Here’s Why Your Kitchen Tools Aren’t Lasting Long Enough

T he search for the perfect kitchen tools can seem endless and expensive. It can be particularly frustrating to see your pieces fall apart, dull, melt, or break long before the end of their expected lifespan. However, you might be damaging your kitchen tools without knowing it during the rush to cook and clean your dishes. The good news is there are a few products you can eliminate and changes you can make to your cleaning routine to prolong the life of your favorite kitchen tools.

Dishwash with caution

If you have a dishwasher, you know it’s a game changing appliance. But like anything else, it’s best used in moderation. It’s not the best option for cleaning all types of dishes, and here’s why.

Mind the materials

Common kitchen materials like ceramics, stainless steel, and wood composites are dishwasher safe. However, even a dishwasher-friendly label should be taken with a grain of salt because consistent high-heat washing can wear the material down quickly. Aluminum, plastic, cast iron, nonstick, copper, and any other metals should not be placed in the dishwasher if you can avoid it. They can be gently handwashed, or, in the case of cast iron, wiped down with a paper towel.

Dish out more for your detergents

Inexpensive detergents can help reduce your grocery bill, but it’s not worth the pennies in savings because they aren’t always as effective at washing your dishes. Look for detergents that are rated for your dishwasher, for example, high-efficiency, so you’re getting the most benefit from your machine. Avoid chemicals like sulfates, phosphates, ammonia, added fragrances, chlorine, and formaldehyde because they aren’t 100 percent safe for you or your dishes.

Keep up with routine maintenance

Even your kitchen tools need routine maintenance and checks. These are two of the most neglected tasks that can prevent damage to some of your most expensive pieces.

Sharpen your knives

Invest in a knife sharpener or have your knives professionally sharpened. Aside from a quality coffee machine, knife sets are what most consumers are likely to splurge on—so keep them from dulling and becoming a safety hazard.

Replace your sponges and scrubbers

Do you know when you last replaced your kitchen sponge and brush? You should be replacing your sponge once a week and your brush once every three to four months to stop an overgrowth of bacteria that can corrode and damage your cookware. Consider investing in a scrub brush that has a replaceable head to cut down on costs and waste.

Store your dishes properly

When your dishes and tools aren’t being used, they should be stored properly. It might be tempting to shove items into your cabinets to clean your kitchen quickly after a meal. However, you could be costing yourself more time and money. Take a few extra minutes to ensure that your kitchen storage is protecting your items and preventing buildup of dust and grime.

Dry everything completely

Mold, mildew, and other unwanted hazards thrive in warm, dark, and wet spaces, which makes a damp dishes in a cabinet a prime opportunity for growth. Always dry your items thoroughly before storing them. Even after the dry cycle in a dishwasher, it’s a good idea to keep a soft cloth hanging on the handle to give everything a quick once-over before putting it away.

Clean your cabinets and drawers

At least once a week, disinfect and clean your cabinetry with a surface spray appropriate for your cabinet material. Be sure to reach to the back corners and any other spots you might forget about, like the inside of the cabinet doors and underneath the cabinets hanging over a countertop. By doing so, you can stop particles from building up and corroding your dishes over time.

Stack with separation

If you look closely at the bottom of your plates, you’ll see that most of them don’t have glazed foot-rims. Considering this, you should avoid stacking porcelain dishes and other fragile materials on top of one another. Invest in a few rack cabinet organizers that can space your dishes on their own shelves. The same principle can apply to metal pots and pans. If you have metal on metal constantly, it can increase the risk of cracks and scratches from consistent impact and friction.

Choose quality over quantity

The phrase quality over quantity applies to a lot in life, including your kitchen tools. Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and it is worth the initial investment to prevent constant replacement purchases. Not every household needs a five-star rated knife set or a fancy cast-iron skillet, so take stock of your cooking habits to determine where you should spend more. For example, if you like baking, it would be worthwhile to purchase a good stand mixer and bowls rather than one made of flimsy materials.