10 Cleaning Products That Make Doing Dishes Less Horrible

Not all dish soap works the same, and this spray bottle from Dawn proves that washing off caked on foods from pots and pans doesn’t have to be a hassle. A few Food Network staffers have been using this daily to clean dishes and can’t get enough of the concentrated formula and ease of use with the spray bottle. Plus, the reusable bottle helps reduce waste (you just need to replace the attached bottles of soap, and the spraying feature helps clean otherwise hard-to-reach surfaces.

Scrub Daddy sponges should be a staple in your sink. They come in a variety of materials, some with a dual-side for scrubbing and wiping and some with an added scent for freshness. Added accessories like the sponge caddy make it easy to keep close by at all times. Not only are these powerful sponges scratch-resistant, but they are also dishwasher-safe, odor-resistant and have crevices to make cleaning smaller items like utensils easier.

The Internet can’t get enough of these dishwashing gloves, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does wearing gloves keep your hands dry and clean, but these do double duty by scrubbing your dishes as well. Whether you use these to clean produce, appliances (or even to give your dog a bath!), you’ll certainly reach for them over and over.

Kitchens that are short on counter space can’t always fit a large, permanent drying rack. Luckily, all you need is a free side of your sink to drape this one over. While your dishes are drying, the water will drain right into the sink, and once you’re done the rack rolls up and stores easily.

While having an inconspicuous drying rack makes for easy storage, sometimes you need something that can accommodate a little more. That’s why we love this expandable version from Sabatier. Whether you need to dry a few plates from dinner or need to make room for mugs, wine glasses, pots and pans and more, this rack can fit it all. Plus, it has a spout for excess water that drains right into the sink.

Juggling your soap and sponge while doing dishes can be a pain, and sometimes brushes that have attached soap dispensers never work how you want them to. This dispenser is different — you push the sponge down to dispense just the right around of soap directly onto the sponge, and the drip tray keeps your sponge dry when not in use. Say goodbye to messy bottles taking up space on your counter.

When doing dishes, a strong, absorbent towel is essential for drying. In testing, we loved the look, feel and function of these All-Clad Textiles towels. They were able to absorb water quickly while looking great (in a variety of colors) in the kitchen.

If you have old pans with baked-on grease, give this go-to cleaner a try before resorting to replacing. Staffers from Food Network’s test kitchen unanimously love Bar Keepers Friend for tough-to-clean stainless steel pots, pans and bakeware. For those dishes that you’ve cleaned over and over again but never seem to look the same, this might be your solution.

When dishes come out of the dishwasher still dirty, the solution is not always to give them a better rinse beforehand. Sometimes, the machine you rely on to clean your dishes needs a little cleaning, too. Use these Affresh tabs to keep your machine clean and working properly. According to the brand, you can add one in with your dishes (and detergent) monthly or as-needed to get rid of limescale and mineral build-up.

If the most dreaded item to clean is your water bottle, you’re not alone. But cleaning this item is essential, and with the help of this bottle brush, easier than expected. Get into the nooks and crannies of your bottle, especially hard-to-reach areas in bottles with narrow necks, with this brush.