Eco sponges, cleaning brushes & cloths

Choosing eco sponges

A standard kitchen sponge is foam plastic that sheds as it wears. Eco sponges swap that for plant fibres that do the same job and break down at the end. MadeKind sells Seep eco sponge scourers, made from loofah and wood pulp, which are plastic free, compostable and non-scratch. MadeKind also sells copper scourers for pans. Each brand here is clear about the materials it uses and how its tools are made.

Compostable sponge cloths and reusable cleaning cloths

Compostable sponge cloths, sometimes called Swedish dish cloths, are made from cellulose and cotton. They soak up spills, dry quickly and can go in the home compost when worn out. Wild & Stone makes compostable Swedish dish cloths in a set of four, and Vove makes sponge cloths. For reusable cleaning cloths, MadeKind sells organic cotton knitted dishcloths in charcoal grey, sage green and ocean blue, and Wild & Stone makes a knitted organic cotton dishcloth. Eco Green Living makes reusable bamboo kitchen towels. Machine wash eco cleaning cloths at 60°C every few days to keep them fresh.

Wooden cleaning brushes

Wooden cleaning brushes use FSC wood or bamboo handles with plant fibre bristles such as coconut, sisal or tampico. MadeKind sells a wooden pot brush, a wooden vegetable brush, a scrubbing brush and a curved handle brush. Vove makes a scrub brush set, a bottle brush set, a bamboo brush set and a scrubber set in FSC wood with plant fibres. Wild & Stone makes a coconut fibre brush and a wooden pot brush, and Bouclé sells a seagrass brush.

Gloves and other eco cleaning tools

WABLU makes natural latex rubber cleaning gloves, and MadeKind sells Seep eco rubber gloves. eco-mate makes a reusable trigger spray head, and Delphis Eco makes a pelican pump for decanting. Swap your eco sponges every few weeks, or sooner if they smell, and keep one for dishes and another for the bathroom so they never cross over. Washing Up has washing up liquid and dish brushes, Multi-Purpose has surface sprays, Kitchen Linen has tea towels, and Zero waste swaps for everyday life: The prioritised list has more simple swaps.