Try These Chef-Recommended Cleaning Tools, From $5

Cleaning can be a real pain, especially when you’re up against difficult tasks. A dirty floor that’s not yielding to your nice vacuum cleaner? Food remaining stuck on your skillet, no matter how much you soak it? Wine glasses that always seem to have at least one fingerprint or streak on them? We’ve all been there. 

Everyone has their favorite tools and tricks for cleaning, but sometimes we need to fine-tune our approach for superior results. So, we asked some restaurant pros who engage in serious cleaning every day what tools they rely on to get the job done. Their recommendations were straightforward, super accessible, and, best of all, pretty dang inexpensive. Whether you’re still tackling spring cleaning or prepping for your next dinner party, now is a good time to stock up on pro-approved cleaning gear. We’ve rounded up some pretty phenomenal tips and products below.

Best Chef-Approved Cleaning Tools on Amazon

• Scrub Daddy Sponge Daddy, 4-Pack, $9
• Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scour Pads, 8-Pack, $5, originally $8
• O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop, $35, originally $40
• Shark Steam Pocket Mop, $64, originally $90
• OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set, $9
• Bar Keepers Friend, $12, originally $14
• E-Cloth Microfiber Cloths, 4-Pack, $16, originally $20

Scrub Daddy Sponge Daddy, 4-Pack

David “Chef Fig” Figueroa, president, chef, and co-founder of Melinda’s Foods, is a huge fan of Scrub Daddy’s sponges. “Not just a cute face — these things are workhorses,” he said. “They change texture with water temperature, hold up way longer than regular sponges, and never get that funky sponge smell. I use them for everything from sauce splatter to scorched sheet pans.” At $9 for the set, these are just over $2 each.

Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scour Pads, 8-Pack

“Nothing beats good, old elbow grease when it comes to pots and pans,” said Nini Nguyen, Top Chef contestant, chef, and cookbook author. (Check out her book Dac Biet — it’s great.) “For that, I swear by Scotch-Brite scoring pads.” These ultra-durable pads are notorious for annihilating serious messes, making them worth checking out, especially when an 8-pack is on sale for $5.

O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop

“This mop is a game-changer,” said chef Rocco Carulli of R House in Miami. “The spin system gets every last drop out, which means no puddles and faster drying.” A clever pedal system in the bucket helps dry the mop, keeping your hands dry. Over 50,000 shoppers recently picked up this mop at Amazon, so now’s the time to see what the hype is about.

Shark Steam Pocket Mop

Nguyen also recommended Shark’s super-heated steam mop, which produces steam on demand for cleaning dirty floors. “I’m recently in love with my Shark steam mop,” she said. “It’s been a game changer!”

OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set

Sometimes, you need something a bit more serious than a sponge or a kitchen towel to seriously clean your kitchen — and this is the tool pros use. “[It’s the] MVP of kitchen detailing,” said Figueroa. “These small brushes get into tight corners on stovetops, sink edges, and grill knobs. They’re like a toothbrush, but tougher and actually meant for the job.” 

Bar Keepers Friend

With a straightforward name and a powerful reputation in the industry for being the go-to cleaning aid, this cleanser and polish is indeed the real deal. “When you need to bring your stainless steel or enameled cast iron back to life, this is the stuff,” Figueroa said. “A little sprinkle, a quick scrub, and even my most-used Hestan pans look showroom-ready.” 

E-Cloth Microfiber Cloths, 4-Pack

Microfiber cloths are always a popular choice in restaurant kitchens and dining rooms. “They pick up grease, fingerprints, and dust like magic,” Carulli explains. “No chemicals needed. We use them all over the dining room, especially on mirrors and glass, where streaks are a no-no.” With this set on sale, each cloth is only $4, making this the perfect time to invest in a cleaner home.