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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
Scrubbing dirty pots and pans after a meal or on a chore day is much easier when you have the right dish scrubber for the job. Dish scrubbers come in many forms—from double-sided sponges to soap-dispensing wands and silicone pads. We scoured the web to find the best dish scrubbers, evaluating effectiveness, durability, and value.
Here are the best dish scrubbers for all your cleaning needs.
Best Overall
Lubrima Silicone Sponge
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Amazon
Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Eco-friendly design
Can double as pot holders
Very slippery when wet
Doesn't create a lot of suds
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
Amount: 3 | Material: Silicone | Dimensions: 4.92 x 2.75 x 0.62 inches | Weight: 1.1 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Budget
Scrub Daddy Lemon Fresh Sponge
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Target
Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Comes in multiple scents
Design helps you clean efficiently
Food bits can get stuck in crevices
Doesn't come with storage option
Scrub Daddy is often known as one of Shark Tank's most successful ventures, and the tough, durable sponges deserve their many accolades. The face might be adorable, but it also helps the sponge be so much more useful and ergonomic. You can slide your fingers into the eyeholes to inch it down into any glass, and use the mouth to clean both sides of a piece of silverware.
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
Amount: 1 | Material: Foam | Dimensions: 6.0 x 1.62 x 1 inches | Weight: Not listed | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Sponge
Blueland Scrub Sponge
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Blueland
Two-sided design
Compostable
Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Scrubbing side could be more effective
Sponge is overall a bit thin
Though this dual-sided sponge from Blueland works just like a traditional one might, it’s plant-based, not plastic. In fact, even the stitching is hand-sewn with cotton rather than plastic, making it a great pick for any home that's trying to make more eco-friendly decisions. The whole thing can actually be composted when you’re ready to replace it, as well. (Three sponges come in one pack.)
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
Amount: 3 | Material: All-natural loofah, 100% FSC-certified cellulose, cotton | Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best Pad
Grove Co. Coconut Scouring Pad
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Grove Co.
Easy to grip
Has a pleasant scent
Affordable
May scratch stainless steel
Tends to trap food
Though extremely abrasive (you might compare it to steel wool), this scouring pad that's made from coconut shells and recycled fibers scrubs without scratching most dishes, pots, and pans. While you should be cautious using it on stainless steel items and non-stick cookware in your kitchen, you can use the pad on other cookware, glassware, countertops, and appliances comfortably.
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
Amount: 2 | Material: Coconut shells, recycled fiber | Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Dishwasher Safe: Not listed
Best Brush
Full Circle Bubble Up Ceramic Soap Dispenser & Bamboo Dish Brush
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Eco-friendly
Comes with a storage solution
Ergonomic design
Bristles are a bit too stiff
Hard to clean narrow items
A dish brush with sturdy bristles is a good all-around tool for doing dishes by hand or removing excess food before loading the dishwasher, suggests Angela Bell, cleaning expert and Grove Guide at Grove Collaborative. Small handheld brushes, like this one, are the most popular of the bunch for good reason. Namely, they’re easy to grip, plus they come with storage containers that double as soap dispensers.
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
Amount: 1 | Material: Bamboo, ceramic, recycled plastic, recycled stainless steel | Dimensions: 3.74 x 3.74 x 4.92 inches | Weight: 0.8 ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Not listed
Best Eco-Friendly
Skoy Scrub
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Amazon
Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Different pack sizes
Gentle on most surfaces
Can have a strong smell
Doesn't create a lot of suds
These sponges are so much more than fun to look at. The eco-friendly scrubbers are made from remnant fibers from the toweling industry. Their coating makes them great at cleaning, but also gentle enough to use on just about anything, including non-stick pans, ceramic, glass, and even cooktops. They're plenty versatile outside the kitchen, too. You can use them to scrub a ceramic sink or marble tile in the bathroom, or even your car’s windshield.
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
Amount: 1 | Material: Cotton, resin | Dimensions: 6 x 0.25 x 5 inches | Weight: 0.05 pounds | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best for Cast Iron
KnappMade Chain Mail Pot Scrubber
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Bed Bath & Beyond
Lifetime warranty
Comes in two sizes
Won't strip seasoning from cast iron
Can be slippery
Doesn't come with storage option
Not suitable for stainless steel or enameled surfaces
For cleaning cast iron, this rust-proof, stainless steel scrubber is hard to beat. You can use it on seasoned cast iron pans without stripping them, as well as glass baking pans, cookie sheets, and pizza stones. You should never use them on stainless steel or enameled surfaces (Think, a Le Creuset Dutch oven.), though, according to Berry. This one is made of 4-inch rings for more cleaning power, but the brand also makes a 6-inch version that’s good for cleaning pots and pans with stuck-on food.
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
Amount: 1 | Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 4 inches | Weight: Not listed | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best with Soap Dispenser
OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Dish Brush
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OXO
Includes soap dispenser
Has hole for hanging
Has interchangeable heads
Not dishwasher-safe
Occasionally leaks
A combination product like the OXO Good Grips Soap Dispensing Dish Brush helps keep your sink area looking neater, as you don't have to fuss with your dish soap bottle every time you do dishes. Simply fill the handle from the bottom and press a button to squirt out the perfect amount of soap for the job. Once you're finished, the brush can be propped up in a sink caddy or hung to dry using the hole in the handle.
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
Amount: 1 | Materials: Nylon | Dimensions: 12 x 1.25 x 3.75 inches | Weight: 0.3 pounds | Dishwasher Safe: No
Best for Bottles and Jars
OXO Tot Bottle Brush With Nipple Cleaner and Stand
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Amazon
Includes a stand
Comes with a second detail brush
Narrow design
Doesn't create a lot of suds
Bristles wear out over time
This bottle brush from OXO is about a foot long, and has two different types of nylon bristles. The gray ones are stiffer and can tuck into the crevices and corners of your water bottles, baby bottles, or sauce jars, while the white ones are softer and clean wider surfaces. The neck is strong but flexible to help you maneuver it easily. Plus, the handle, which has a handy hole for hanging, is covered with a soft, non-slip material that won't slide out of your hand—even when it's wet. Notably, this scrubbing brush also comes with a stand, so you don’t have to find a spot to hang it in your kitchen.
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
Amount: 2 | Materials: Plastic | Dimensions: 12.5 x 3.25 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 0.2813 pounds | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Best for Straws
HIWARE Straw Cleaner Brush Set, 8-Piece
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Amazon
Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
Comes in multiple sizes
Can be used on soft plastic
A bit too short for longer straws
Can be hard to grip handle
If you're frequently dipping metal or plastic reusable straws into smoothies, iced coffee, and matcha, you should also be frequently cleaning those straws (like, after every use). You have to clean reusable straws, or that slender tube can become quite the home for gunk. These dishwasher-safe brushes are all about 8 inches long, with heads that come in two different sizes. The 8-millimeter brush works well for narrower metal straws, while the 10-millimeter one is best for plastic smoothie straws and the ones that come with water bottles.
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
Amount: 8 | Materials: Stainless steel, nylon | Dimensions: 8 x 0.5 x 0.3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Our top pick for a dish scrubber is the Lubrima Silicone Sponge because it’s easy to clean and can also be used as a pot holder or vegetable scrubber. It doesn’t trap food or odors the way traditional sponges do but is still tough enough to tackle the toughest grease and grime. If you want a cheaper option, the Scrub Daddy is also a great pick and was featured on Shark Tank. It has a design that makes it easy to scrub silverware, and comes in multiple scents.
What to Look for in a Dish Scrubber
Type
The first thing you want to consider in a dish scrubber is what type of dish scrubber it is. Is it a pad, brush, or sponge? Does it have the single purpose of cleaning out straws, or can it only be used on cast iron? Typically, a sponge is very versatile and can be used in a myriad of situations. A brush is better for scrubbing caked-on messes, and a pad can be more flexible. When deciding on a type, it is key to think about the shape and material of the items you're typically cleaning, so you can treat your cookware right and also feel comfortable when using the cleaning tool.
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 Angela Bell, cleaning expert and Grove Guide at Grove Collaborative.
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How do you clean a dish scrubber?
Cleaning protocol depends on the materials of your brush, says Bell. You can best maintain your brush by washing it after every use with a small amount of your dish soap, she explains. Rinse it well to get rid of any bits of food that remain and allow it to dry fully between uses. To prevent mold, store your scrubbers in a dry spot. It is particularly important to do this if your scrubber is made of bamboo, or another sustainable material, says Bell.
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How often should you replace a dish scrubber?
The time to replace a dish scrubber depends on the type of scrubber used, says Nelson. As a general rule of thumb, whenever a scrubber is damaged or develops an odor, it’s time to replace it. Typically this means every one to two weeks. If you are using a stainless steel scrubber on your pots and pans, it may come with a lifetime warranty so you can swap it out.
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Can you put a dish scrubber in the dishwasher?
Some scrubbers will tolerate the top shelf of a dishwasher, says Bell. Refer to the care instructions of your brush, but keep in mind: brushes with wooden or bamboo handles will last longer and look better if hand-washed. “You can even use a cutting board oil to condition handles to prevent them from drying and cracking,” she adds.
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. Earley 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.