Caroline Mullen

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Caroline Mullen

A hardworking gas grill that spends the summer (and beyond) charring vegetables and churning out juicy burgers is bound to develop some buildup. While many parts of a grill need frequent cleaning (we’re looking at you, cast-iron grates), the grease trap and drip trays need a bit of extra TLC. Writer Kathleen Squires, who co-wrote our guide to the best gas grills, recommends checking the grease trap and drip tray each time you finish grilling and cleaning them if you see buildup.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Caroline Mullen

When my partner, Jeffery, and I moved into our apartment a few years ago, we were thrilled that our bedroom had a walk-in closet. It felt like an aspirational episode of House Hunters. But soon enough, our dream closet turned into an overcrowded dumping zone. Where else could I toss clothing-rental bags (shoutout to Nuuly), tote bags stuffed full of other tote bags, a hulking air mattress, items I swear I’m going to return, and the robot vacuum I want to hide when guests come over?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Caroline Mullen

You know that crusty old pair of Uggs languishing in the back of your closet? Or the stained suede bag you can’t seem to part with? It’s time to restore them to their former glory. Suede gets a bad rep as intimidating to clean, but it’s not nearly as finicky a material as you’d think. While you can certainly take suede items (shoes, bags, jackets, and more) to the cobbler for a professional tune-up, you can also clean them yourself.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Maki Yazawa |Caroline Mullen

Wire grill brushes are tried-and-true workhorses for cleaning your grates. But they might come with a caveat: If precautions aren’t taken, errant wire bristles could potentially wind up in your food. According to a 2016 study, approximately 1,700 injuries due to ingested grill-brush wires resulted in trips to the ER between 2002 and 2014.

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Caroline Mullen |Kathleen Squires

Outdoor griddles or griddle inserts are only as good as the love you show them. While griddles are a joy to cook on, they require regular care and maintenance to churn out perfectly seared steaks and diner-quality fried eggs every time. The key to cooking consistently tasty food and preserving a reliably nonstick surface on your griddle is the same as with a cast-iron or carbon-steel pan: You must develop and maintain a seasoning.