For high-quality wooden cutting boards, we recommend regularly using a wood conditioner, which not only keeps water out but also brings out the beautiful wood grain over time. This J.K. Adams conditioner is made from food-safe beeswax and is ideal for when your board is feeling rough to the touch and could use some extra care; simply use a cotton cloth to buff the conditioner into wooden kitchenware of any kind. The Vermont-based company—which we partnered with to produce our Milk Street Exclusive eBoard—has more than 70 years of experience in crafting and caring for beautiful hardwood kitchen equipment.

Knapp's Cast Iron Wax is incredibly easy to apply and makes seasoning your cast-iron cookware a breeze. Liquid cooking oils will get the job done but tend to make a mess, and it's hard to control how much oil you add at a time. Knapp's food-safe blend of grapeseed oil, canola oil and beeswax is solid at room temperature, so you have perfect control. Simply scoop up what you need and apply a thin, even layer to cast-iron cookware—just be careful not to over-apply, or your pan will become sticky.

For high-quality wooden cutting boards, we recommend regularly using a wood conditioner, which not only keeps water out but also lubricates the surface so it doesn't become rough, especially in drier winter months. Plus, regular polishing will bring out the beautiful wood grain of your kitchenware over time. For everyday maintenance, we like to buff our cutting boards with a cotton cloth and J.K. Adams' food-safe mineral oil. The Vermont-based company—which we partnered with to produce our Milk Street Exclusive eBoard—has more than 70 years of experience in crafting and caring for beautiful hardwood kitchenware.

Camellia oil, also known as Tsubaki oil, is a lightweight, food-safe oil traditionally used to protect the surface of carbon-steel knives and swords, which are otherwise susceptible to oxidation and potential rust. It doesn’t turn gummy, nor will it turn rancid and effect the flavor of foods you prep. To use, apply a small dab on each side of the blade once a week and wipe dry with a paper towel.

​

If you’re sick of struggling to remove stuck food from your pans, Knapp's chainmail dish scrubber is the tool for you. Knapp's intricate chain mail is tough enough to take on the most stubborn stuck-on bits, and the links are just the right size: large enough that food doesn't get stuck in them but small enough to easily reach the corners of pans. The food-grade stainless steel will last a lifetime, though it needs to be hung up to dry; Knapp's design features a larger chainmail link in one corner for hanging. Note that this scrubber is intended for Pyrex, cast iron, carbon steel and stainless steel pans; it will damage non-stick pans or other delicate surfaces. Try it on your grill as well—it works wonders on the grubbiest grate.

If you’re sick of struggling to remove stuck food from your pans, skillets and Dutch ovens, Knapp's patented Chainmail Dishcloth is the tool for you. The tightly woven stainless steel “fabric” has a rough enough texture to take on the most stubborn stuck-on bits but also won't damage cast-iron seasoning. Knapp's product features a larger chainmail link in one corner so you can hang it up to dry and keep it in top condition. Note that this scrubber is intended for Pyrex, cast iron, carbon steel and stainless steel pans; it will damage non-stick pans or other delicate surfaces. Try it on your grill as well—it works wonders on the grubbiest grate.

If you’re sick of struggling to remove stuck food from your pans, Knapp's dish scrubbers are for you. This set includes the company's 4-inch CM Scrubber and patented 7-inch Chainmail Dishcloth, both of which are made with high-quality stainless steel rings that won't poke you like steel wool or brushes. The CM Scrubber's slightly larger links create plenty of friction for heavy-duty jobs like cleaning your grill, while the Chainmail Dishcloth has a finer texture for everyday cleaning; use it to scrub cast-iron or carbon-steel cookware without damaging your seasoning. Note that the scrubbers are intended for Pyrex, cast iron, carbon steel and stainless steel pans; they may damage non-stick pans or other delicate surfaces.

A staple in Japanese homes for over 100 years, these traditional tools made from tightly bound palm fibers are used primarily for cleaning fruits and vegetables as well as pots and pans without damaging their surfaces. Each brush is carefully tied and finished by hand and comes with a metal drying hook. The brushes bristles soften slightly when wet and are easily rinsed when you’re done cleaning. And the thing we love most about this brush is the smaller size— not only is it easier to grip, but smaller means it can better reach nooks and crannies. It’s tough on cooked-on food, but gentle enough to use on glass, enamel, nonstick, clay, cast iron and carbon steel surfaces. It can also be used with just warm water to scrub natural clay cookware that generally should not be cleaned with soap (so the soap smell doesn’t get absorbed by the porous clay). We recommend using a wash basin and solid soap (if you need to use soap for dishes and such) to create the best lather. Some discoloration of the dishwater is natural and will wash away cleanly. Set of two.

​

Handcrafted in small batches using nearly a century’s worth of knowledge, this producer’s brushes are the creme de la creme of their collection. The vegetable brush has two sets of fibers—sturdy vegetable Tampico fibers and softer Bassine fibers from the palmyra palm—so you can use the same tool to clean delicate tomatoes and rougher potatoes. The brush’s handle is made from French beechwood and heat-treated ash, both sustainably harvested from local forests. We love its minimalist, rustic design that’s evocative of the brushes the producer’s grandmother used to use and how long it lasts compared to other popular vegetable brushes.

​

You won’t mind doing dishes when you have liquid dish soap as stunning as this. Made in France, this liquid cuts through grease and grime instantly without leaving a pesky film like other soaps can. It’s made with Marseille soap, known for its natural composition, and organic olive oil—so it won’t dry out your hands as you scrub either. Plus, it looks lovely sitting on any countertop, thanks to the elegant packaging. Plus, it comes in the most heavenly scents: refreshing sage basil, floral grapefruit rose and bright mint citrus.

​

You won’t mind doing dishes when you have this jewel-like soap bar on your counter. Made with natural ingredients in France, it gets sudsy instantly and it doesn’t leave a filmy residue on the dishes like other soaps can. It’s tough on dish dirt, but gentle on your hands—as it’s made from Marseille soap with organic olive oil. Plus, it comes in fully recyclable packaging and the most heavenly scents: refreshing lemon mint, floral grapefruit rose and bright sage basil.

​

Coming in a set of 36, these cutting board sheets protect your board from stains, odors and the troubles of cross-contamination. Thick and waxy, the sheets stay in place during prep and eliminating the need to dirty several cutting boards. You can use these sheets to slice raw meat, chop vegetables with staining colors or mince garlic without worrying about lingering odors. Plus, each one is lined with one centimeter markings to help you cut each sheet to size to fit on top of your board.

A companion to the bestselling Hasegawa Cutting Board, this board scraper will keep it like new for years. But the handheld scraper will restore any heavily used rubber or soft plastic cutting boards, so they look practically new. It easily erases tough spots, yellowing, molds, grooves and feathering from the surface of cutting boards. Using it will prolong the life of the board.

Reusable, compostable and multifunctional, Wet-It Dishcloths are an amazing alternative to both paper towels and sponges. Made only with cellulose pulp and cotton, the thick sheets are stiff when dry—almost like cardboard—and soften into cloths that can absorb up to 16 times their weight in liquid. Unlike paper towels, Wet-It Dishcloths can be washed and reused (about 6 months with regular use). Plus, they are effective at scrubbing stubborn messes but not abrasive, so they won't damage surfaces. And unlike sponges, the towels are thin and flexible enough to reach into tight corners and irregular shapes. We also like their charming designs—choose between a Radish, Carrot and/or Artichoke pattern or set of 3 summer fruits all of which use natural colorfast inks that won't fade.

In addition to being highly durable and effective, Wet-It Dishcloths are ridiculously easy to keep clean in a wide variety of methods: Wash them in the washing machine and dryer with the rest of your laundry; add them to the top rack of your dishwasher; soak them in a boiling pot of water; or wet the cloths then microwave for three minutes to sanitize.