These 7 Winning Dishwashing Sponges Will Make Cleanup (Kinda?) Fun

“Serious Eats’ dishwashing enthusiast” may not be the coolest accolade, but it’s one I own. After nearly four decades of cooking and eating without a dishwasher, I’ve become pretty passionate (and opinionated) about cleaning gear. I have reviewed dishwashing gloves and the best kitchen towels for drying dishes: The missing piece of the puzzle was dishwashing sponges.

Dishwashing tools can be polarizing: You probably have a strong preference for either sponges or wands, and I’m willing to bet that you loathe using the “wrong” one. But we can all agree that a sponge or wand should easily clean dirty dishes without disintegrating, tearing, or trapping mysterious food bits (gross). With that criteria in mind, I tested 16 dish sponges and wands. I found seven winners that got the job done—and one even looked good doing it.

The Winners, at a Glance

If I could only use one dishwashing sponge for the rest of my life, it’d be this. The Scrunge has a wavy, textured scrubber side that tackled a Bolognese pan with aplomb. The cellulose side is thick and plush and the sponge is cheap and easy to find. Best of all, “Scrunge” is fun to say.

This bristled brush had the sturdiest head of all the wands I tested. Dispensing soap was easy, and I never accidentally squirted out too much. I especially liked that it came with a stand, so it could drip-dry on the counter without taking up too much space.

Scrub Daddy makes a whole line of standout sponges, but you probably already knew that—they’re incredibly popular. The original Scrub Daddy is thick with deep, generous grooves. It’s a bit much for your favorite stemware, but it does a knockout job with crudded-up pots and pans.

I did a double-take the first time I saw these sponges: They look more like sandpaper pads than dishwashing sponges. But the scouring side gave a performance second only to the Scrub Daddy, and it rinsed clean every time.

One could argue that disposable sponges are by definition not very eco-friendly. But these undyed sponges did their best. They’re made with vegetable cellulose and walnuts, and held up much better than any other eco option I tested.

These dishwashing sponges are fancy. They come in a three-pack of complementary colors (I tested the brassy metallics) and sparkle and shine in the light. They’re not the sturdiest sponges I tested, but they were more than capable of tackling tough jobs, and their price is comparable with my overall winner.

Swedish dishcloths are in a category all their own—in fact, we reviewed them here—but they are great tools to have in your dishwashing supplies caddy. Our favorite Swedish dishcloth can be used for washing dishes and drying them, and you can toss it in the washing machine when it gets grungy.

The Tests

• Dinner Dishes Test: To evaluate the sponges’ ability to handle everyday dishes, I used each one to clean dishes after a meal. I filled a plastic tub with warm, soapy water, and used the sponge to wash all of the dinnerware, flatware, and pots and pans, noting areas of strength and weakness. 
• Scrambled Eggs Test: To test the sponges’ ability to clean up dirty pots and pans, I cooked two scrambled eggs in a stainless steel skillet. After removing the eggs, I let the pan sit at room temperature for one hour, then washed it using the sponge or wand, taking note of how easy it was to scrub off the stuck-on egg.
• General Use Test: Once I had chosen my finalists, I used each sponge and wand for three days. I scored them on performance, design, and ease of cleaning.

What We Learned

Highly Textured Sponges Were Best

The best-performing sponges had tons of texture. My favorite sponge, the O-Cedar Scrunge, was the ideal example of this. Its scrubber side had deep valleys and dimples in a wave-like pattern and was covered in a rough (but non-abrasive!) surface. The Scrub Daddy Original Sponge is also super textured, with a loose, coarse foam makeup. At the other end of the spectrum, the Scotch Brite Dobie Pad was minimally textured. It consisted of a basic cellulose sponge encased in a mesh pouch—a solid design, but the pouch was too thin to be useful.

Looped Fibers Were a Nightmare

I quickly learned to loathe dishwashing sponges with looped fibers, like the Kitchen Dynamo Microfiber Sponge. After attempting to use it on the eggy pan, I immediately disqualified it: The extra long microfiber strands trapped and clung to every last buttery, eggy bit. The Kitchen Dynamo had a “one year or 100 washes” guarantee, but other sponges performed similarly without all the fanfare. The Casabella Sparkle Scrub Sponge was manufactured with loosely looped plastic strands that had begun to unravel even before I picked it up. Looped fibers can be useful for dusting and other cleaning jobs, but they collect gunk and fall apart when used for dishwashing.

Most Dishwashing Wands Weren’t Great

There were two key areas where most dishwashing wands fell short: the head attachment and the soap dispensing mechanism. A dish wand’s sponge portion should be firmly situated on the wand, but alas, that was too tall of an order for many. The NileHome Dish Brush came with velcro-attachable interchangeable heads that refused to stick on the wand. The Compac Home Dish Wand didn’t even have a soap dispenser, and the wand was so short and thin that it wasn’t useful at all. On the other (refreshingly great) hand, the OXO Good Grips Dish Wand’s head clicked firmly into place and didn’t budge until it was time to swap it out. 

Thicker Was Better—To a Point

I overwhelmingly preferred sponges with a little oomph to them: Thicker sponges gave me better control while washing, and they lasted longer, too. The O-Cedar Scrunge was a generous 1.2 inches wide compared to the Dobie Pad, which was just half an inch. But there was such a thing as too thick: The Casabella Sparkle Sponge was 1.75 inches wide. Add that to its too-firm texture, and it was difficult to squeeze inside a drinking glass.

If You Prefer Dishcloths, Swedish Is Best

I grew up in a house where reusable dishcloths reigned. Now, in my own household, I opt for disposable sponges because I think they’re better at cleaning pots and pans, and I find them easier to hold and maneuver around a plate. But if you’re a member of Team Dishcloths, I encourage you to check out Swedish dishcloths. They’re gently textured, super durable, and can be tossed in a washing machine plenty of times before they begin to degrade. The winners of our Swedish dishcloths review, the Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dish Cloths, are fantastic and they last for ages. (I keep a stash under my bathroom sink for cleaning in between the sink and handles.)

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Dishwashing Sponge

The best dishwashing sponges have a medium thickness and are highly textured for optimal scrubbing capability. They are two-sided, with a gentle side for everyday dishes, and a rougher, non-abrasive side for pots and pans. Look for dish sponges without long or looped fibers—those can trap food bits, and will quickly unravel. The best dishwashing wands are easy to refill, and dispense soap without any drama.

Our Favorite Dishwashing Sponges

What we liked: This was one hard-working sponge! It’s made of three layers: a thick, plush side for gentle washing and a middle foam pad topped with a rippled, textured scrubber. The scrubber did a fantastic job on the eggy pans, and required very little elbow grease after a Sunday red sauce dinner. It’s soft and flexible, so I could maneuver it inside delicate glassware. It rinsed clean after every use—no icky bits clinging to its nooks and crannies. Finally, it lasted for ages. Even when I retired it from dish duty, it was in good enough condition to become a bathroom sink-and-tub sponge.

What we didn’t like: It would be cool if this sponge came in some more “natural” colors, but I’m splitting hairs. I love this thing.

Key Specs

• Materials: Cellulose and synthetic fiber 
• Weight: 19 grams
• Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.7 x 1.2 inches
• Type: Sponge
• Number of sponges in package: 6

What we liked: This was without a question the highest-quality dishwashing wand I tested. It’s easy to fill the handle with soap and screw the cap back on—even one-handed. The soap-on-demand button is comfy and dispenses just the right amount of soap. The nylon bristles are incredibly sturdy and never once bent out of place during testing. The wand stand is great. It kept the brush from cluttering my counter, and a pour spout allowed me to quickly dump out collected water. If you have an old OXO dish wand, the stand may look different: This is a new, better design than its original.

What we didn’t like: This dishwashing wand doesn’t come with different style heads (although you can buy replacement bristle brushes). Despite the pour spout, the holder can accumulate soap scum without regular cleaning.

Key Specs

• Materials: Plastic, nylon
• Weight: 125 grams (without soap)
• Dimensions: 10.3 x 2 x 1 inches (wand only)
• Type: Wand
• Number of wands in package: 1, with a holder

What we liked: It’s hard to overstate just how efficient the Scrub Daddy is at, well, scrubbing. These smiley face-shaped sponges were the best at swiping away all manner of food, no matter how long it was sitting. They never once scratched my cookware. The eyes helped me grip the sponge, although I didn’t find the mouth shape as helpful for cleaning spoons as the brand claims. They’re very long-lasting, and hold up well to a sanitizing spin in the dishwasher.

What we didn’t like: These sponges are too coarse and big for delicate dishes and most glassware. Although the package says they’re soft in warm water, it takes a couple of minutes to saturate the sponge to that point.

Key Specs

• Materials: Polymer foam
• Weight: 11.3 grams
• Dimensions: 4-inch diameter
• Type: Sponge
• Number of sponges in package: 3

What we liked: These sponges didn’t look like any I’d used before, and frankly I wasn’t sure what to make of them. But it was love at first scrub once I put them to the test with my eggy skillet. The scouring side is impressively strong. It had a similar texture to the O-Cedar Scrunge, but was even firmer, so it really excelled with sticky, tough cleanup jobs. The smooth sponge side could have been grippier, but I had no complaints about how clean the sponge was after each wash.

What we didn’t like: The “fade to change” feature is an interesting idea, but perhaps superfluous for a dish sponge: The Skura’s marketing materials claim that the design imprinted on the scrubby side slowly fades, letting you know when it’s time to swap it for a new one. (In all honesty, it reminded me of the “cold activated” blue mountain design on Coors cans.)

Key Specs

• Materials: Polyurethane
• Weight: 11 grams
• Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.75 x 1 inches
• Type: Sponge
• Number of sponges in package: 4 or 8

What we liked: I’ll admit it: I proudly displayed this natural-looking, undyed sponge on my counter in a display of literal greenwashing. These sponges have a calming, neutral aesthetic that will fit well into many modern homes. It’s flexible and squishy—a pleasure to swipe around a sinkful of dishes. It had the most neutral, inoffensive smell of all the sponges before use. The maker claims it’s sustainably sourced.

What we didn’t like: The scouring side wasn’t very effective at getting an eggy pan clean, and it held onto food particles.

Key Specs

• Materials: Walnut, vegetable-based cellulose
• Weight: 18 grams
• Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.75 x 0.75 inches
• Type: Sponge
• Number of sponges in package: 4

What we liked: This sponge looks ready to disco. It’s made with alternating stripes of metallic lurex and polyurethane that genuinely sparkle in the sunlight. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the sponge held up over my three-day test: It looked nearly new. The tinsel-ish bits were great at lifting away sauces and crumbs, although they did struggle with greasier dishes.

What we didn’t like: The Lurex sponges are on the thin side, and despite the manufacturer’s claims that they’re dishwasher-safe, mine unraveled on the top rack.

Key Specs

• Materials: Lurex, polyurethane 
• Weight: 10 grams
• Dimensions: 5 x 3 x 0.5 inches
• Type: Sponge
• Number of sponges in package: 3

What we liked: This cloth dried dishes fast and thoroughly. It also air-dried quickly after use, so you don’t have to worry about mildew-scented dishcloths. It’s nimble and flexible, making it ideal for washing glassware and drying dishes. It can also handle being cleaned in a washing machine.

What we didn’t like: Nothing worth bringing up here, honestly.

Key Specs

• Materials: Cotton and cellulose (wood pulp)
• Dimensions: 8 x 7 inches
• Type: Dishcloths
• Number of cloths in package: 10

The Competition

• Scotch Brite Zero Scratch Scrub Sponges: This ubiquitous grocery store brand did a decent job, but it was thinner than the O-Cedar Scrunge, and the scrubber side was a gunk-magnet.
• Blueland Scrub Sponge: The Blueland sponges talked a big game about sustainability, but they weren’t the top performers. They’re plant-based and plastic-free, but the cellulose sponge side was thin and quickly wore out. The loofah-like scrubber side would be better suited for a pedicure.
• Casabella Sparkle Scrub Sponge: This sparkly sponge was a lot of fun to look at, but the looped fibers quickly unraveled, and it was too thick to comfortably hold in my palm. It showed wear a lot quicker than my winning “fun” sponge from Hawkins New York. 
• Scotch Brite Dobie Pads: The second grease touched these sponges, they became unusable: They trapped oil and transferred it to dinnerware—the opposite of a job well done.
• Kitchen Dynamo Microfiber Sponge: Germophobes and folks who fear soggy bits of food should stay far away from this microfiber sponge. Its long fibers locked onto bits of chicken skin and pizza dough. A (clean) one was pretty good at dusting window sills and bookshelves, though. 
• Scotch Brite Non-Scratch Dish Wand: This wand was the runner-up to the OXO Good Grips Dish Wand Set. It was sturdy and easy to refill and swap out heads for fresh ones. Ultimately, the OXO won because it came with a storage caddy, and was better at scrubbing pots and pans. 
• Compac Home Dish Wand: This dishwashing wand had a short, flimsy handle, and it was difficult to get good leverage on it. It’s marketed as being good for crystal, so if you wash a lot of wine glasses, it might be worth picking up a few of these more delicate wands.
• NileHome Dish Brush: The NileHome dishwashing wands was a good idea in theory: It comes with interchangeable heads for scrubbing and gentler washing. But the attachment adhesive wasn’t strong enough, and the heads fell off into the sink every time I used it. 
• Libman Dish Wand Kit: The Libman was at the bottom of the pack of the wands. It was difficult to refill, and dispensing a moderate amount of soap was difficult to do, too.

FAQs

What is the best sponge for cleaning dishes?

For everyday dishes, like dinner plates and cereal bowls, you don’t need a fancy sponge. Our favorite dishwashing sponge, the O-Cedar Scrunge, costs less than $2 a sponge. It has a thick cellulose side for gentle washing, and a thick, rippled side for tougher scrubbing jobs.

How long do dishwashing sponges last? 

Disposable dishwashing sponges should be replaced every few weeks, although that depends on how often you use them, of course. Don’t think too hard about it, though: If it has lost its scrubbing capabilities, smells weird, or grosses you out, it’s time to give it the heave-ho.

How do you sanitize dishwashing sponges?

You can sanitize dishwashing sponges by putting them in the top rack of the dishwasher. The enemy of all sponges is moisture, so to prolong the life of your sponge (and keep it cleaner), rinse it thoroughly and wring out as much moisture as possible from it after each use. Store the sponge somewhere where air can circulate around it, like in a wire sponge holder.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is a commerce editor at Serious Eats.
• Previously, she worked as an editor and the social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light.
• Until this year, Rochelle did not own a dishwasher: She knows the ins and outs of dishwashing sponges. For this review, she tested 15 sponges and dishwashing wands for everyday dinnerware, as well as pots and pans. We also included our favorite Swedish dishcloth in this review.