Plastic Free Dish Sponges For Sustainable Household

When it comes to creating a zero waste kitchen, most eco-friendly tips focus on food waste and using less water. But there’s another wasteful culprit that is often overlooked: disposable dish sponges.

If you’re washing your dishes properly, there’s a chance that you go through several of them in a month. However, if you’re trying to live a zero waste lifestyle, you might want to consider an eco-friendly alternative.

Are Disposable Dish Sponges Bad For The Environment?

Yes, traditional plastic sponges are detrimental to the environment. The majority are made from polyester and polyurethane. As you wash your dishes, the sponges wear out by shedding microplastics which end up in waterways, harming marine life. Not to mention the residual microplastics that stay on your dishes even after rinsing and drying. And when they’re finally discarded, they take hundreds of years to break down in landfill.

Are There Biodegradable Sponges?

Fortunately, earth-friendly sponges exist and are just as effective as your typical kitchen sponge. They’re made from natural materials like cellulose, coconut and bamboo which easily break down and return to nature.

Read on to learn why eco-friendly sponges are such a great option, plus where to get them.

Benefits of Plastic Free Dish Sponges

Compostable

One of the most significant benefits of biodegradable dish sponges is that they’re compostable. This means that when you’re eventually finished with your sponge, you can simply toss it in the compost bin guilt free knowing it won’t contribute to the growing problem of plastic waste in our oceans and landfill.

Cost-Effective

While eco-friendly dish sponges may seem more expensive than plastic ones, they’re in fact more cost-effective in the long run. Made from strong natural fibers, an eco sponge can be reused time and time again and you won’t need to replace it as often. This can help you save money in the long term.

Hypoallergenic

Eco-friendly sponges are naturally hypoallergenic. This makes them ideal for those with sensitive skin or allergies to certain materials and chemicals. You can even let your little ones play with them without fear of damaging their sensitive skin.

Versatile

While we primarily use dish sponges in the kitchen, you can use them for a wide range of applications, such as cleaning your car, floors, and bathroom. You can even use them on yourself for gentle exfoliation!

Aesthetic

You must’ve noticed, organic décor has become a huge trend! Having just nice-looking pots and pans in your kitchen isn’t enough. You’ve got to pair them up with kitchen tools that fit the aesthetic. Eco-friendly dish sponges are beautiful and will add a touch of nature to your space.

Conscientious

By switching to eco-friendly dish sponges, you are taking responsibility for your environmental impact and promoting sustainability. This small act can inspire others to do the same and contribute towards creating a more sustainable planet. 

At Earth Ahead, we are committed to minimizing our impact on the planet. We combine affordability and sustainability to provide high quality cleaning tools for your kitchen. From loofahs and sponges to scrubbers, we’ve got you covered! Our eco-friendly products will not only get your dishes spick-and-span but also make your kitchen a bit more green!

Our Earth-friendly Sponges:

1. Compostable Eco Dish Sponge

If you’re looking for an effective, earth-friendly cleaning tool, this eco dish sponge checks all the boxes. It’s not only effective for cleaning, it’s zero waste, made from plant fibers, and 100% compostable and biodegradable.

Soft enough not to scratch, it can be used on non-stick cookware, copper, stainless steel, glassware, and even on kitchen counters. Since its 100% biodegradable, when your sponge is at the end of its life, you can just cut it up into small pieces and put it directly into your compost bin.

Even better, the eco sponge comes in a pack of three to ensure you have enough supply for a long time!

2. Double Layer Oval Natural Loofah Sponge

What if you love the idea of a loofah sponge but you need something thicker? This oval loofah sponge is a fantastic alternative. It has two pieces of loofah sewn together for extra firmness and durability.

It’s great for washing dishes and exfoliating the skin, efficiently buffing away rough areas and leaving the skin super smooth. Plus, it comes with a cotton loop that makes it easy to hang it up and let it dry between uses.

Being 100% plastic free, you can toss it in your compost bin when it reaches the end of its usefulness – guaranteed to leave nothing behind!

3. Loofah & Cellulose Cleaning Sponge

This heavy-duty plastic free dish sponge packs some impressive cleaning power on dishes and cookware. Just like those green and yellow kitchen sponges, it has a dual-sided design with a cellulose side that will gently clean your dishes and delicate surfaces and a loofah side that can scrub away stuck-on messes.

Even though the sponge is thick and absorbent, it’s malleable and easy to maneuver. It doesn’t disintegrate or fray after repeated use, and resists odors pretty well.

When it’s worn out, it’s fully biodegradable, so you can compost it or bury it.

4. Reusable Swedish Sponge Cloth - Paper Towel Replacer

Although paper towels are convenient, they have an incredibly negative impact on the environment. That’s why more and more people are turning to reusable paper towels as an eco-friendly solution for cleaning.

These reusable Swedish sponge cloths are the perfect replacement for regular paper towels. Made from a blend of cellulose and cotton, these towels are 100% all-natural, biodegradable, and compostable. They’re extremely absorbent (one dishcloth absorbs 20X its weight) and will leave your surfaces streak-free.

You’ll get to choose between several patterns, each with a cute print that is sure to brighten up your kitchen while keeping your carbon footprint in check.

5. Eco Friendly Kitchen Bundle

This solid dish soap and brush set is a great starting point for a beginner looking to go plastic-free with their cleaning. It includes a solid dish soap, biodegradable soap dish, sisal cleaning brush, pot scrubber and dishwasher sponge - all are eco-friendly and biodegradable.

Both the cleaning brush and pot scrubber have natural bamboo handles and sisal bristles. The detachable head on the cleaning brush makes it easy to recycle and save some money when it’s time for a replacement.

6. Bamboo Coconut Bottle Brush

Scrub your bottles to a whole new level of cleanness with this non-toxic bottle brush. It boasts a combination of a sturdy bamboo handle and softer coconut bristles that allow you to maximize your bottle cleaning experience. With an 13-inch easy-to-grip handle, it can reach the bottom of most standard sized bottles. 

It’s also super easy to clean. All you have to do is rinse the bristles with clean water and hang dry naturally - it’s that simple.

Key Takeaways on Plastic Free Dish Sponges

There are plenty of small and easy ways you can live a more eco-friendly life. Making the switch to one of these best eco-friendly dish sponges and brushes is a great place to start. They are cost-effective, require little maintenance and last for a long time, all while reducing disposable cleaning products in our landfills. What’s not to love?

Give eco-friendly sponges a try today and we promise you won’t be disappointed!