Scrub in Style

It’s toshikoshi time and in Japan that means furiously cleaning the house to welcome the new year sans dirt and grime.  In with the new and out with the old, right?  Here are some miraculous little helpers to make the purification process easier.

Spaghetti Scrubbers designed by Hiroki Hayashi

These genius scrubbers are made from recycled corn cobs and peach pits. They are re-useable, require very little detergent and last a very long time. And they look positively edible!  Available at the Shop at Cooper Hewitt.

Kamenoko Tawashi (Japanese scrubber)

These Kamenoko scrubbers have been around for 100 years and are found in every Japanese kitchen.  Classically good design — simple is always best! Made from palm fibers and sold in an adorable paper wrapping that has the turtle brand logo on it.  Kamenoko means baby turtle in Japanese.  They’re kind of hard to come by here, but I’ve spotted these at Kiosk in NYC as well as at an Anthropologie store once though I can’t locate it on their website.

Natural Solutions Cleaning Kit from Green Depot

This is a great starter kit for the eco-minded cleaner, available from Green Depot.  It’s all the stuff your grandmother used to use, like baking soda and vinegar.  There’s nothing a little Arm & Hammer can’t handle!

I know, it’s all a bit daunting but I promise you there’s nothing like starting the new year off with a literally clean slate.  Just turn on BBC America and watch “How Clean is Your House?” if you need encouragement.