What is the most sanitary dishwashing tool?

Ordered these brushees to replace my prior brush, which I used until it died! These bamboo brushes are wonderful if you are not fond of the self-dispensing brushes (which I am not). Those brushes leak and rarely dispense the right amount of soap, no matter how hard you press that little button. So, we dispense our own dishsoap onto the brush manually, instead. The bristles on these brushes are compact enough to hold the soap and suds for a good amount of time and they hold up well to frequent scrubbing and use. They last as long time and don't crumple and "mush up" like cheap bristles do. The two pack set is a great value for the money. Highly recommend!

When it comes to cleaning up after a delicious meal, no one wants to scrub harder than they have to. You might not even give a second thought to what sponge or scrubber is currently sitting in your sink caddy , but having the best tool for the job is hugely important. The best dish scrubber for one job might not be the best dish scrubber for another — caring for your heirloom cast iron pan and delicate nonstick cookware are totally different. In fact, having the right dish scrubbers can actually extend the life of your cookware and make cleaning a snap. If you’re ready to ditch your one-size-fits-all sponge and find the actual best dish scrubber for all your cookware and needs, check out our favorite picks below.

Best for Dishes

Skura Style Skrubby Sponges

Amazon

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$15

View On Target

$15

View On Walmart

$15

These sponges are made of polyurethane and have an antimicrobial called PolySept added to them. Hence, they never smell and aren’t just smearing bacteria around your clean dishes like traditional sponges tend to do. The scouring side of this sponge is perfect for dishes because it’s relatively flat and easily scrapes up dried-on egg yolk or melted cheese. Plus, it has a built-in system to let you know when it’s time to change them: When the logo on the scouring side starts to fade, it’s time to throw it out. The polyurethane material differs from the regular soft sponge material you might be used to — it’s much stiffer and can be uncomfortable to hold, especially when dry. 

• Material: Polyurethane
• Amount included: 4
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Best for Cast Iron

Lodge Scrubbing Pad

Amazon

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$20

View On REI

$22

View On Target

$20

Cast iron cookware gets a bad rap for being tough to clean. But with this specialized Lodge sponge, things get a lot easier. No matter where you fall on the soap versus no soap debate, we can all agree that cast iron needs some elbow grease. This scrubber is perfect for cast iron because it has a tough outer layer that can scrape and a soft inner layer for wiping.  The outer chain maille cover is super durable and can scrape off even the most cooked-on foods. Meanwhile, the inside houses a flexible silicone sponge that holds soapy water and easily cleans cast irons without stripping your precious seasoning. The silicone insert isn’t as durable as the metal exterior, so that part tends to break down first, meaning you’ll need to replace the whole scrubber well before the strong chain maille outside is ready to be replaced. 

• Material: Stainless steel, silicone
• Amount included: 1
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best for Glass

Scotch-Brite Cooktop Pads

Amazon

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$9

View On Walmart

$11

These scrubbers are designed explicitly for glass cooktops which means not only are they great for wiping down your stove, but they’re also gentle enough for your delicate wine glasses. One side of this scrubber is a super soft and close-textured sponge, while the other has the ultimate gentle scrubber. This sponge is ideal for glass, from glass cooktops to cookware to wine glasses, because it’s flexible and can morph to any surface or fit into a glass. Plus, the gentle scrubbing side has a unique texture that can break up stuck-on food without scratching the glass. The ultra-soft material is excellent for cleaning glass but isn’t very absorbent, so it’s hard to carry a lot of sop in these scrubbers. 

• Material: Plastic
• Amount included: 2
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best for Stainless Steel

Scrub Daddy Sponge Set

Amazon

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$14

View On Walmart

$11

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The Scrub Daddy took the world by storm and has been a cult favorite for years. If you’re unfamiliar, what makes this brightly colored sponge so unique is its ingenious design. The smile's face is more than just a zany gimmick — you can hold the scrubber with your fingers in the eyes and use the mouth to give a 360 scrub to utensils and flatware quickly. The material is also highly unique; it’s rigid when used with cold water but softens significantly in hot water, giving you the power of two types of scrubbers in one. The only downside is that they aren't the most durable. The unique material does start to break down after continued use. 

• Material: Polyurethane
• Amount included: 3
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best Ceramic

O-Cedar Multi-Use No Scratch Scrunge

Amazon

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$13

View On Walmart

$8

View On Home Depot

$6

Ceramic-coated cookware tends to have a hard ceramic layer, but it can be extremely brittle and chip easily. This “scrunge” is perfect for ceramic because it’s soft and has a thick, almost buffing side, instead of a scratchy scouring layer. The unique bubble design allows the buffing pad to break up cooked-on food without much pressure or scrubbing. The downside of the extra thick buffing side is that it can crack or flake off over time. 

• Material: Plastic
• Amount included: 6
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best for Nonstick

Lubrima Silicone Sponge

Amazon

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$8

View On Walmart

$16

Nonstick pans require super gentle cleansing to preserve their coating, and this Lubrima Silicone Sponge is just the thing. Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of the cleaning company ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba in Chicago, Illinois, always reaches for silicone when she wants to clean her nonstick surfaces. “If you need to clean nonstick cookware or plastic containers, a silicone brush is a better choice,” she says. This sponge’s soft, flexible bristles are perfect for gently removing gunk from the surface of nonstick pans since they’re non-abrasive. Its unique silicone material means this sponge lasts forever compared to traditional sponges. Plus, silicone is non-porous, so it doesn't trap food or bacteria. The soft and gentle material's downside is that this sponge can just scour or scrub. 

• Material: Silicone
• Amount included: 3
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes

Best for Straws

HIWARE Straw Cleaner Brush Set

Amazon

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$4

View On Walmart

$23

When it comes to cleaning, reusable straws are arguably the most frustrating and difficult thing to clean. These Hiware Straw Cleaner Brushes make this task a bit easier. Unlike other straw brushes, these are the perfect medium between rigid and flexible. The long handles and diverse bristle lengths make these brushes ideal for any straw, water bottle, or coffee maker. Eight different-sized brushes are convenient and versatile, but storing them together can be annoying. 

• Material: Stainless steel, nylon
• Amount included: 8
• Dishwasher-safe: Yes