Want Your Expensive Kitchen Gear to Last ‘Forever’? Try These 9 Low-Cost Tools

Investing in high-end cookware, appliances, or tools is ultimately a waste if you don’t maintain them properly. If your goal is to keep your kitchen items in mint condition, then you may have to go beyond basic cleaning to preserve the wood, silver, or cast iron. Whether you just invested in your first expensive pan or want to restore a neglected collection of knives, it’s never too late to give your kitchen gear some TLC.

“Take care of stuff with the right products and it can last forever,” said one savvy shopper, whose “high-end cutting boards” are “like new again” with one easy $12 hack. For cleaning, polishing, sharpening, and seasoning your most prized possessions, I found eight cheap tools to help you extend the lifespan of your expensive kitchen gear. With picks from trusted brands like OXO and Lodge, taking care of your heirloom-quality pieces can cost as little as $10.

Low-Cost Tools for Maintaining High-End Kitchen Gear

• Thirteen Chefs Mineral Oil, $12, originally $13
• Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener, $12, originally $13
• Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Care Kit, $20, originally $30
• Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser, $11
• OXO Good Grips Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Set, $11
• Whisk Wiper, $20
• Weiman Silver Polish Cleaner, $10
• Impresa Coffee Machine Descaler, $10
• The FryOilSaver Company Wine Glass Cleaner, $10

Thirteen Chefs Mineral Oil

This highly rated mineral oil can be used in many ways, from oiling a wooden cutting board to restoring a marble tray. Simply apply the food-grade oil to the clean surface, rub it in, and let sit for 24 hours. The $12, 8-ounce container could easily last you years, and the product has more than 34,600 five-star ratings at Amazon to show it’s worth the investment. “My cutting boards look so much better now — no more dull or dry spots,” one reviewer said. Another reviewer advised shoppers to “buy this if you want to keep your boards and spoons forever.”

Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener

All blades will dull eventually. Keep everything from a high-end chef’s knife to an inexpensive pair of kitchen shears with this 4-in-1 knife sharpener. One of our favorite models on the market, the Longzon knife sharpener makes it easy to quickly restore your tools to their original condition — if not better. 

It has a dedicated slot for scissors and three progressive knife-sharpening levels, including a tungsten steel blade, diamond slot, and ceramic slot. Plus, it’s under $12 and has nearly 20,000 perfect ratings at Amazon. One reviewer declared that they “appreciate the ergonomic handle and non-slip base, which make it safe and stable during use.” “The compact design is another bonus — it doesn’t take up much counter or drawer space.”

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Care Kit

No matter the price you paid for your cast iron skillet, you must season it regularly. This cast iron care kit from Lodge has everything you’ll need for cleaning and seasoning your brand-new or well-loved skillet, including a scraper, scrub brush, seasoning spray, and handle holder.

You’ll get all four items for $20 if you catch the current sale. The kit is especially worth the investment if you’re a cast iron beginner. “I’m new to cast irons and was struggling to care for mine before I found this kit,” one reviewer said. “This kit has been very helpful and has resulted in better cooking outcomes.”

Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser

Bar Keepers Friend is a powerhouse cleaner for your entire home, especially your stainless steel cookware. It’s an abrasive powder cleanser that can remove stains, mineral buildup, and rust — some elbow grease is required. 

If your stainless steel skillet or stockpot is looking dull, just sprinkle on some water and Bar Keepers Friend, then rub, rinse, wipe, and repeat until the cookware looks as good as new.

OXO Good Grips Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Set

Some appliances, like food processors and juicers, have little nooks and crannies that can be hard to clean even if they’re dishwasher-safe. This $11 appliance cleaning kit from OXO includes two mini, double-sided tools, each with a scraper on one end and a bristle brush on the other. 

The tools are excellent for accessing those hard-to-reach spots and tight corners in complicated or small appliances. “This cleaner works great for cleaning my Ninja air fryer basket, and the bottle cleaner attachment is perfect for water bottles or baby bottles,” one reviewer raved.

Whisk Wiper

Cleaning a whisk can be a difficult, time-consuming job, especially if you leave it in the kitchen sink for too long. This clever whisk-cleaning device does most of the work for you, fitting neatly around each wire to wipe the whole head clean. It even comes with a stainless steel whisk. 

“The wiper also doubles as a bowl scraper,” one reviewer noted. “It is just an all-around great invention and definitely worth the price.” The brand also sells a larger version that can fit the whisk attachment for your KitchenAid stand mixer.

Weiman Silver Polish Cleaner

Silver items tend to tarnish over time, and we’re not just talking about jewelry. Everyday utensils and special dinnerware or wine buckets lose their sheen over time, but these polishing wipes can easily remove that buildup and restore your silver pieces to their original shine. 

You’ll get 20 wipes for $10, and reviewers loved the no-mess polishing: “These wipes are the easiest way to clean silver that I’ve ever used,” one reviewer said. “Each cloth cleans 10 or so pieces of pretty tarnished flatware with a little effort.”

Impresa Coffee Machine Descaler

Whether you own a Breville espresso maker or a Nespresso machine, you need to descale your coffee maker, preferably once a month. This $10 bottle of liquid descaler will help you quickly remove mineral buildup in your coffee maker, making your monthly chore easier. 

Add a small amount of the descaler to your full water reservoir, run the machine until empty, and then rinse. You should notice that you have a better-tasting, faster brew after using the descaler the first time.

The FryOilSaver Company Wine Glass Cleaner

Cleaning your wine glasses and drinking glasses can be a hassle, and putting them in the dishwasher can cause water stains or, even worse, breakage. This $10 wine glass cleaning brush is soft, so you don’t have to worry about breaking or scratching your delicate glassware. And, it’s flexible enough to clean a narrow champagne flute.