These Cleaning Products Will Change Your Pesach Cleaning (And They’re at Your Grocery)

 “A New Broom Cleans Better,” said a Yiddishe Mama. It’s an old Yiddish saying, and there is more than one truth to it.

Does a new broom clean better than an old one? Probably. Not always though. What we can guarantee is that you will be sweeping with more enthusiasm while using a new broom.

That said, we are all for getting new cleaning supplies when embarking on this period of  Pesach cleaning. The work is waiting, so we might as well get the best tools out there to get the job done.

Some of us might look at the supermarket as the place to buy only food items. And drinks. And disposables. And flowers…whatever, you get our drift. But, you skip the cleaning supplies aisle. You think to yourself, “I will get a better price at Target,” or “That aisle is only for emergencies, like when we run out of Palmolive.”

Wrong.

That aisle has items that Target doesn’t necessarily carry.

There are cleaning supplies that are made by us and for us. Like the Superio line of cleaning products that has gotten us all sponja sticks without shlepping them from Eretz Yisroel. (Side note: now there is really nothing left to bring back from EY.)

So here, the five of us got together, to share the cleaning products we will grab at Evergreen on a typical grocery run.

Each and every one of us discovered something new….a product we were missing (how did I live without this until now?), a cloth that does wonders, a spray that is the best-kept secret (preferably kept in a bathroom cabinet).

So, here goes:

Mops & Brooms

The Silicone Broom – sweeps and catches it all. Great for catching hard to grasp items like loose hair or paper cut that’s been cut very small.

The Traditional Broom – That isn’t just a broom. But THE. BEST. BROOM. YOU. EVER. USED.  

The Sponja Stick  aka the floor squeegee –  a must in every home with floors to mop. So yeah, every home.

This is the best sponja rag we ever tried, so far. It works well together with the above stick.

How to Sponja

How do you sponja? In a bucket, dilute some cleaning agent (Mr Clean or Fabuloso or whatever you like) in warm water and wet the rag. Wring it well and then drape it over the sponja stick. Use these little grips to catch the rag.

Cloths

These microfiber cloths and rags by the brand Superio are better than anything we ever tried before. They cut the cleaning time in half. Catch all the dirt. Try these for glass too.

Sponges

Sponges and scouring pads are super important. And you need to know what to use where…. So let’s see:

Scotch Brite – These are so cheap and completely under-appreciated. Use Scotch Brite to deal with heavily soiled pots and pans, oven racks, and anything that needs some good scouring. This sponge will give you great results. We like to sometimes cut it with a scissor to the desired size.

Scrubbing Brush – Perfectly sized with a comfortable handle, this brush is made for scrubbing tiles, bathtubs, stubborn floor stains and outdoor steps too. Some of us like to use it for cleaning shoe soles (think Crocs) or rubber boots.

Miracle Sponges – Whether they are called Wonder Sponge or Miracle Eraser they all do just that: perform miracles. Those coloring marks on the wall? Gone. Those scuff marks your kids shoes left? Gone. Just add a bit of water and that it. Promise. The Wonder Sponge by Sano has a green line that runs through the sponge for extra scrubbing power. Feel free to cut the sponges (use a knife) to the desired size.

Scrubbing Sponges – We love these Miracle Scrubbing Sponges by Superio because they are great in any kosher kitchen (Meat, Dairy, Pareve) and they are great quality as well. Use them for dishes, counter…anything really.

Silver and More

These are the products we prefer for our silver and stainless steel cleanup:

Sparkle Stainless Steel Polish – To achieve  those shining sinks, nothing beats it.

Bar Keepers Friend – This is what we rely on to make those post shine. And to get pesky stains out of washing cups and anything silver plated as well. Just make a paste and rub the surface until shiny (see this post). 

Twinkle Silver Polish is our favorite brand of silver polish while the Miracle Mitt works well in between cleanings, to buff up those candlesticks, or anything silver.

Always Have These Handy

You should always have these two handy in your kitchen, but please, make sure to keep away from children. These can be really dangerous.

Ammonia – To clean crystals (chandelier etc.) or soak glass stained by oil and smoke (think Chanukah). Also, use ammonia to make your jewelry sparkle, especially diamonds.

Easy Clean Oven Cleaner – By far, this is a favorite oven cleaner. It’s safer than sprays as it doesn’t have fumes, but just as powerful.

And Finally…

Last but not least, this Soft Scrub Spray is simply fantastic. Use it in bathrooms, in the kitchen (get those stubborn sink stains out!) and pick it up at Evergreen. Because, you guessed it, Target doesn’t carry it.

Is there any household cleaning product that you love at the grocery?? Tell us about it!

This post is sponsored by Evergreen Kosher. Opinions are our own.