These niche cleaning tools may seem like the kinds of joyless things that would send Marie Kondo into a tailspin. Marie, if you’re out there, hear us out. There are certain cleaning tasks that are just difficult: like wiping out your microwave, scrubbing your cast-iron, or wiping cake batter out of the crannies of a whisk. These tools can help. We rounded up weird, obsession-worthy cleaning tools that will make your kitchen sparkle like it never has before—and definitely spark joy.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Whisk Wiper

This is a piece of sturdy silicone that you place on a whisk—or on the whisk attachment of a stand mixer—before you use it. Afterward, you slide the wiper off, taking every last bit of batter with you. No batter is wasted and cleanup is easy—nothing gets stuck in the hard-to-reach center of the whisk. The Whisk Wiper also helps to clean your mixing bowl and keep your counter clean. But feel free to use this for its true purpose: to squeegee every precious drop of brownie batter directly into your mouth.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner

Can we stop exploiting the good name of moms everywhere to sell kitschy aprons and kitchen tools, please? Despite the irksome name, this brightly colored figurine—with your choice of hair-and-dress color combo (weird, but okay!)—will help remove that crusty, stubborn grime all over the inside of a microwave. Pour vinegar and water into the body (plus a twist of lemon or drop of essential oil if you want a more pleasant scent), secure the head, and microwave for seven minutes. Steam comes out of the top and softens splatters and stains so they’re easy to wipe down.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Stainless-Steel Odor Absorber

You might be skeptical that a bar of stainless steel will get the smell of garlic or onion off your hands. Trust the science. Sulfur molecules on your hands transfer to the metal when you rub the bar. And it works with seafood too. Plus, if you’re in need of some entertainment, read the Amazon reviews. Apparently, some innovators out there have used the Rub-a-Way bar for removing all sorts of odors, including but not limited to: smelly armpits, dirty animals, and gasoline.

Rub-a-Way Bar Stainless Steel Odor Absorber $8 at Amazon

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

White Mesh Wash Bag

These bags can be used in the dishwasher for small appliance parts and odds-and-ends kitchen tools. Gather bottle tops, jar lids, silicone pastry brush tops, and small storage containers. Zip them in the bag and toss the whole thing in the dishwasher. Tiny or fragile items will get a thorough cleaning without getting lost or damaged.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Water Bottle Cleaning Set

Travel coffee mugs and water bottles tend to have all sorts of weird parts and hard-to-clean crevices. This brush set solves that problem. A long, narrow bottle brush means no more trying to shove your sponge into your thermos and getting your hand stuck. And the small looped detail brush is ideal for lids and caps. Plus, there’s a straw brush for your reusable straws.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Japanese Scrub Brush

This traditional Japanese scrubber, used primarily for cleaning produce, is also a workhorse for dishes, pots, and pans. It’s made of waterproof palm fiber, so it’ll not only be super effective at cleaning, but also mean the end of dreaded sponge funk. The brush has tough bristles that easily rinse under running water, it’s perfectly palm-size, and it’s truly a master at scrubbing through any hardened bits of food and grease.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle

Stainless-Steel Cast-Iron Cleaner

What looks like a swatch of chainmail is the tool you need for cast-iron pan cleaning. The stainless-steel chainmail rings make for scratch-free, heavy-duty scrubbing. It can also be used on glassware, stainless steel, pizza stones, baking sheets, cauldrons, hibachis, waffle makers, and griddles.

Photo by Joseph De Leo

The Pink Stuff

This unique pasty cleaning paste became a sensation on TikTok, and after testing it ourselves, we found it to be worth the hype. The combination of lightly abrasive ingredients, soap, and baking soda are perfect for degunking pans and refreshing grimy backsplash grout. It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals either.

Photo by Travis Rainey

Swim Chamois

Now wait a second, what is this doing here? Yes, the towel that olympic divers use is actually the perfect tool for hand-drying dishes, particularly crystal glassware. The PVA cloth produces no lint and can absorb incredible amounts of water. Just keep in mind that you have to wet it before you use it. Once you start using a swim shammy in the kitchen, you never go back.

Photo by Joseph De Leo

Bar Keepers Friend

The oxalic acid paste has a long-standing fan base—and that makes sense. It’s a reliable and fast-acting cleaning product. Typically, it comes in powder form, but our food editor Kendra Vaculin loves the squeezable soft cleanser version that comes in a bottle and has the consistency of hair conditioner. It’s a must-have product for keeping stainless-steel cookware in sparkling condition.