Making light work of a range of different cleaning jobs, you can use kitchen sponges for anything from the washing up or cleaning down the work surfaces to scrubbing the floors or even the car. Cleaning sponges soak up plenty of water and cleaning product to make sure your washing up liquid goes a little further while the super soft texture stays kind to your skin. Scourer sponges Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that doesn’t require pesticides to grow and it absorbs more carbon than a tree, which makes it one of the most sustainable materials. There are also brands that have got creative by designing eco-friendly sponges that have a mixture of cellulose and different sustainable materials to replicate the conventional sponge-scourer style. The scariest part is that hazardous chemicals, such as pesticides, that are also in the water are absorbed into the microfibers, making them highly toxic… which brings me to the next point.

Or if you’d prefer natural bristles, Zero Waste Outlet have chosen sisal bristles (from the agave plant) with the option of a three-piece set. You can make your sponges for cleaning last much longer and stay fresh with just a few simple tips! Whether you’re simply doing the day’s dishes or working on a particularly stubborn grease-covered casserole dish, you’ll need the best cleaning sponge or scourer to get the job done. At Lakeland, we try and make finding the everyday necessities for the home easy so we’ve put together a range of washing up sponges and scourer sponges for every type of clean. Cellulose, made from wood fibres, has a much less toxic manufacturing process than synthetic materials. It’s an ideal product if you want a 100% plastic-free option with no hidden polyester. In Australia, Biome sells its own brand which also has sisal bristles. You can also buy a dishwashing set that includes castile soap and a storage dish.

Discover our wide range of innovative and efficient scouring products. We have everything from heavy duty metal scourers for tough cleaning, to non scratch sponge scourers for more delicate tasks. Handheld dish brushes are ideal for tough dried-on food residue and for cleaning pots. They are easy to hold, clean effectively, and last a long time. I keep mine clean by washing it in hot soapy water and sterilising it by placing it in a mug of boiling water. You could also use Milton tablets. There are naturally antibacterial options, and even sustainable sponges for those of you that love plastic sponges and would prefer an eco-friendly alternative. The only downside is the wooden ones need to dry out properly in between uses and after some time the wood starts to go dark (as seen in photos). I’ve used both Eddington’s and EcoLiving. The bamboo option is more expensive but it may last longer. There are also brands getting creative with handles made from more durable materials, like metal.

Two thoughtful ways to reduce plastic when washing up is to use handmade or upcycled sponges. Upcycling is a great way to create sponges from resources that already exist. The ones I’ve come across are from small businesses and work-at-home mums/parents.

In Australia, you can get scrubbers made from cellulose with a recycled plastic scouring pad attached from Nourished Life. Add to your traditional kitchen sponge collection with any of our scourer sponges. Making the tougher cleaning jobs a little easier, scourer sponges for cleaning usually have a softer sponge side and a more textured abrasive side that help you to remove harder to budge and baked-on food and grease. This kind of washing up sponge is ideal when you have burnt-on food or extra greasy pots and pans but can also be used on lots of flooring for tougher dirt and stains. I love the handle - it’s lightweight and easy to hold. You can wash up without getting your hands wet and the bristles get in all the nooks and crannies.