Dish sponges are one of the items in our kitchen that need to be changed regularly. If you are using a conventional dish sponge, you might want to think again about its impact on our landfills and environment. Fortunately, today, eco-friendly dish sponges are available and getting easier to find wherever you are in the world. I personally only changed to sustainable dish sponges and scrubbers a few years back. The main reason is, first, I wasn’t aware that there are more organic options. Second, it wasn’t easy to find one. In this article, I will detail the best organic and eco-friendly dish sponges you can buy. But first, I will help you spot a good eco-friendly dish sponge and what qualities to look for and avoid. Using these organic dish sponges will be a step closer to a zero-waste lifestyle.
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Best 6 Eco Dish Sponges & Scrubbers at a Glance
| Eco Dish Sponge | What it Looks Like | Features | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skoy Scrub | Long Lasting & Durable Multi-purpose Scrub Sustainable choice Washable/Reusable | 4.7 | Check Prices | |
| Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber | Flexible Silicone Tough & Gentle Dishwasher Safe Fresh peachy fragrance | 4.4 | Check Prices | |
| Bamboo Dish Scrub Brushes | Holder and Brush Set Natural bamboo Sustainable/Biodegradable Multiple Uses | 3.9 | Check Prices | |
| Plant-based Dish sponge Loofah | Plant-based 100% biodegradable Excellent scrubbing power Plastic-free packaging | 3.9 | Check Prices | |
| 4-set Bamboo and Coconut Fibre Brushes | Multiple brushes Natural Bamboo & Coconut High density firm bristles Cleans multiple items | 4.3 | Check Prices | |
| Helping Out Mother Earth Sponges | Long lasting/Low odour Compostable/Biodegradable No plastic packaging Sustainable plant based | 4.6 | Check Prices |
What to Look for in Eco Dish Spongers and Scrubbers
To ensure that you are spending money with and supporting a company with sustainability in mind, here are some tips on what to look for in dish sponges that are not too harmful to our environment.
The material that your Dish Sponge and Scrubber are made of
When choosing which organic dish sponge to use, look for products that are made of natural or biodegradable materials. If it’s not possible, look for something that you can rewash, kill bacteria, and scrub off the smell – so you won’t need to replace it for a few years.
For example, look for materials from stainless steel, silicone (food or medical grade), bamboo, coconut fibres, natural sea sponge, hemp, recycled materials, and anything plant-based and biodegradable.
You should double-check if the packaging is plastic or paper. Many companies indicate or market that their product is eco-friendly but then once you receive the products, they come in plastic packaging.
The Durability and Longevity of the Eco Dish Sponge
I don’t blame you for changing dish sponges often. It is the hygienic way to do it. So, when you look for an eco-friendly dish sponge, make sure to choose one that is durable and will last a long time. For example, silicone-based dish sponges are safe to be cleaned inside the dishwasher. This means that you only need to buy a new one once it starts to fall apart.
The Brand, Company and a Climate Pledge Friendly Badge
If you are buying your dish sponge from Amazon, some products or brands have a “Climate Pledge Friendly” badge. This means that the company is pledging to produce products with sustainability in mind. Make sure that the company does not test on animals, uses all-natural ingredients, and packaging is not made with single-use plastic.
The Price of your Eco Dish Sponge
Let’s say you decide to go with a hemp dish sponge or coconut fibres. While these are great options, some of them don’t have great longevity, which means you will have to replace them a few times a year. That’s okay as long as they are biodegradable, compostable, or easy to recycle. But if you go with this type of product, you want to look for something affordable since you will need to buy new ones often.
If you find something that is super durable but more expensive, that’s also a great choice. A good and high-quality product is always something worth spending money on.
Other People’s Reviews
And of course, read reviews which are very helpful in making decisions. For example, when I was looking at an eco-friendly body loofah, I found one that is a great choice overall. Fortunately, one of the reviews says it comes with triple plastic packaging – which essentially turned me off and I went with a different product.
The 6 Best Eco Dish Sponges [Eco-friendly Dish Scrubbers]
Apart from using organic dish sponges, make sure that you are also using non-toxic dish soap that is gentle not only on your hands but also on marine life, plants, and waterways.
1. Skoy Scrub
This dish sponge is made of cotton and food grade non-toxic hardener that outlasts traditional scrubbers. It works great on pans, pots, plates, and silverware to remove any leftover sticky food – and yes, for cast iron too! You can also put it in either the dishwasher or the washing machine to wash off the gross stuff that sticks to it.
The only downside would be how it requires more pressure when being used – think of the need to press it down a little more than the usual dish sponge. You can check costs and delivery here
2. Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber
This silicone scrubber can be used on pots, pans, and all other kitchen flatware and utensils as well as your fruit and vegetables. It dries quickly which means you don’t have to worry about bacteria growing on it.
The Peachy Clean Silicone Scrubber is also infused with peach fragrance but if you feel like it starts to smell, you can wash it in the dishwasher instead of buying a new one. Don’t use bleach or other strong chemicals on the scrubber, those will shorten its life. See what other people think of this eco dish sponge here
3. Bamboo Dish Scrub Brushes
These dish brushes are great when removing food stuck on pots and pans. The brushes are made with all-natural bamboo which is sustainable and biodegradable.
One thing when using this product though, made sure to keep it dry (use the string to hang it) to avoid mould growing on it. I know that Scandinavians specifically love using a brush with a long handle for washing the dishes. If this one is too tiny, I recommend one of the next sets instead. Here are the options for this bamboo dish scrub
4. Plant-based Dish sponge Loofah
This one is somewhat similar to a bathroom loofah you can use on your body. However, this one is specifically made for the kitchen, which means, it’s tougher so it can remove food scraps from your dishes.
It will last a long time and even if you manage to break it down since it’s plant-based (made with a type of gourd), it is biodegradable. Plus, it is packaged with a paper bag and paper strips – completely plastic-free. See what other people think of this dishwashing loofah set here
5. 4-set Bamboo and Coconut Fibre Brushes
If you are looking to buy multiple brushes, such as one for the dishes and one for washing water bottles, this 4-set of dish brushes might be the one for you. It is made with a bamboo handle and coconut fibres as bristles.
However, remember to hang the brushes dry to avoid mould growing on them and to last for a longer time. Check delivery times and up-to-date prices here.
6. Helping Our Mother Earth Natural and Plant-based Sponge
I love this plant-based dish sponge, it’s probably my favourite on this list of best eco-friendly dish sponges. Compared to a conventional synthetic dish sponge, this one lasts a long time and does not produce a foul odour after some time.
It’s plant-based, made of hemp, coconut fibres, sisal, and wood cellulose. It is also compostable and biodegradable and won’t scratch your pans, pots, and plates. This brand also comes with no plastic packaging as well.
Verdict on the Best 6 Eco Dish Sponges [Eco-friendly Dish Scrubbers]
For me, there is no single dish sponge that does all the job. Hence, I have to recommend a few. I love the natural and plant-based sponge, it lasts a long time and it’s easy to clean to remove the smell.
Next, I also have one of the bamboo with a coconut fibre brush (the long one) which I use to clean my reusable water bottles. Finally, I use the natural scouring pads for food or dirt that is hard to remove, I specifically use them to scrub my stainless steel sink as well.
We’re always looking for the most environmentally friendly, and ecologically friendly way of managing our home and garden. Here are some of our key guides to this.
- Is it better to use plastic or silicone?
- Eco-friendly dishcloths and tea towels
- Which is best for food storage? Glass or Plastic?
- Looking for ideas? Here’s how to recycle glass jars
- The Best Plastic-Free Freezer Storage Guide.
Final Words on Eco Dish Sponges and Dish Scrubbers
Dish sponges are a big part of our daily life. It’s one of those products that we need to constantly change to make sure there are no growing bacteria on them that we transfer to our dishes. However, that doesn’t mean that we have to produce a crazy amount of waste from dish sponges. Using eco-friendly dish sponges can also make your waste biodegradable or even compostable. We have lots of tips on eco-friendly cleaning, please check them out. I hope that you found this list of organic and all-natural dish cleaners helpful. If you are using an alternative Eco product that you can recommend, let us know in the comment section below.
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