Why I Always Keeps a Squeegee in the Kitchen (I Learned It From a Chef!)

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A personal announcement: I recently entered my baking era. I’ve been in the kitchen a lot more, trying new recipes that former me might have been intimidated by. For Friendsgiving, I decided to take on cinnamon rolls for the first time. I’m proud to admit they turned out perfectly — but the aftermath was, well, very messy: flour, sugar, and cinnamon all over the counters.

I thought it was so ingenious, I had to buy a second squeegee just to try it, and I couldn’t believe how well it worked when I put it to the test. With the squeegee, I noticed how easily everything from fine baking ingredients to stuck-on food or messes (even old ones!) lifted. In just a swipe, the mess was basically gone.

Historically, I’ve used my favorite kitchen cleaner, a Scrub Daddy, some dish soap, and a microfiber towel to clean my kitchen counters. This time around, I used my squeegee, cleaning spray, and some soapy water with a Swedish dishcloth to absorb both the dry mess and the little puddle of soapy water after scrubbing my counter. Cook’s suggestion of simply squeegee-ing everything into a bowl, however, doesn’t require any wringing or extra water.

I’ve kept my Hiware all-purpose squeegee in my shower to clean my glass shower doors, and now that I’m baking more, I’m keeping the second one under my kitchen sink for easy access and quick cleanup. It even comes with a handy adhesive hook to make hanging it inside my cabinet so much easier. Plus, at less than $10, it’ll help me save tons on paper towels I won’t be buying anymore to keep my counters clean. Less waste and quicker cleanup? I only wish I knew about this trick sooner!

While it works extremely well on my stone countertops, you can use this hack on all kinds of surfaces. Just be sure to use cleansers that are safe for the material. It really impressed me when used with the soapy solution, but even if you have countertops you can’t get super wet. It’s a great way to get dry crumbs and tiny bits up in a pinch.

I’ll definitely be using a squeegee regularly on my kitchen counters now, especially after my husband cooks and there are garlic husks, chili oil spills, or melted cheese on the counter. Removing food particles with a squeegee, whether they’re dry and fine or wet and sticky, makes the cleaning process much more effective, while removing soapy water with a squeegee ensures every inch of your counters stays sparkling clean.