厨房清洁工具买了十几种后，我发现真正有用的就这3个 (EN)

Honestly, the money I’ve wasted on kitchen cleaning tools could fill a book.

I got suckered into buying “stainless steel cleaning paste” from Xiaohongshu—turns out it’s just an abrasive that leaves tiny scratches on any surface. And various colored cleaning products, each claiming to be “professionally formulated for certain stain types”—most are just alkaline cleaners repackaged.

After dozens of mistakes, these are the only 3 tools I actually use in my kitchen now:

First: baking soda.

Really, don’t laugh. Baking soda is the most versatile kitchen cleaner I’ve ever used. Mixed with warm water, it removes most grease and grime. For stubborn stains in ovens or air fryers, I make a baking soda paste—baking soda plus water mixed into a paste—apply it, wait 15 minutes, then wipe. The results are better than most specialty cleaners. And a bag costs just a few yuan and lasts forever.

Second: fish-scale cloth (鱼鳞布).

You really have to try it to understand. Regular dish towels leave water stains and fuzz, but fish-scale cloth leaves neither. Its special weave creates micro-fiber structures that actually polish while cleaning. Surfaces come out shiny, especially satisfying on stainless steel water spots and countertop reflections—truly therapeutic.

Third: gap cleaning brushes.

This is a recent discovery of mine. All those gaps in the kitchen—the space around gas stovetop burners, sink edges, the gaps in spice racks—regular towels can’t reach any of them. Gap brushes cost just a few yuan each with various angle heads that fit into all sorts of dead angles.

Things I don’t recommend: various “cleaning wipes” (too many additives, leave residue easily), “stainless steel cleaning paste” (scratches surfaces), and various colored cleaning products (most are the same stuff repackaged).

Tags： 厨房清洁、家居好物、清洁工具、省钱