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 writerand mom Emily Farris shares tips, tools, and products that can help you stay on top of the dirtiest spots in the kitchen while alsodispelling a few cleaning mythsandcutting down on clutter.
In theory, cleaning as you cook sounds easy. And for some people, it is. Professional chefs are trained to keep a spotless workstation and some folks are naturally inclined to tidy as they go. But just as many home cooks tend to leave a trail of destruction in the wake of their decadent dinners. No matter where you fall on the kitchen-cleaning spectrum, there are a few tools that can make it easier and more efficient to keep your countertops ready for action. Some help you clear food scraps in a flash while others make post-dinner dish duty a lot easier. Whether you use one or a few, you and your kitchen will benefit from these handy tools that help you clean as you go.
A scrap trap
If you’ve ever been working on an intense, time-sensitive recipe and wished you could sweep your hand across the counter to make all of your food scraps magically disappear,you need a scrap trap. These little bins and bowls hang on a lower cabinet and jut out just enough to let you whisk away your carrot tops and onion skins in a flash so you can carry on with more important things (like prepping and cooking).
A bench scraper
You’re going to need something to get all of those crumbs and veggie scraps into your new undermount bin, and abench scraper—a tool pastry chefs use to divide dough—is the best way to do it quickly and efficiently. It also allows you to keep your hands clean as you go. The material you choose for your bench turned counter scraper is a matter of preference, but if you want to put it in the dishwasher, opt for something without any wooden parts.
A countertop bin
If you don’t want to use a scrap trap, you can still save yourself multiple trips to the main kitchen trash—and probably a few drips and spills along the way—by tossing your food waste into a slim countertop trash or compost bin. It’s a space-saving alternative to the trash bowl popularized (andlater branded) by Rachael Ray.
A long-handled dish brush
Taking a break to wash dishes can mess up your momentumandyour timing in the kitchen. A dish brush with a long handle allows you to do a cursory scrub of your pots, pans, and other cooking tools without getting your hands (ordishwashing gloves) dirty.
Sprayable dish soap
Do even more pre-cleaning of your pots and pans with dish spray (a.k.a. sprayable dish soap). You can also use it to clean your stovetop and (depending on the material) counters too. It’s also pretty satisfying to spray the sink with it when you’re done cooking and cleaning.
Washing up bowl
If you need to keep your sink clear for filling pots, straining pasta, or scrubbing veggies, you can create a makeshift sink wherever it’s most convenient with a washing-up bowl or dish tub. Fill it with warm soapy water to soak your dishes or use it like a bus tub to contain everything until you’re ready to deal with it.
Plenty of clean kitchen towels
Last but certainly not least: It’s important to have clean kitchen towels, and plenty of them. I always end up using more towels than I think I will when I’m cleaning up during (or after) a big cook. As long as you can store them (and don’t mind all the laundry), you can never really have too many.
