Each year at about this time, I get the urge to pull a Snow White and open all the doors and windows, deep-clean my house, launder the linens, organize my pantry, tidy the garden, and bring in the first few blooms from outside (hello, little daffodils!).
To make these to-dos feel like little luxuries instead of tedious tasks, I’m continually bookmarking beautifully made tools, soaps, and other tools and products. My family teases me about my love of wooden and wicker home goods. I do not own a single plastic tool, sponge, or brush. (I know, I know—I’m that person.) But as someone who truly loves being at home and making it feel comfortable, inviting, and pleasing to all five senses, I get great pleasure from collecting and using these sorts of products.
They also (hint, hint) make great housewarming and wedding gifts.
Handcrafted Brooms
I’ve always loved the barn brooms by Lostine because they are both artful and practical, especially the one featuring a dipped-edge design, which camouflages dirt and grime ($128 each; lostine.com).
Candles
To clear the air, I prefer a clean-burning candle that isn’t full of chemicals, and the No. 01 candle by Kentucky’s Proper Design is a truly lovely mix of lavender, sage, and citrus ($65; properdesign.co).
Laundry Basket
Tucking stacks of neatly folded laundry into one of these baskets handwoven by Amish artisans for Millstream Home turns the chore into a thing of beauty ($280; millstreamhome.com).
Cleaning Tools
The selection of tools for the home at Wentworth in Charleston, South Carolina, is staggering, including this chic, handcrafted Iris Hantverk dust-pan set ($45, shopwentworth.com) and a coconut-fiber dish brush from Germany’s Burstenhaus Redecker ($9; shopwentworth.com).
Cleaning Products
I have personally tested and absolutely love everything created by Fer à Cheval, particularly the storied French brand’s laundry soap ($34; shop.loganmercantile.com) and black soap with olive oil, for floors ($22; shop.loganmercantile.com). Both are extremely concentrated and effective, so the bottles last for a long time, making them worth the price tag in my book.
Furniture Polish
Mary Spotswood Underwood, the Virginia tastemaker highlighted in G&G’s December 2023/January 2024 issue, also makes this Brooke’s Bank Farm furniture polish ($18; brookesbankfarm.com), which works equally well on pedigreed antiques and modern furniture. And spring is the time to buff things to a shine!
Linens
I own several of these hand towels by KD Weave in Texas ($36 each; kdweave.com), which I use as dish cloths and as napkins. They are total workhorses and just incredibly soft and pretty. I also love the company’s newer placemats ($25 each; kdweave.com) and other linens for a spring tabletop refresh.
Hand Soap and Lotion Set
I’m pretty sure all Southerners have a thing for the smell of fresh heirloom tomatoes, and the hand soap and lotion by Flamingo Estate are a dream to use ($116; flamingoestate.com).
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