The Very Best Kitchen Organizers and Cleaning Supplies for 2020

Any list of essentials that keep our kitchens clean, organized, and happy places to cook should include this treasure of a drawer organizer. “I bought this because Lisa (our Lifestyle Director) got it a few years ago and wouldn’t stop raving about it,” says Staff Writer Lauren Masur. “I totally get why she’s so obsessed with it.” It fits in even the narrowest drawers (it’s less than six inches wide) and still holds a full set of flatware. And it’s just $10.

Buy: Joseph Joseph DrawerStore, $10

Hunting for the right pan or its matching lid may be the least fun part of cooking. This adjustable organizer makes that task a little easier. It has 10 adjustable dividers, expands to fit your cabinet, and is sturdy enough to hold cast iron skillets and giant sauté pans.

Buy: YouCopia StoreMore Expandable Cookware Organizer, $40

Show us a pantry that can’t benefit from a lazy Susan and we’ll close up this site right then and there. You can’t do it. Because lazy Susans are miracle workers. Especially this one, with its wide rim and non-slip bottom. Use one for spices and specialty bottles in the pantry and get a second one for the fridge.

Buy: Copco Non-Skid 12-Inch Lazy Susan, $10

Fun fact: Kitchn inspired this company to start making kitchen mats. They used to only make play mats for kids’ rooms but Lisa said she wanted to use some tiles in her kitchen and the idea spiraled from there. The company now makes these gorgeous mats that look like vintage rugs, but feel like cushy mousepads for your feet! We couldn’t (comfortably) stand in our kitchens for as long as we do without these.

Buy: NamaMat, from $69 at The House of Noa

While we would have loved to suggest a gorgeously designed brush with a sleek wooden handle here, we just couldn’t. Because this is one of the many times where you need function over form in the kitchen. This brush beats other brushes because of its shape and the fact that it can go in the dishwasher for cleaning.

Buy: Casabella Round Brush Scrubber, $8 for one

“Whether you’ve got a baby in your house or not, I strongly recommend this dish soap,” says Faith Durand, our editor-in-chief. “It’s scent-free (I hate when dishes smell faintly of perfume). It’s designed to get milk scum off bottles, but I’ve found that it actually is just the best, cleanest-washing soap for getting rid of grease. It doesn’t leave a trace of film behind the way some other soaps do.”

Buy: Dapple Bottle & Dish Soap, $18 at Walmart

Faith was the first to try this dishwasher powder and she’s since converted many Kitchn staffers. If you have issues with cloudy or streaky glasses coming out after you’ve run the dishwasher, try one load with this and you’ll be hooked, too. Faith’s tip: Use less than half the recommended amount for each load.

Buy: Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Powder, $18

No matter where you fall on the sponge-versus-no-sponge debate, you’re gonna need a sturdy scrubber for big messes. We like these stainless steel pads because they’re strong enough to scrub off burnt-on food and grease but won’t take the seasoning off your cast iron. Use them on everything except for your nonstick pans.

Buy: Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scouring Pad, $2.50 for three

Cleaning supplies often come in so much unnecessary plastic.This set comes with two concentrated solutions (an all-purpose cleaner and a glass cleaner) in minimal plastic. Just dilute a few drops with water in the glass spray bottle and you’re good to start cleaning. When you run out of concentrate, you can re-up and keep using the spray bottle and cloth from the starter kit.

Buy: Cleaning Concentrate Kit, $25 at Grove Collaborative

Faith has a giant stack of these and swears by them for drying dishes. “They’re super absorbent and don’t leave any lint behind. Plus, they’re still just as fluffy now, years later, as they were when I first got them.”

Buy: Sur la Table Ribbed Kitchen Towels, $15 for two at Sur la Table

Two towels on one list? Yes. These are the ones that you’re gonna put to WORK. They’re what you’ll use to clean up spills, wipe your sticky hands, pick up pot lids, and more. Pro chefs love these things because you can get a lot for just a little bit of money. Tip: Keep one on your counter while you work and one tucked into your apron or pants pocket.

Buy: Zeppoli Classic White Kitchen Towels, $21 for 15 towels

We think that your recycling bin is just as important as your trash bin, so we like that this simplehuman can has compartments for both. It also has a wide steel pedal, a soft-close lid, and liners that will keep your bags from slipping into the can. It’s a lot of money to spend on a trash can, yes, but we’ve found that we almost always end up hating less expensive trash cans.

Buy: simplehuman 58-Liter Dual Compartment Trash Can, $200

Drying racks aren’t really a one-size-fits-all kind of solution. What works for Lisa might not work for Meghan. This one comes pretty darn close, though. With spots for stemmed wine glasses, utensils, and up to 15 plates, it can hold a lot. And it’s got a draining spout to keep the whole thing from getting too gross over time.

Buy: Umbra Holster Dish Rack, $40

A stick vacuum is key for quick, nightly cleanings as you shut down your kitchen. Yes, a $30 vac would probably be fine, but if you want something long-term, we say go with a Dyson. This model has a decent battery life, gets every last crumb, and is easy to maneuver. Plus, you can almost always find it on sale.

Buy: Dyson V7 Motorhead, $239

We don’t care that much about charcoal filters, what we really care about when it comes to compost bins, is that they can go in the dishwasher. Because you’re going to want to clean it between pickups and you’re not going to want to do it by hand. This one is dishwasher-safe (and, yes, it does have a charcoal filter). Plus, it’s not half bad to look at.

Buy: Bamboozle Food Composter, $40