Cleaning the kitchen is a necessary counterpart to cooking. Some of us enjoy cleaning the kitchen more than others — but even if you hate it, you've probably found one or two tools or products that make it just a bit easier. What are your totally essential, indispensable kitchen cleaning products? A scent of Mrs. Meyer's dish soap? A certain brand of dish scrubber or towel? White vinegar? Tell us your most indispensable kitchen cleaning products; we're always looking for ways to make the job a bit easier. More

Casserole Carrier by Vonny

• $48
• Vonny

Sarah Rae showed us these rad casserole carriers a little while ago, and summer potluck season is a good reason to mention them again. I have one, and it rocks. It's sturdy and spillproof, and it cradles a 9x13 dish in style. I love the exterior pocket — perfect for utensils or an extra towel.

Available in four designs: Orange Daiquiri (pictured), Bohemian, Carnival, and Calliope. More

There's a no-nonsense attitude these Oscar the Grouch trash cans can bring to a kitchen. Just check out that example above. What a fancy kitchen! But that trash can brings things back down to earth. If you'd like the same for your kitchen, check out some options after the jump: More

The party has finished. The guests have gone home. Our bellies are full and our glasses empty. All that's left are, yes, the dishes. You can view dirty dishes fondly or you can view them with resignation, but regardless, they have to be done eventually. When do you do them? More

Q: I have a massive fruit fly problem — I make sure that all scraps go down the disposal, throw the trash out everyday, and don't leave fruit out, but still I see fruit flies hovering around my kitchen sink! It seems like they are coming from the disposal, but I know that it's empty (as I run it multiple times a day just to make sure).

They are driving me crazy! Any suggestions for what to do?

Sent by Caroline More

So even though we've only been in this house for a few months, I swear our spices and mixes are multiplying in the dark recesses of their cabinet. The main pantry cabinet stays pretty organized, but this spice cabinet has been growing more chaotic by the day. Before sitting down to make a grocery list for the weekend, I decided the time had come to corral the chaos to see what I actually had before heading out to buy more. More

A friend of ours was casually going about the business of making breakfast recently and grabbed the lid from another pan to cover some veggies while they steamed. When he went back to check on his breakfast, disaster! The stainless steel lid had fused to the non-stick pan! Has this ever happened to you?
More

Q: I have a castle-shaped bundt pan that makes fun cakes, but is incredibly difficult to clean.

Is there a trick I'm missing to get all the cake crumbs out of those nooks and crannies and turrets?

Sent by Kristen More

We've come up with a lot of inventive solutions for keeping our iPads out of harm's way in the kitchen, from wall-mounted peg boards to rolling them in plastic wrap. But this Chef Sleeve might be the best idea yet. More

A decent size trash bin in the kitchen is an absolute must. The kitchen is where I spend the majority of my time and accumulate the most trash. I'd much rather have a large and sturdy bin than a little bin under the sink. I've spent quite a few dollars on previous cans that I still have around the house, but I think I found one that gives the current market leaders a run for their money. More