Six years ago, I replaced my upper cabinets with open shelves. Everyone who stepped foot in my renovated kitchen said the same thing: "It looks great!" Then: "But how do you keep your dishes clean?"
For the most part, the plates, bowls, mugs, and cups on the first two shelves stayed clean because they were constantly being used, so nothing sat long enough to get dirty. As for the rest, I accepted the fact that whatever lived on the very top shelf would accumulate that sticky layer of dust and cooking grease that plagues the uppermost part of every kitchen.
I eventually figured out the most effective way to remove what I call "that up-high kitchen grime" and I've shared some of those tips and products below. But the best thing you can do—for the cleanliness of your cabinets and your lungs—is to capture and filter as many particles as you can before they settle somewhere they don't belong.
In my old kitchen, I installed a ductless range hood. It helped some, but not even restaurant-quality exhaust systems can capture all the smoke and oil mist that gets released into the air when cooking. And the situation in my new apartment is even worse: a mounted microwave with a perfunctory fan.
Now I rely on a powerful air purifier to help clear the air when I cook.
Until recently, my favorite was a Dyson that filtered and cooled at the same time. But it's pricey and requires a $100 replacement filter at least once a year. So I was very excited to try Shark's NeverChange Air Purifier Max. It's noticeably bulkier but it has many of the same features—including real time air-quality monitoring—and the filter only needs to be replaced every five years. Even better? The Shark is less than half the price of the Dyson.
The Shark also has a more prominent display and I've been kind of shocked watching my indoor air quality tank when I cook. I'm equally comforted when my dedicated kitchen air purifier automatically kicks into high gear to do something about it.
Below, find my tips for reducing cooking grime in your own kitchen, and the best way to wipe away what you can't prevent.
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