If you’re one of the people that like to use those scrubbing sponges for all kinds of kitchen (and bathroom) cleaning but are concerned about their impact on the environment, here’s some good news. There are a few companies that offer more sustainable versions of the old-fashioned sponge.
Here are some of the more eco-friendly types of the scrubbing sponges available on the market:
Walnut shells—Scotch-Brite offers a slightly more eco-friendly version of their most popular scrubber. While the sponge part is still made of cellulose, the scrubbing part is made of walnut shells, which are natural and biodegradable instead of nylon, a synthetic fiber that does not break when discarded. However, this type of scrubber is not advisable for people with nut allergies. Another walnut shell variation of a scrubbing sponge is made by a company named Spongezz.
Natural fibers—Twist offers a variety of sponges made of materials such as loofah, bamboo or hemp cloth that are designed to be both sustainable and pleasant for the customer.
Shredded sandpaper—these types of scrubbing cleaners are designed for jobs requiring a lot more durability and are meant to replace the conventional steel wool scrubbers. They are made from shredded sandpaper and work without using a detergent, which makes them excellent not only for household cleaning but scrubbing fruit and vegetables as well. Available from Sandclean.
And if you cannot find any of these eco-friendly sponges or simply don’t want to spend money on a product that will end up in the garbage, use your imagination and create your own home-made sponges or cleaning cloths. Old cotton t-shirts or socks make fantastic cloths that can be used for any type of household cleaning. So unleash your creativity and be amazed at how many things you already have available around your house that can be used for cleaning.
