Meet the UnSponge: the reusable alternative to kitchen sponges

This pretty kitchen unsponge (in packs of one or two). Made in Worcestershire by a small family business, these feature a white waffle back and will last up to a year. Then safely biodegrade back to the earth.

Choose from a botanical bee print in lilac or grey. You can also use them for wiping down surfaces or any surface that needs cleaning. Expect slight shrinkage on first wash. Sent in plastic-free packaging.

Use with natural dishwash liquid or dishwasher powder (unscented for pregnancy/nursing and baby/pet bowls – citrus is toxic to animals). And fair trade rubber gloves.

Don’t pour plant-based liqueurs down the drain. They should be treated like oil (wrap and bin small amounts or use an oil recycling bin for larger amounts. Or better yet, just drink them up!

Why these are better than green-topped sponges

Those green-topped washing-up sponges are nearly always made with nylon (plastic) and sold in plastic packaging. This means not only do they support the fossil fuel industry, but leach microplastics when rinsed down the sink. They are also difficult to recycle.

They also don’t last a long time, and become smelly or lose their effectiveness quickly.