Each product is independently selected by our (passionate) editors. Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
Lauren Roe is passionate about baby products (she’s a new mom) and home decor. Before joining The Strategist, she was a writer at Curbed and, before that, an assistant to Wes Anderson.
Lauren Roe is passionate about baby products (she’s a new mom) and home decor. Before joining The Strategist, she was a writer at Curbed and, before that, an assistant to Wes Anderson.
Anyone who’s used disposable sponges to wash dishes or clean surfaces knows that none of them last long (unless you “forget” to throw them away for a few months). For those looking to live a zero-waste lifestyle, regularly replacing your sponges is obviously not ideal. Sustainable living advocate Addie Fisher, who writes about going green on her site Old World New, added that disposable sponges also “leak microplastics,” making the planet a little more polluted with each use. If you’re looking to replace your disposable sponges in the kitchen, Fisher and three other sustainability experts we spoke to say there are plenty of options to consider, noting that the best eco-friendly sponge alternatives will be made from natural materials that are biodegradable (i.e. not plastic) and will last longer than your average Scotch-Brites, so you’ll have to replace them less often. To help you find the right eco-friendly sponge alternative, we asked experts what they use in their kitchens, then scoured our archives to find some standout products we’ve written about before. The following 12 products come in a variety of forms, from cloths to sponges and brushes. According to our experts, they’ll not only keep your dishes and surfaces squeaky clean, but they’ll also make your kitchen more eco-friendly.
Our trio of experts—Fischer, Michaela Preston of natural-living blog Mindful Momma, and Laura Durenberger of Reduce, Reuse, Renew—recommended swapping out disposable sponges for Swedish dish towels, which we first heard about from author Ashley Halpern. As Preston explains, “They’re an eco-friendly alternative because they’re made from absorbent cellulose from wood pulp, rather than plastic.” And because they’re made from cotton and cellulose (both natural materials), “they’re biodegradable and compostable at the end of their life,” says Fisher. If you don’t want a three-pack, Durenberger recommends Tare Market’s Swedish dish towels, which are sold individually and can be washed 200 times (in the dishwasher or washing machine)—just remember to air dry them. She explains that because Swedish tea towels dry quickly, “germs and odors have less time to accumulate,” and that in addition to washing dishes, Swedish tea towels can be used as “non-paper towels.”
Preston’s arsenal of eco-friendly sponge alternatives also includes these thicker-textured scrub pads, which she calls “virtually indestructible.” She explains that the scrubs are made “from waste from the towel industry,” specifically 98 percent recycled cotton and 2 percent resin. They last longer than regular scrub pads, she says, and are top-rack dishwasher safe. Like the Swedish towels, these scrub pads also come in “fun colors to add variety to your dishwashing routine,” Preston adds.
While recycled products may be more eco-friendly than those made from new materials, cotton dish towels are still far less wasteful than disposable sponges. Author Rachel Hong previously told us that cotton dish towels like these “have countless advantages over sponges, not least because of their shape.” Unlike a sponge, she said, “dish towels can be crumpled up and placed in a glass. Or they can be rolled out to fit the curves of a large pot or bowl.” And of course, cotton dish towels (new or recycled) can be washed and dried, “making them infinitely reusable,” she added.
If you’re looking for a more proportional swap, some experts recommended eco-friendly sponges that are similar in form and function to disposable sponges but are made in a more sustainable way. Durenberger recommends these eco-friendly sponges, which, like many disposable sponges, are double-sided: One side is made from recycled, fair-trade coffee bags, and the other is made from cotton. She said the reusable sponges are “easy to clean” — just throw them in the dishwasher or washing machine — and the material is biodegradable. What makes them even more eco-friendly is that they’re compostable (which is why we gave them a Best Overall rating, even though these sponges only got one recommendation). “When you’re done using the sponge, you can toss it in the compost bin,” she says.
According to Preston, “A great alternative to traditional disposable sponges is a washable, reusable cotton sponge with a polyester mesh for cleaning.” She finds her favorites on Etsy, like these from Marley’s Monsters. These sponges are slightly larger than regular sponges, have a lint-free backing on one side, a lint-removing polyester mesh on the other, and a hypoallergenic, mildew-resistant, washable recycled material in between. You can also put it in the dishwasher or washing machine for easy cleaning and reuse.
Durenberger says loofah sponges, like her favorite sunflower-shaped model, are a “great natural alternative to sponges.” She explains that the all-natural loofah is made “by drying loofahs on vines,” resulting in a product that “scrubs like a sponge but isn’t too harsh on dishes.” The all-natural loofahs “dry really quickly,” she says, and because they’re plant-based, they’re compostable at the end of their life. If you’re looking to restock your supply (or prefer something more natural), you might want to consider the Eney Loofah Four-Pack, which is also plant-based.
The experts also introduced us to some ultra-fine eco-friendly scrubbers they use for more intensive cleaning. Two experts — Fisher and Durenberger — recommend scrubbers made from natural coconut husk fiber, or coir. This set of reusable scrubbers from EcoCoconut is also a Fisher favorite. It’s also made from organic wood latex, making the product biodegradable, food-grade compostable, and non-toxic.
Durenberger told us she tried the wooden-handled, coconut-headed brush “on a whim” and fell in love with it immediately. “I can confidently say I will never use a plastic dish brush or even other eco-friendly products again,” she said, adding that “coconut shells are a natural antibiotic,” so coconut shell products “won’t get moldy or stinky.” The brush is best hand-washed and air-dried, according to the retailer.
Francine Jay (aka Miss Minimalism), author of Ease: How to Live a Simple, Serene, Stress-Free Life, also recommends using a plant-based brush with a wooden handle. Her favorite is the one from Earthling Co., which has a body made from untreated German beech wood and bristles made from tampico fiber (tampico is a cactus-like plant native to Mexico). It’s best hand washed and air dried. Since this brush is made from only wood and plant fibers, it can be composted in your backyard at the end of its life.
We first heard about this Japanese plant cleaner from Foster Kummer, who in turn learned about it from artist Jenny Holzer. “At first glance, its little brown fibers seem like they could do more damage to your hands than a pot,” he wrote. “But don’t worry: These fibers, made from hemp palm, soften under water, making them comfortable to hold.” Kummer promises that these scrubbers “will remove absolutely any dirt you encounter on any surface,” adding that “they’re also easy to clean.” All of this has made the scrubber “one of the most common household items in Japan,” he explains.
While these scrapers don’t have the same bristle texture as some of the others on this list, Durenberger says these little cubes, made entirely of bamboo (“a renewable resource”), are her top pick for removing “stuck-on food from pots and pans” or other surfaces. Not only are they effective, she says, but they won’t ruin your dishes. “They really work,” she assures, and once the scraper is done, Durenberger says, “you can just put it in the compost bin.”
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The Strategist aims to provide the most practical and expert shopping advice to help you shop the vast world of e-commerce. Our latest finds include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We try to update links whenever possible, but keep in mind that deals may expire and all prices are subject to change.
Each product is independently selected by our (passionate) editors. Products you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
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As part of your account, you will receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.
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As part of your account, you will receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.