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When treated properly, a beautiful pan should last you a lifetime. Innovations like ceramic non-stick interiors and design-forward finishes have made quality cookware must-have equipment for home cooks. But there’s nothing worse than marring your beautiful new Dutch oven with cooked-on stains and scratches, or ruining a perfectly-seasoned cast iron pan.
It’s important to use a non-scratch sponge for most, like the Scotch-Brite™ Brand’s line of Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Sponges, though some scenarios call for a more heavy-duty pass with a bristle brush. Here’s a handy dishwashing guide to help you keep your pots and pans at their most effective and most sparkling.
A Classic Cast Iron

Scotch-Brite™ Advanced Soap Control Dishwand Brush

Cast iron pans are kitchen workhorses—they’re inexpensive, incredibly sturdy, and heat evenly. They do need a little extra love to keep them well-seasoned and rust-free. Yours should never go in the dishwasher or be left to soak for any period of time.

First, never heat your pan without at least a little oil in it, which will help build up a polymer finish that’s practically non-stick. Then after cooking, brush your pan free of food residue using an ergonomic wand with bristles, like Scotch-Brite™ Brand’s version that’s designed to dispense dish soap as needed. (Contrary to popular belief, soap won’t ruin your seasoning — it’s water that’s the true enemy here).
If you can, take a few extra moments to wipe your pan dry after washing to avoid prolonged contact with moisture. If your pan starts to look dull or rusty, wash it thoroughly, then dry it over low heat on a burner. Apply a neutral oil to the pan when cool, which will restore the glossy, protective finish.
Your Centerpiece Dutch Oven

Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers
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Perfect for braises or big batches of baked pasta, a Dutch oven is an investment piece that’s as useful as it is beautiful. Most have enameled interiors, and they come in a rainbow of sophisticated exterior shades (chances are you’ve seen some vibrant new options popping up in your friends’ kitchens).
Though they’re infinitely useful, these pots do present a little bit of a cleaning catch-22 — as with any enamel surface, you want to avoid cleaning with anything too harsh, but the heavy-duty cooking these pans are suited for often requires a little extra elbow grease. The right sponge is key to banishing things like cooked-on cheese without ruining the finish. Look for one with a wider surface area, like the Scotch-Brite® Advanced Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrubbers, which also has an angled shape that handily gets into corners. Soaking is also okay in this case, if you completely forgot to take that ziti out of the oven.
Timeless Stainless Steel

Lightweight, available in a variety of price points, and designed to heat up quickly, there’s many reasons why stainless steel pans are the go-to choice for professional chefs and a staple for home cooks. The downside? Things like scorched tomato sauce can be a pain to scrub off and ruin that mirror-shiny finish. For everyday cleaning, a sturdy sponge should be enough to do the trick.

When those really stuck-on messes pop-up, try filling the pan with water and a spoonful of white vinegar then bringing to a simmer. Allow to cool and empty the water mixture — you should find that any remaining gunk is softened and scrubs away easily. For exterior spills, rely on a non-scratch scrubber over harsh options like steel wool, which can leave permanent marks. And in good news, air drying works just fine here.
The New Non-Stick

There are many non-toxic, non-stick finishes available, and ceramic options are quickly gaining popularity due to their increased heat tolerance, some up to 500 degrees F, reports the Good Housekeeping Appliances and Technology lab. Some non-stick pans are dishwasher safe, but since they easily release every type of food, a gentle wipe is often all you need.

Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge

The unique texture of the Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge is effective and non-scratch—use the soft side to wipe the pan clear, and the scrubby one for the rare spot of leftover egg or melted cheese—nothing will stick to the surface, which rinses clean for your next round of washing up. The most important rule of thumb? Never stack your non-stick cookware after cleaning. The bottoms of other pans and cookware are often the source of those annoying surface scratches that seem to appear out of nowhere.
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The husband-and-wife team behind Mr. Kate thinks everyone’s home should have a touch of “creative weirdo.” At least that’s what they tell their interior design clients, which include popular YouTubers like Liza Koshy, LaurDIY, and the Labrant family.
Throughout the years, they’ve shared everything from easy, at-home DIYS (remember the palm leaf art made from pool noodles?) to complete home makeovers. Their philosophy on interior design remains unchanged: “Interior design should be helpful for your lifestyle,” they tell Good Housekeeping. Maybe that means switching to an open floor plan once you have kids, or opting for peel-and-stick wallpaper if you’re living in a rental.
In the video above, Kate Albrecht and Joey Zehr tackle this-or-that questions, everything from if wallpaper is better than paint to minimalism versus maximalism. Spoiler alert: They say minimalism is the way to go, but still think it’s possible to fill your space with things you love without giving it a cluttered look: “Be a maximalist on your walls, not your floors or countertops. Do gallery walls, or a cool, fun sculptural install.” That way, “it’s not able to roam around your floors or cover up your countertops.”
Watch the video above for more of Mr. Kate’s answers, and get a sneak peek of their highly-anticipated furniture line.

The Best Online Interior Design Services

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No one wants to put more time and energy into cleaning than they have to. That’s exactly why most of us throw our laundry into the washer and dryer, and call it a day. But sometimes (key word: sometimes), it may not seem like a standard wash and dry gets the job done. Enter laundry stripping, the latest cleaning method that people — TikTok users, especially — are obsessing over.
Laundry stripping isn’t new by any means: Many people, including Good Housekeeping Institute’s Cleaning Lab, have used this soaking method for years to remove detergent residue, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and body oils from textiles. But one viral before-and-after TikTok by MrsLaurenElms started a cleaning movement in recent months, causing TikToks with #laundrystripping to rack up 18.5 million views.
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It makes sense why this soaking method is taking off — the TikToks show tubs filled with murky brown water after hours of soaking clean laundry. This prompted many people to wonder if they’ve been unknowingly wrapping up in dirty sheets and towels all this time.
Just like other of-the-moment trends, there are tons of questions about this soaking technique — some are straight-forward (Can I strip other items beside towels and sheets?), while others are more complicated (Is laundry stripping effective?). Before you head to the bathtub with borax in hand, read through this how-to guide by Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab Director Carolyn Forte to determine if it’s the most effective cleaning method for your sheets and towels.
What Is Laundry Stripping?
Essentially, laundry stripping is a thorough method of soaking that gets rid of any leftover detergent, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and natural body oils that have collected on textiles over a period of time. The process itself is rather lengthy: Towels and sheets sit in a tub of hot water, borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate), and laundry detergent until the water has cooled completely, about four to five hours in total.

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Over time, the water’s heat causes the dyes to run, which explains why it turns brown or gray. That means, it works best on whites, lights, and colorfast bath towels and bed sheets. You can still soak colorful textiles — just avoid mixing bright colors with whites to avoid accidentally dyeing anything. While laundry stripping is suitable for any clothing or bedding items that can withstand high temperatures, you should avoid stripping delicate items — a standard wash and dry (or hand-wash for some delicates) should clean them completely.
How to Effectively Strip Wash Sheets and Towels
Fill your bathtub, sink, or a large bucket with hot water. Add borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate), and laundry detergent in a 1:1:2 ratio. For a bathtub, add 1/4 cup borax, 1/4 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup laundry detergent. Stir until it dissolves completely.
Submerge your clean towels or sheets in the mixture and soak until the water has cooled, which usually takes at least four hours. Stir occasionally to release the buildup on the towels.
Drain the murky water, then throw your towels or sheets through a rinse-only cycle in your washing machine. Tumble dry without dryer sheets.
Does Laundry Stripping Actually Work?
In short, you shouldn’t have to strip towels and sheets on a regular basis if you’re washing them correctly. There are some instances where laundry stripping may be necessary, especially if you notice buildup after washing with homemade detergent, frequently use dryer sheets or fabric softener, or live in a hard water area and don’t have a water softener installed in your home. Think of it this way: Too much of a good thing (laundry detergent and fabric softener) can sometimes be bad, causing whites to turn dark and dingy. Laundry stripping is an easy way to give towels and sheets new life — or at least, a refreshed look.
As a general rule, following smart laundry practices on a regular basis is the recommended cleaning method:
Use deep-cleaning detergent like GH Seal star Tide.
Don’t overload the washing machine.
Don’t use too much detergent or fabric softener.
Use proper laundry sorting techniques to avoid residue from building up.
If you notice residue or want to prevent buildup, add borax or washing soda to a regular load in the washer.
The bottom line, according to Forte: “If you have a lot of towels or sheets that need help, this is a good way to tackle them quickly. Then make sure to follow good laundering habits afterward, so you don’t have to do it again!”

Follow This Ultimate Laundry Checklist

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If there’s anyone who knows the importance of keeping a kitchen organized, it’s John Kanell. The Preppy Kitchen founder is constantly testing out new recipes — everything from edible cookie dough to corn casserole — and sharing his finds with 1.34 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
But he also knows that presentation is nearly as important as the food itself, so he asked interior designer Amy Beth Cupp to design a built-in pantry that’s equally functional and beautiful. In the video above, he details how he stores his casual and seasonal table linens, holiday tableware, and formal dinnerware. Everything has its own drawer with soft-close slides, so that John can see exactly what’s inside and avoid damaging any breakable items when closing them shut.
Even if you’re working with a smaller space, John suggests grouping items — linens, especially — by color or season. That way, you don’t have to dig through red and green napkins to find your springtime hues.
If you prefer to keep things organized based on function alone, that works, too — it’s your kitchen, after all. “Do what works for you. I like having things grouped by color, function, and size,” he explains. “For example, I have a whole drawer with just sprinkles in it, and a whole drawer with just spices in it. I organize the spices by use — spices for curry, spices for holiday baking, and the rest is alphabetical.”
Watch the video above for more organizing inspiration.

Shop Preppy Kitchen’s Favorite Pantry Products

Organic Spice Refill
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Organic Cotton Casual Napkins
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