Our top pick, the Lubrima Silicone Sponge, cleans without scratching, doesn’t hold odors, and has many uses beyond the kitchen. Here are the best dish scrubbers for all your cleaning needs. Our favorite dish scrubbers are these silicone sponges from Lubrima because they’re non-porous, so they don’t hang onto smells the way foam and cellulose sponges do. Plus, these scrubbers are eco-friendly thanks to their silicone design. You’ll only need to replace them every few months when they start to fall apart, and you can clean your sponges in your dishwasher until then. One downside to these scrubbers is they are difficult to grip compared to traditional sponges. This is a minor detail, though, compared to their cleaning capabilities. Stuck-on bits of food, such as remnants of eggs or fried rice, are no match for these sponges. They can also double as pot holders and vegetable scrubbers. (If you do use them as a vegetable scrubber, you’ll want to make sure to set aside one sponge for just this task.) Luckily, three sponges come in the pack and each is a different color, so you can easily tell them apart. These scrubbers also don’t create suds as well as other options, but are still effective at their job of removing food and dirt from your dishes. We also like that they don’t grow germs as easily as porous sponges. These scrubbers also won’t scratch your delicate pots and plates like some heavy duty scrubbers can. Overall, we think these silicone dish scrubbers are a great option for consumers who frequently hand-wash their dishes because they don’t hold onto smells and germs like traditional sponges. Price at time of publish: $13 One of the most distinctive features of Scrub Daddy’s material is that it becomes tough and stiff in cold water, which helps it remove caked-on food on your favorite pans. In warm water, it becomes softer and easier to compress, making it the perfect texture to shove into a coffee mug. Scrub Daddy sponges also resist odors for up to two months, at which point you should buy a replacement, and they’re safe to use on a wide variety of surfaces, including non-stick pans, granite, glass, ceramic, and wood. All of that at a great price—what more could you want? Price at time of publish: $10 Still, the dual-sided sponge is highly effective. One side is softer for everyday washing, while the other is a bit tougher for scrubbing stuck-on messes. If it needs a quick refresh, you can stick the whole thing in the dishwasher or boil it to sanitize. Price at time of publish: $28 The flat, contoured shape is designed so you can create even pressure while using it, which makes it easier to tackle grease without having to put in elbow grease. A nice bonus: the scrubber has a soft coconut scent and is also affordable. You can stock up on a few, and will only be disappointed at the fact that food can get trapped in it easily. Price at time of publish: $5 The ergonomically-designed brush fits in the palm of your hand, so you can get a good grip—essential for quickly tackling stuck-on food. The ceramic base offers a clean place to stash the brush when not in use, but also has a spring load feature that allows it to double as a soap dispenser. You simply place the soap in the basin, press down, and swish to put a sudsy lather on the brush prior to using. Notably, this entire set is eco-friendly, too. The brush is made with materials like bamboo and recycled plastic. Not to mention, the brush will last longer than a traditional scrubber, so you’ll be tossing less into landfills. You’ll just want to keep in mind that this style of dish scrubber is not easy to clean, despite being easy to use to clean your dishes. Since this particular pick has a bamboo handle, it can’t be put in the dishwasher or even boiled. Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member, notes that this will ruin the handle and also dissolve the adhesives that are keeping the bristles in place. When it’s time to clean it, the listing says to place the ceramic soap dispenser on the top shelf of your dishwasher. The brush should be cleaned with just warm, soapy water and left to air dry, but avoid any long soaks that could disrupt the bamboo. Price at time of publish: $20 To give it a good clean when you’re done with the task at hand, simply toss the scrubber into the dishwasher. Berry also notes you can put them in the microwave or a washing machine. Additionally, you can purchase these scrubbers in a pack of just one, two, four, and eight. Just know, they do have a strong smell that develops quite quickly, and don’t create a ton of suds. Price at time of publish: $5 It’s dishwasher-safe and is more versatile than you might think. Notably, the brand also offers a lifetime warranty for this scrubber. If you need to replace it, you’re covered. Price at time of publish: $20 Although this one comes with a bristled head, OXO also makes others that are interchangeable with the handle. The included nylon brush has bristles that are soft enough to use on non-stick pans, while the foam sponges (sold separately) are great for everyday lathering. Since the two heads come on and off in a snap, you may want to keep both on hand and swap them depending on what you’re washing. Price at time of publish: $12 It even has a second—and much smaller—brush that nests inside the other to give bottle nipples a good clean. As such, this scrubber is obviously most ideal for baby bottles, but it can clean delicate stemware, too. Price at time of publish: $10 The brushes are made from a mix of food-grade stainless steel and nylon, and the bristles are safe to use even on softer plastic surfaces. It can be a bit hard to grip the handle of them, but otherwise they are an efficient way to keep your drinkware’s accessories clean. Price at time of publish: $11
Dishwasher Compatibility
Some scrubbers are dishwasher safe, while others are not. However, you will want to clean your scrubber, or swap it out every once in a while, to minimize germs that may have built up on it. To find out whether your scrubber is dishwasher-safe, follow the company’s cleaning tips. Many go into the dishwasher. Depending on the material, you can try soaking it in a weak bleach solution, too, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to Marilee Nelson is a cleaning expert, environmental consultant, certified building biologist, and co-founder of Branch Basics, to clean any dish scrubber without the dishwasher, simply soak it in vinegar and a few drops of dish soap for an hour or more. If desired, follow in a soak in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for five minutes. Rinse in hot water and place where the scrubber can air dry.
Extra Features
Some dish scrubbers come with “extras” like a built-in soap dispenser or a storage dish. If you really want to round-out your dish-washing experience, consider these features when picking out a dish scrubber. Some features may not necessarily enhance your routine, and may become a nuisance to use. Others may feel like they’re totally worth the extra bucks because they make storing your tools much easier. Consider how you wash dishes and what would make your life easier, before opting in.
Aesthetic
Style may not be the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for a dish scrubber, but it’s a nice consideration, since it’s something that typically sits out in plain sight. Consider a color that matches your overall palette, or a pairing your sponge with a matching dish towel. “I appreciate an aesthetically pleasing tool, so I don’t feel I need to hide it under the sink,” says Bell.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Brigitt Earley, who’s been writing for The Spruce since 2018 and has written and edited hundreds of buying guides on laundry products, kitchen appliances, and more. To make this list, she considered each dish scrubber’s material and efficacy, plus considered other accolades, like whether or not the product is dishwasher safe. Brigitt also consulted: Marilee Nelson, a cleaning expert, environmental consultant, certified building biologist, and co-founder of Branch Basics; and Angela Bell, a cleaning expert and Grove Guide at Grove Collaborative. All of the options here hold up well to everyday use.
