Conventional pot scrubbers (like those green scouring pads) are often made with nylon (plastic). Which means that as you scrub your pots and pans, microplastics get washed down the drain and go into the sea, where they are then accidentally ingested by wildlife.
Use with biodegradable dishwash (unscented for pregnancy/nursing, baby & pet bowls) and organic cotton tea towels.
Battle Green compostable dish cloths can hold 20 times their own weight, made from sustainable wood cellulose and waste cotton fibres too short for the textile industry. Also a great kitchen roll alternative, the three designs (printed with water-based inks) are of the three creatures more affected by plastic (albatross, sea turtle and whale). The pack is sold in a recycled card sleeve. Use them to wipe up less and spills, or clean worktops and polish surfaces, or to wash-up. Also gives a streak-free finish on countertops, granite, glass and stianless steel. The cloths dry rapidly when left to air-dry so they don’t breed bacteria or smell, nor crumble or pill. Just wash and use again.
Seep zero waste dish-wash tools
Seep is a wonderful company making a wide range of zero-waste kitchen tools including biodegradable dishcloths, pot scrubbers, Fair Trade rubber gloves and biodegradable bin bags. Apart from the all-purpose cloth which contains polyester) everything else is compostable.
Jungle Culture sells a nice range of washing-up tools including zero waste brushes and dishcloths. The starter set includes a long-handle bamboo dish brush, two replacement brush heads (one soft to clean glass, ceramics and non-stick pans and one firm for cleaning baking trays and cast iron pots). Plus a mini loofah sponge, for cleaning surfaces, chopping board and sinks.
The dishcloths are made from organic cotton, sold in a set of different colours. Each one is two-sided with a soft gentle side, and a hard-wearing side with sisal fibres, to tackle household cleaning jobs. Fitted with a small storage pouch to slide in a dish soap bar, to lather as you clean. When finished, just wring dry and use the hang loop to store on a hook or cupboard door.