Why Everyone Needs a Spray Bottle (or 3) in Their Kitchen

I’m here to say it and spray it: If you aren’t spritzing your kitchen, you’re missing out. My misting evangelism rose from my plant care regimen. A daily drizzle washes off dust and makes my leafy buddies feel at home in rainforest-like conditions versus a watering can deluge. 

Then, when COVID-19 started, I had nowhere to go but everywhere to clean. At the supermarket, Lysol wipes were expensive or out-of-stock, but the ultra-concentrated bottles containing the same active ingredients were always cheaper and available. I bought a second spray bottle to hold small batches of the watered-down solution.

My new cleaning routine is now plant-inclusive. With the water, I spray any surface that gets grimy, and whatever flora is looking thirsty. That also figures in cut flowers, which I learned from my favorite YouTube florist, drink through their leaves. Once everything is misted, I can hit my non-plant surfaces with the concentrated cleaner. 

I’ve contemplated adding a third spray bottle of vinegar to my arsenal, for when I’m feeling more natural, but I’ll probably just wait until I’m out of Lysol. The water loosens up most of the messes I make, anyway, so I end up using less cleaner: a few pumps is all I really need for that conscious-cleansing citrus scent. For wiping, I use rags or paper towels. Either is better than buying synthetic sheets scrolled in a plastic canister. Plus, playing the mist fairy is way more fun than sticking my finger in a circle of sharp teeth to fish out the world’s soggiest wipe.

I hang my spray bottle duo on the bar of my oven door. The gap between the bottleneck and the trigger makes the perfect hook. It’s always convenient until I need to use the oven, but I just love having them dangle at the ready. Plus, I use the water spray for cooking, so I like to have it near the range. A few spritzes help to jumpstart cleaning when the sink is full. When baking bread, a little steam in the oven takes loaves closer to pro level, and extra humidity in the microwave is the best way to rewarm loaves (and other leftovers).

It’s also winter, the heater is on, and the air feels so dry that my contact lenses practically shrivel if I stare at a screen and forget to blink. I find myself spraying the air with water as if I’m a human humidifier. I don’t know if this helps, but these dry, cold days are always better with an uplifting spritz.