The $8 Amazon Cleaning Find That Guarantees Spot-Free Dishes Every Time (I Wish I’d Known About It Sooner!)
I spend the majority of my time in my kitchen. Which, unfortunately, means that I do a lot of dishes. And, when I say a lot, I mean a lot. So, I’ve developed a whole host of sudsy helpers and sleek drying solutions that make the job as easy as it can be. At the end of the day, though, after what feels like a marathon of soaping, scrubbing, and rinsing, I pile the whole lot into my sturdy dish rack and call it a night. I’m disciplined enough to make sure I don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, but that doesn’t mean I have the stamina to go on and dry them all.
The only problem with my system is that when my glasses, stainless steel, and just about anything else that’s translucent are left out to dry overnight, they get spotted and look dirty. (Which, as a self-described neat freak, is a less-than-triumphant outcome for a night well spent washing dishes!) Luckily, I recently found myself a solution that makes the whole rigmarole worth it — and a lot more pleasant actually. Unlike towels or easily-dirtied microfiber cloths, this Brabantia dish helper gets the dishes done with no added hassle, and I couldn’t recommend it more.
How does it work? Well, when I gather the extra energy post-wash for a quick dry, I just do a simple swipe of this cleaning pad across the surface of a freshly washed glass and it’s good to go. There’s no rubbing necessary, since the cleaning pad seems to literally suck the water droplets right off any surface, and leave the bowl, glass, or pan looking brand spanking new. If I wake up to a pile of water-spotted dishes (which is honestly what happens most of the time), I just dampen the handy thing, give my dishes a wipe, and voila! Everything’s sparkly fresh.
This seemingly simple solution has a lot more uses than you might think. These pads are not scrunch-able or thin like a towel — instead, their microfiber exterior is bolstered with an interior sponge that makes for supreme soak-ability without a compromise on pliability. That means you can use them as sponges, to wash and dry dishes, and to wipe down screens or windows around the house. They also bend easily around every curve of my favorite drinking glasses while still holding their own when swiped along the inside of my go-to stainless-steel pan.
Plus, they’re big enough to easily maneuver inside smaller jars and large enough to cover broad interiors of large pieces of cookware. Each pad is divided by four seams, meaning you can create a thicker, narrower drying tool for tight crevices and added grip. And, each can absorb seven times its weight in water, meaning I never have to wring them out or reach for a second after a few dishes.
I love how these pads make my cleanup environmentally friendly, too (no more throwing away paper towels in this house!), and how they leave all my dishes without a trace of a water spot or any lingering lint. The best part? These things can go right in the washer. That means I never have to worry about mysterious bacteria brewing in their spongy interior or accidental food stains soaking into the microfiber. If that’s not the icing on the cake, I don’t know what is!
Buy: Brabantia Microfiber Cleaning Pads, 3-Pack, $7.95
This post originally appeared on Kitchn. See it here: The $8 Amazon Cleaning Find That Guarantees Spot-Free Dishes Every Time (I Wish I’d Known About It Sooner!)