat-resistant up to 450 degrees! The medium size fits pans with inside rim diameters of 9.5–10.25 inches and folds up easily for compact storage. The large size fits pans with inside rim diameters of 11.5–12.25 inches.
Promising review: “This is an excellent tool to use so no grease splatters out of the pan and onto your stove. I have to admit, at first it was sort of hard to get around the edges of my pan. But if you read the directions, you will get it in place. It only takes once, and then you have it down. You can roll it up for easy storage. It keeps its shape very well and is really easy to clean! I want to order other sizes for all my pans. I recommend this product. There are others on the market, but this one works better and is better quality.” —Bookworm
Get the medium size from Amazon for $21.95 (available in four colors).
19. A pack of reusable dishwasher-safe nonstick liners for your oven so that you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing the calcified sugar drips at the bottom after you make delicious cinnamon rolls. (Ask me how I know.)
Amazon
These liners are dishwasher-safe and can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees. They are also PFOA- and BPA-free!
Promising review: “I bake pies, and the sticky drippings from berry pies will wash or even slide right off. I am glad they come in a three-pack — enough for double ovens and a convection microwave.” —Garden Spirit
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $13.99.
20. A sink strainer because you have better things to do than dig out all the little nubbins of ick from your sink after you’ve already been using all your precious energy cooking.
Promising review: “Much needed upgrade for my sink drain. This replaced our old style, which had to be tilted so that it wouldn’t plug the sink. Always had a problem with food scraps getting through. This drain doesn’t let any large food scraps get by. Made of stainless steel and very good quality.” —Lena
21. A three-pack of scratch-free, odor-resistant Scrub Daddy sponges that are absolutely worth the hype. They have spots for quick, easy utensil cleaning and are (my fave hack) dishwasher safe so you can just chuck it in with the dishes when you’re done using it to have it feel brand new! I use these on my counters to give them a good scrub, especially after dealing with raw meat.
amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: “I have been using these Scrub Daddy sponges for years. They seem coarse at first, but when wet, they soften a bit and do a great job scrubbing granite tops, my glass stove top, as well as pots, pans, and dishes. They do not scratch nonstick pans, and do a great job on all other surfaces. They rinse well (don’t hold odors) and are even cute to look at. They last for months, and I then transition them over to the garage for car cleaning (great for squished bugs on the windshield).” —PAL
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $13.
22. A tub of cooktop wipes so you can get in the easy habit of swipe and wipe! Having the solution in a one-stop cloth might just mean the difference between a daily clean and a “this is going to take an entire Saturday afternoon” clean.
Amazon
Promising review: “This product is amazing. I can’t stand how after I am cooking, there are always oil stains and grease on my cooktop! But with one wipe I am able to now get everything off the stove. It is very convenient to be able to just use one wipe for everything!” —Debora Elliott
Get a 30-count tub from Amazon for $9.97 (also available in a pack of 60).
23. An Angry Mama microwave steam cleaner that’s weirdly charming but also will help make cleaning up any microwave oopsies a breeze! Just add vinegar, water, and a light run-over with your new Scrub Daddy, and you’re good to go!
Promising review: “This little device is great and it’s super simple. Fill to the lines with vinegar and water, nuke for seven minutes, let it sit for two minutes, then wipe clean. My embarrassingly super gross microwave wiped completely clean with a couple of paper towels. I highly recommend this.” —UglyPetty
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in four colors).
24. A descaling solution for your coffee maker or electric kettle (including things like your beloved Keurig or Nespresso machines!) because yes, those do get messy, and so will the taste of your coffee if you don’t stay on top of maintenance!
Amazon, amazon.com
Promising review: “I had never even thought of descaling my 2-year-old Keurig before Amazon suggested it, but this stuff was cheap. I knew I was supposed to descale regularly, and I knew this kind of descaler wouldn’t be as hard to rinse out as the smell of vinegar. I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but the next morning, it took much less time for the water to heat up, and my coffee tasted twice as strong and rich as it did before descaling, which means the brewing temperature is higher now that the heating element isn’t caked with mineral deposits. Now I feel a little silly for drinking mediocre coffee for so long.” —Lenore
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.99.
25. A handy blade brush that will make scrubbing off any of those crusty bits that feel like they’ve been soldered onto your silverware a “do it now” task instead of a “throw it in the dishwasher and pray to your gods” task.
Amazon
Promising review: “I love this to clean my silverware! Easy to use, and brush tips are in just the right place to be useful. Cleans my silverware so easily! I keep mine in the sink and use it all of the time. Thinking of buying a second one just in case I lose the one I have. I like it that much!” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.49 (available in two colors).
26. A steel storage box that, like the TARDIS, feels much bigger on the inside. This thing actively cuts down on clutter and mess in my kitchen because it’s so nifty for not only food, but also storing those small kitchen appliances you use on the daily and don’t want to bother stuffing in a cabinet.
Ashley Schumacher / BuzzFeed
As a person in possession of both a snack-obsessed toddler and this breadbox… this might be my favorite thing in my kitchen. The magnetic closure is a huge bonus: It’s never going to just flop open and smush little fingers. Plus, the whole thing is magnetic, so lots of places to put your fave magnets! It is deceptively roomy, and you can see I like to store my Dash egg cooker there, too.
Promising reviews: “This bread box is perfect! Perfect size, perfect color, and highly functional. I can easily store bread as well as buns and my butter bell. It’s very handy to be able to put my fruit bowl on top of the bread box — less clutter on the counter.” —Anonymous
“Perfect bread box for the counter. very sturdy and sleek looking. It doesn’t scream “country” bread box. I searched a long time for the perfect box and this is it! Highly recommend.” —Cheryl
Get it from Wayfair for $120 (available in two colors).
27. And finally, a counter sweeper and dustpan to make crumbs from fresh bread or any other crumbly goody go away faster than you can say, “Is there any fresh butter?”
Promising review: “I used to clean off my counters the old traditional way by using a damp cloth and scooping the crumbs into my hand and putting them in the trash 🤣 but with this little gadget, it is so much quicker and easier to clean up messes! And it’s great for liquid cleanups also! The squeegee on the little dust pan is a great feature!” —Leslie
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two colors).
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
